Immigration Concepts

Nativism

Nativism

The policy of protecting the interests of native-born or established inhabitants against those of immigrants.

Rights of “Natives” (people who already live in a country) are protected.

Americanization

Americanization

The process of assimilating people into the American culture.

Chinese Exclusion Act

Chinese Exclusion Act

Excluded Chinese people from immigrating to the United States.

People from China could NOT come to the United States

Ellis Island

Ellis Island

The island where European Immigrants were processed before they came into the United States

Angel Island

Angel Island

The island where Asian Immigrants were processed before they came into the United States

Melting Pot

Melting Pot

In regard to America: a place where many societies or cultures are blended together and assimilated into one culture.

Tenements

Tenements

Large urban apartment building where many residents have basic amenities. Many immigrants lived in tenements.

Ghetto

Ghetto

A part of a city where members of a particular group or race lives.

Examples: Jewish quarter, Little Italy

Assimilation

Assimilation

The process of adopting the norms of another culture (language, dress, mannerisms, jobs, etc.)

Quota System

Quota System

A system that limits the amount of immigrants that can immigrate into a country each year.

National Origins Act of 1924

National Origins Act of 1924

Annual number of immigrants that could come into the U.S. from a particular country was 2% of the people from that country who were living in the U.S. from that country in 1890.

Limited “undesirable” immigrants

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965

Abolished quota system from National Origins act and replaced it with a preferential system based on family relationships with current Americans.

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986

Some illegal immigrants were given amnesty. Legalized certain farm workers.

Punished employers who hired undocumented (illegal) aliens.

Increased border security and enforcement.

Immigration Act of 1990

Immigration Act of 1990

Increased amount of immigrants that could come to the United States each year.

Created “lottery” which assigned visas to immigrants randomly.

Increased visas for people with exceptional/extraordinary abilities

Arizona SB 1070 (2010)

Arizona SB 1070 (2010)

Controversial immigration law Requires immigrants to carry

documentation at all times, and also required officers to request the documentation of any person they suspect of being an illegal immigrant

PUSH/PULL Factors

Push (Reasons people left their country)

Pull (reasons people came to the United States)

-To get away from war and revolution in home country-Famine-No land or jobs in home country-Religious Persecution

-To get a new start-Plentiful Land-Employment-Join family and friends in the U.S.-Religious and Political Freedom