2.4 Immigration waves and changing demographics

Immigration waves shaped America's demographics and cultural landscape. From Ellis Island to Angel Island, millions entered the U.S., facing restrictive policies like the Chinese Exclusion Act and quota systems. The Hart-Celler Act of 1965 transformed immigration, opening doors to diverse newcomers.

Nativism and assimilation debates persisted as the U.S. grappled with its identity. Major movements like the Great Migration and Bracero Program reshaped communities. These waves of immigration and internal migration profoundly impacted the nation's ethnic and racial makeup.

Immigration Entry Points and Policies

Ellis Island and Angel Island Processing Centers

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• Ellis Island served as the main immigration processing center on the East Coast of the United States from 1892 to 1954
• Located in New York Harbor, Ellis Island processed approximately 12 million immigrants during its years of operation
• Angel Island, located in San Francisco Bay, served as the primary immigration processing center on the West Coast from 1910 to 1940
• Angel Island primarily processed immigrants from Asia, including China, Japan, and other countries

Restrictive Immigration Policies

• Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers to the United States
  • First significant law restricting immigration to the U.S. based on race and national origin
  • Remained in effect until 1943 when it was repealed by the Magnuson Act
• Quota system introduced in the Immigration Act of 1924 limited the number of immigrants allowed into the U.S. based on their country of origin
  • Aimed to maintain the existing ethnic composition of the U.S. population by favoring immigrants from Western and Northern Europe
  • Restricted immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa

Hart-Celler Act and Immigration Reform

• Hart-Celler Act of 1965 abolished the national origins quota system and replaced it with a preference system based on skills and family relationships
• Opened the doors for increased immigration from Asia, Africa, and Latin America
• Led to a significant shift in the demographic composition of the United States in the following decades

Nativist Attitudes and Assimilation

Nativism and Anti-Immigrant Sentiment

• Nativism refers to the political and social sentiment that favors the interests of native-born citizens over those of immigrants
• Nativist attitudes often stem from fears of economic competition, cultural differences, and perceived threats to national identity
• Examples of nativist movements include the Know Nothing Party in the 1850s and the Ku Klux Klan in the early 20th century

Assimilation and the Melting Pot Theory

• Assimilation is the process by which immigrants adopt the culture, customs, and values of the host society
• Melting pot theory suggests that various immigrant cultures blend together to form a new, unique American culture
• Critics argue that the melting pot theory overlooks the persistence of distinct ethnic identities and the unequal power dynamics between dominant and minority groups
• Alternative models, such as the salad bowl or cultural mosaic, emphasize the coexistence and celebration of diverse cultures within a society

Major Migration Waves

The Great Migration

• The Great Migration refers to the mass movement of approximately 6 million African Americans from the rural South to the urban North and West between 1916 and 1970
• Driven by factors such as racial violence, Jim Crow laws, and limited economic opportunities in the South
• Migrants sought better employment, education, and social conditions in cities like Chicago, Detroit, and New York
• The Great Migration had a profound impact on the demographic, cultural, and political landscape of the United States

The Bracero Program

• The Bracero Program was a series of agreements between the United States and Mexico that allowed Mexican laborers to work in the U.S. on temporary contracts from 1942 to 1964
• Established to address labor shortages in the U.S. during World War II and the post-war period, particularly in the agricultural sector
• Over 4.5 million Mexican workers participated in the program, making it one of the largest foreign worker programs in U.S. history
• The program faced criticism for poor working conditions, low wages, and the exploitation of Mexican laborers
• The Bracero Program had a lasting impact on Mexican-American communities and laid the groundwork for future patterns of Mexican immigration to the United States