Essay On American Immigration

From the late 1800's to the early 1900's in the United States, immigrants poured in from all different countries but faced problems along the way. Immigrants came to America for more jobs, better living conditions, and more money. However, they faced problems including nativists, discrimination, and tenements. A majority of immigrants had high expectations but realized what the reality of living an American lifestyle was. Overall, immigration was something people turned to when facing push factors in their home country.
There are multiple reasons that immigrants came to America and left their home countries. For example, a push factor would be that the people of Ireland faced a famine. One of the major food supplies in Ireland was the potatoes,
For example, a Polish immigrant wrote a letter in 1913; he stated that following, "I go 4 times to teacher, and must pay $2 weekly. I wanted take board [to like] in english house, but I could not, for I only earn $5 or 6 in a week, and when I pay teacher $2, I only have $4-3 and now english board house is too dear [expensive] for me." He also says in his letter, "But my friends are polish people- I must stay with them" (document 5). This letter shows how Polish people were discriminated against and had to stick together. The letter also explains the struggle that the immigrants went through to learn the language so they can communicate with the American people. They had problems with how their low income was, and it affected their lively hood. Immigrants could not afford basic luxuries. Another example, is that the typical immigrant faced nativists. Nativists are white American citizens of the United States; who believed that immigrants should not be allowed into the country and that they are ruining the country. Nativists wanted to restrict immigration to protect themselves and their children from ruinous labor and business competitions (document 4). Nativists also encouraged the Chinese Exclusion Act which is an act that excluded Chinese Labors to enter the United States and it said that any person who originated in China, and then left America would not be