The Immigrant Experience In America

S.W
Professor M.S
HST 202 – 08
June 3, 2013
The Immigrant Experience Going back to the origin of the United States, we were small colonies made up of English immigrants. Fast forward few centuries, the United States has expanded in their territory and their population so far that the origin of the United States, immigrants, are becoming a problem to the immigrants with citizenship and the generations after. In earlier eras, from the late 1800’s through the 1920’s, millions of immigrants set foot in the United States. As a result of the vast population growth, many of the immigrants endured many challenges through these eras of the United States. To begin with, during the Imperialism era, the Chinese were excluded from the United States
For example, Eric Foner writes about “Manuel Gamio on a Mexican-American Family and American Freedom,” which talks about one of the millions of Mexican immigrant families that arrived in United States between 1900 through 1930. (VF 73) Mr. Santella and his family which includes his wife, his five girls, and his two boys, set foot in the United States, San Antonio, Texas. At the time, they were considered higher end living among the other Mexican immigrants, but they were just people of the working classes. After five years in the United States, the Santella family except for the father and mother assimilated American living style and customs; three of the seven children had married to an American partner. Although the mother did not grow accustom to the lifestyle, she grew like the life in the United States because of the freedom and safety it had over Mexico, but disapprove the way young women act in the United States of America. Unfortunately, the youngest daughter adapted to the American custom the most. She wanted her freedom and independence. This led to a job where she can pay for her own dresses, cosmetics, and luxury good. In my experience, I can relate the youngest daughter. Even though my parents are immigrants of the United States, I am born and raised in the United States. Often times, my mom and grandma would criticize me for the way I view and do things like
(VF 148) Three years later, congress limited European immigration to 150,000 per year. This law was used to ensure that the number of citizens’ children will outnumber the new. According to Mr. Parrish, he thinks that immigrants will destroy democracy. The immigrants will bring old ideas into the United States and that will have a negative influence. He says that the United States should act quickly and prevent further immigration to protect American ideals. In contrast, Mr. London thought immigration would help the United States. In fact, he mentions how if we prevent immigration, the United States’ biggest state would be