Compare and contrast the ways that many Americans expressed their opposition to immigrants in the 1840 – 1850s with the ways that many Americans expressed their opposition to immigrants in the 1910 – 1920s.
- Introduction
- There has always been opposition to immigrants in the US.
- Thesis: Although the expression cof the opposition to immigratns changed throughout the years, the underlying basis of this predijudice remained the same.
- Unique to 1840s and 1850s (Differences)
- Creation of political parties based of off nativism
- Know Nothing Party
- Native American Party
- Supreme Order of the Star Spangled Banner
- More actions taken socially then physically
- Racism
- Inferior because of poverty
- Scared their jobs will be stolen
- Specific racism toward Irish and Germans
- Unique to 1910-1920s (Differences)
- More actions taken physically than socially
- Violence
- KKK is reborn
- Leo Frank (Jewish) case gains support for KKK
- Public whipping, tarring and feathers, and lynching
- More widespread targets of racism
- Exclusion expanded to Jews, Catholics, and all foreigners
- Federal government assists Nativist efforts
- National Origins Act
- Banned all immigration from East Asia (targets Japanese)
- Immigration heavily favors NW Europeans
- Considered the differences in speech and habits to be a direct threat to their way of life
- Both in 1840/50 and 1910/20 (Similarities)
- Both resulted in alienation and exclusion for immigrants
- Both were caused by the fear of losing the life the Americans love
- Both created sterotypes for groups and cultures
- Conclusion
- Restate thesis in a different way: Protection of the loved American Dream has always motivated opposition against foreigners, all throughout American history.
- Summarize main difference
- Summarize main similarity
- Analyze the irony of the protection of the American Dream resulting in the exact opposite, a country laden with the burdens of predjudice, hatred, and lack of freedom.