Description
Book SynopsisRecent debates over immigration have given rise to a complex spectrum of opinions, attitudes, and emotions. In fact, these debates have been a hallmark of the American nation since its earliest days. In
United States Immigration, 1800-1965 James Pula provides a selection of primary documents that illuminate immigration as one of the defining features of the American social, cultural, and political landscape.
A wide array of primary sources is included: documents written by immigrants that describe their own experiences; examples of pro- and anti-immigration arguments; and government documents, including immigration laws and federal court rulings on issues related to immigration and immigrant rights. In all, 71 documents (including 20 images) help to tell the story of United States immigration from roughly 1800 through to the Hart-Celler Act of 1965.
Trade ReviewProfessor Pula has done historians the estimable service of gathering a comprehensive and revealing set of documents to support courses on United States immigration history. He includes narratives by immigrants themselves; articles, speeches, and cartoons by immigrant advocates and opponents; plus legislation, key court cases, and government reports. All are edited and annotated so that students can get maximum benefit. This is an outstanding contribution to the teaching of American immigration history." —Paul Spickard, Distinguished Professor, University of California, Santa Barbara
"James Pula provides an excellent array of documents detailing the American immigrant experience. After a useful introduction which places the documents in historical context, Pula offers well-chosen selections from the immigrants, their supporters and detractors, as well as government and court records. Each selection, furthermore, has its own explanatory introduction.
United States Immigration, 1800-1965 is an important and worthwhile collection that offers much to the student of immigration history." —Ronald H. Bayor, Professor Emeritus, Georgia Institute of Technology
"James Pula’s book offers teachers and students several perspectives through which to analyze the history of immigration in the United States. Students will be able to hear the voices of the immigrants themselves, analyze the developments of both pro- and anti-immigrant arguments, and get a sense of the broad range of views on immigration within each branch of the US government. Taken together, the documents—along with a lively introduction, glossary, and bibliography—provide a critical tool for understanding the evolution of the immigrant experience, the debate on the role of immigration, and immigration enforcement prior to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. This is a powerful resource for the classroom; I have waited a long time for such a reader!" —Maddalena Marinari, Gustavus Adolphus College
"
United States Immigration, 1800-1965 is an excellent, comprehensive introduction to the history of the American immigration experience. The images and documents will enable students to thoroughly understand how successive generations of immigrants—and the reactions of natives to them—have shaped America in the past and will continue to do so into the future." —Tyler Anbinder, George Washington University.
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Chronology: United States Immigration Timeline, 1790-1965
- Questions to Consider
- Documents
- A. Documents By Immigrants
- 1. Christina Källström Writes Home to Sweden in 1848
- 2. California Landowners Protest the Difficulties in Retaining their Property Rights in 1859
- 3. The New York Tribune Urges Irish Residents to Vote for Irish Candidates in 1867
- 4. Chinese Immigrant Huie Kin Meets America in 1868
- 5. Friedrich Kapp Describes the Immigrant's Arrival in New York in 1870
- 6. Philippe Lemay Explains Why French Canadians Migrated to New England in the Late 19th Century
- 7. Saum Song Bo Comments on the Irony of the Statue of Liberty in 1885
- 8. Rose Cohen Describes Leaving Russia for America in 1892
- 9. The Treatment of Italian Contract Labor Workers in 1893
- 10. Carl Schurz Explains the Importance of Language Retention to Immigrants in 1897
- 11. Rosa Sonneschein Discusses the Assimilation of Female Jews in America
- 12. The Polish Woman's Alliance of America in 1898
- 13. The Sons of Italy Organization in 1905
- 14. Rev. Wacław Kruszka Describes a Distinct Type of Pole in America in 1908
- 15. An Italian Family Arrives at Ellis Island in 1912
- 16. Mexicans in Chicago React to Repatriation in 1929
- 17. Political Cartoon: 'Costly Cleanup of the Yalta Stain,' 1950
- 18. Photograph: New Country, New Name
- B. Documents About Immigrants
- Pro-Immigrant
- 19. Thomas Nichols Explains Why Immigration is Good for America in 1845
- 20. Putnam's Monthly Responds to the Know-Nothings in May 1855
- 21. Bishop Martin J. Spalding Supports Allowing Immigrants to Vote in 1855
- 22. Political Cartoon: Everyone is Welcome at the Table
- 23. Political Cartoon: When political parties think alike
- 24. Political Cartoon: A refuge from danger and suffering
- 25. Senator George F. Hoar Opposes the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882
- 26. Photograph: How the other half lives
- 27. Political Cartoon: What if indigenous people opposed immigration?
- 28. Daniel De Leon Challenges the National Liberal Immigration League in 1907
- 29. Percy Grant Agues for the Value of Education in Promoting Assimilation in 1912
- 30. Illustration: A time for unity
- 31. Political Cartoon: A new roadblock to opportunity
- 32. Rev. T. J. Brennan Opposes the Literacy Test in 1917
- 33. Harris Weinstock Refutes Anti-immigrant Claims by Organized Labor in 1917
- 34. Melvin B. Tolson has a “Rendezvous with America,” 1944
- 35. Photograph: Operation Pedro Pan, 1960-1962
- 36. Political Cartoon: Remodeling the Statue of Liberty
- Anti-Immigrant
- 37. Congressman Lewis C. Levin Argues Against Immigrants Voting in 1847
- 38. Political Cartoon: The immigrant and the vote
- 39. Political Cartoon/Advertisement: The Know-Nothing Platform
- 40. The New York Mirror Argues that America Ought to be Reserved for Americans in 1855
- 41. Thomas Whitney Argues that the Catholic Church is Not Compatible with Democratic Institutions in 1856
- 42. Political Cartoon: Raising public fear over religion
- 43. Political Cartoon: Older immigrants claim precedence over newer arrivals
- 44. Political Cartoon: Who is welcome?
- 45. Henry Cabot Lodge Calls on the Senate to Enact a Literacy Test in 1896
- 46. John Mitchell Argues that Immigration Hurts Labor in 1909
- 47. Madison Grant Uses Racial Arguments for Immigration Restriction in 1916
- 48. Political Cartoon: Stoking political fears
- 49. Political Cartoon: The ethnic filter
C. Government DocumentsReports50. Thomas Jefferson's First Annual Message to Congress51. A New York Commission Investigates Disease on the Sailing Ship Leibnitz52. The New York State Commissioners of Immigration Explain the Purpose of Castle Garden in 187053. Mary Kingsbury Describes Life in New York City in 189854. President Harry Truman Vetoes the McCarran-Walter Act, 195255. The Attorney General Supports Immigration Reform, 1965Legislation56. The Steerage Act of 181957. The Naturalization Act of 187058. The Page Act of 187559. America Closes the Door to the Chinese in 188260. The Immigration Act of 188561. Congress Moves to Further Limit Immigration in 189162. The Immigration Act of 1903 Excludes Anarchists63. Congress Establishes a Literacy Test Requirement for Immigration in 191764. The Immigration Act of 1921 Establishes Nationality Quotas65. The Immigration Act of 1924 Restricts Entry into the U.S.66. The McCarran-Walter Act, 195267. The Hart-Celler Act of 1965Court Cases68. Ho Ah Kow Sues to Protect His Dignity and Sets a Legal Precedent in 187969. Won Kim Ark Tests the Fourteenth Amendment in 189870. The Supreme Court Denies Naturalization to Japanese Immigrants in 192271. U.S. v. Bhagat Singh ThindEpilogueGlossary of TermsSelect Bibliography
