In the movie Ellis Island, we saw a drastic transformation in United States policy on immigration. In the United States before this time, we saw a nationalist attitude that denied entry from many different races not considered to be "Anglo-Saxon." Discuss how America transformed to an "all white" nationalistic country to the largest melting pot in the world with the inauguration opening of Ellis Island and how it shaped immigration laws today. Do you think an open immigration policy like the one used in the times of Ellis Island is more beneficial to our country, or do you think harsh immigration laws are necessary?
By: Skyler, Colan, and Gabriella.
America was not really an all-white nationalistic society until nationalism really took hold. That was during the Civil War. Prior to that there were times that Indians held slaves, blacks and whites served side by side in the military, in the navy that even continued into the late 1880's. So this Anglo-Saxon ideal is actually more a result of incoming Irish immigration, being first major Catholic group, and the stresses of maintaining the Union and influences behind that. As far a a meting pot we really did not see that come into full play until the last few decades. While it was referred to as a melting pot , melting takes time. As I have discussed before a stick of butter does not immediately melt into a pot of boiling water and the specific gravity is so different that is really only coats the water without truly mixing in. In that way we have always been a "melting pot" but most refer to the gathering point at which race will mean almost nothing with regards to personal prejudices. Restricted immigration is a danger to a free and open market. Unfortunately people are told from a young age to do better than their parents did. Many take that to heart as in don't be willing to do the jobs your parents were willing to do. In that way we have an economic necessity for immigration as shown by the vast importation and employment of illegal immigrants. However we should have laws that support our economic interests and not our racial bigotry.
ReplyDeleteHarsh immigration laws are necessary in todays America largely in part to population control. It would be nice to grant the freedom and opportunity this country has to offer to all those seeking a better life but unfortunately America cannot support everyone. Today immigration needs to be looked at differently. What are the root causes of immigration? Idealistically, instead of putting so much energy and resources into keeping everyone out we need to put that into efforts of aiding those countries while not stepping on their own sovereignty. The immigration laws that were in place during the time of Ellis Island are what made our country what it is today, "the melting pot". They just do not fit for the times now. No matter what we will continue to be a melting pot.
ReplyDeleteI think harsh immigration laws are necessary but not in the sense that they should discriminate between immigrants on the basis of race or nationality (except in the cases of countries experiencing floods of immigration from one or two countries). By supporting the idea of harsh immigration laws, I guess what I'm really supporting is more thorough checks and restrictions on immigrants coming in. You don't want drug dealers or other higher risk criminals or terrorists from other nations coming into yours, so I'd want the regulations regarding immigrants who may fall into those categories really tight. Of course, you've also got to take into consideration the fact that some people may have been criminals in their own countries because it was the only way they could survive. (Ex: guy labeled as a murderer killed a member of the military dictatorship attacking his home.) It'd be difficult and might have to be a case to case basis.
ReplyDeleteIt can be said that America made this transformation because in a sense it had to. America needed people, as has been said by Professor Celaya, it would make propaganda calling on all of the Americans of the world to make the journey and become an American. With the great diversity of people that were going through Ellis Island, they were accommodating to the different cultures and become accepting of them. All of these people brought with them their culture which included; language, food and traditions. Thus America became the melting pot that it is today. In Ellis Island the way that the immigration laws were enforced, in terms of health and legal inspections, reflect the current immigration laws. Otherwise they do not really because only the third class passengers were even required to go through Ellis Island. Immigration policy like the one used in the times of Ellis Island would be impossible to carry out now, because every country needs some sort of immigration laws. Even the sending countries have harsh immigration laws. They are necessary but they need to be enforced in a humane manner because all people deserve to be treated with respect even if they have broken those immigration laws.
ReplyDeleteThe United States has some of the most liberal immigration laws in the world, and is lucky to have the push-factors to draw immigration. Our welfare state is limited, so we have limited reasons to turn away immigrants; they are all unlikely to become a public charge. It could be argued that certain restrictions on immigration are necessary to prevent economic shocks to our system, and dislocation, but the level of current restrictions seems silly to me.
ReplyDeleteI believe that harsh immigration laws are not necessary in the sense that sometimes when hash laws are put in place more tension is place among the countries and it makes things worse; it makes it harder to make agreements about these type of issues. In the case of Ellis Island at some point there was a lot of discrimination in the way that people who didn't know how to read and write didn't have the same opportunities as others. However, it is just ironic how at first America wanted a lot of immigrants to come, and then when it didn't know how to handle them the best solution for America was to establish laws such as the Quota Act to keep them from coming. But it is unfair to me that immigrants had to pay the consequences just for the fact that America didn't know what to do.
ReplyDeleteThey had open immigration laws during the opening of Ellis Island because they needed labor and people to do menial work. So a big influx of people started arriving in the United States and they were all mostly welcomed because the first wave of people had a lot of similarities with Americans. When the people actually get here the Irish are neglected and are forced to do the worst jobs. But then when darker skinned people from Eastern Europe begin to arrive the Irish's status goes up one because the Easterners are now at the bottom. On the West coast having large amounts of Asians come in also had impact on immigration. Socially Asians were also put at the bottom of the status in America because of the differences they had. These fears a prejudices really helped form the quotas to help prevent people that Americans didn't want. Now the open immigration used in 1902 for Ellis Island was great back then but would not function today. There are too many economical problems and too many unemployed. If there were to be an open immigration like that of Ellis Island then whichever immigrants migrate would be hated by Americans because they would be taking jobs that Americans wouldn't have done but they wanted to have that option of doing. This fear of immigrants taking the jobs and over ones country can relate today with relation to Hispanics. Another factor would be that most Hispanic immigrants are coming in illegally making them another target for ranking at the bottom socially.
ReplyDeleteMy question is, what if we did what Europe did and opened up our borders, not completely and each country maintained their sovereignty to some extent, what would happen? What kinds of changes would occur? Could we have worker's permits and work in each other's countries freely to help maintain one another's economy? Or are their historical events that we can't change that some are unwilling to let go of? I feel that opening up to immigration would be of great benefit! However, the reality is it would be a long and difficult process.
ReplyDeleteI think that if the United States were to open up its borders and create a system like the EU, it would be beneficial. It would probably greatly improve the state of our economy because it would allow a greater legal workforce. People wouldn't be as fearful because they were illegal and it would definitely provide a more successful environment.
ReplyDelete