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Document A: Excerpt from The Constitution of the Immigration Restriction League, 1894 Introduction Attitudes toward the new imm...Question
Document A: Excerpt from The Constitution of the Immigration Restriction League, 1894
Introduction
Attitudes toward the new immigration during the late 1800s and early 1900s were strong and varied. Some families and communities welcomed the new immigrants with open arms and helped immigrants get settled, while other groups such as the Immigration Restriction League—founded in 1894 by three Harvard graduates—formed to limit or curtail immigration.
Primary Source
“The objects of this League shall be to advocate and work for the further judicious restriction or stricter regulation of immigration, to issue documents and circulars, solicit facts and information on that subject, hold public meetings, and to arouse public opinion to the necessity of a further exclusion of elements undesirable for citizenship or injurious to our national character. It is not an object of this League to advocate the exclusion of laborers or other immigrants of such character and standards as fit them to become citizens.”
What was happening at the time in history this document was created?
Introduction
Attitudes toward the new immigration during the late 1800s and early 1900s were strong and varied. Some families and communities welcomed the new immigrants with open arms and helped immigrants get settled, while other groups such as the Immigration Restriction League—founded in 1894 by three Harvard graduates—formed to limit or curtail immigration.
Primary Source
“The objects of this League shall be to advocate and work for the further judicious restriction or stricter regulation of immigration, to issue documents and circulars, solicit facts and information on that subject, hold public meetings, and to arouse public opinion to the necessity of a further exclusion of elements undesirable for citizenship or injurious to our national character. It is not an object of this League to advocate the exclusion of laborers or other immigrants of such character and standards as fit them to become citizens.”
What was happening at the time in history this document was created?
Answers
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The document was created during a period of significant immigration to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often referred to as the "New Immigration." This era saw a large influx of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe, including countries such as Italy, Poland, and Russia, as well as from Asia and other regions. These immigrants often faced harsh working conditions and lived in overcrowded urban areas, which led to tensions and cultural clashes with the existing populations.
The attitudes towards immigration were polarized during this time. On one side, many American families and communities welcomed immigrants, recognizing their contributions to the labor force and economic growth. On the other side, groups like the Immigration Restriction League emerged, advocating for restrictions on immigration due to concerns over the perceived "undesirability" of certain immigrant groups. They argued that these immigrants did not possess the characteristics needed to assimilate into American society and could threaten the national character and social order.
Legislation reflecting these concerns began to take shape, leading to laws such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and later the Immigration Act of 1924, which established quotas to limit immigration from certain countries. The document reflects the sentiments of nativism and the push for stricter immigration policies prevalent during this period, emphasizing a desire for a more homogeneous national identity.
The attitudes towards immigration were polarized during this time. On one side, many American families and communities welcomed immigrants, recognizing their contributions to the labor force and economic growth. On the other side, groups like the Immigration Restriction League emerged, advocating for restrictions on immigration due to concerns over the perceived "undesirability" of certain immigrant groups. They argued that these immigrants did not possess the characteristics needed to assimilate into American society and could threaten the national character and social order.
Legislation reflecting these concerns began to take shape, leading to laws such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and later the Immigration Act of 1924, which established quotas to limit immigration from certain countries. The document reflects the sentiments of nativism and the push for stricter immigration policies prevalent during this period, emphasizing a desire for a more homogeneous national identity.