BASIC FACTS ABOUT IMMIGRATION (until 1924)

INT :the discovery of America

1492 : Christopher Columbus discovered America by mistake while looking for gold; he thought he had landed in China, but it was the Carribean Islands.Other explorers followed and described this new continent as a new Garden of Eden, a "land flowing with milk and honey"(Bible,Book of Joshua 5,6).

I)THE FIRST IMMIGRATION WAVE(1607-1790)

There are three main reasons which attracted people to America:

1- Economic reasons

1607: a group of London merchants established the first British colony in Jamestown, Virginia.They expected large profits from the tobacco they planned to grow there.

1619: they needed labour to work on the plantations, so they shipped in black slaves from Africa.

Later on poor Europeans were attracted by job prospects to America which became "a land of opportunities" for them.

2-Religious reasons

In the 17th century Europe was shaken by religious wars.In England especially, Protestant dissenters (Puritans) were persecuted because of their dissatisfaction with the established Church of England (Anglicans).So they thought they could find religious freedom in America.

1620: a group of Puritans called "the Pilgrim Fathers" landed with their ship "The Mayflower" on the North-East coast and began a new settlement in Massachusetts( now called Plymouth).

The native Americans ( the Indians) welcomed them and showed them where to fish ; they shared their wild turkeys and corn with them. This day is still celebrated on Thanksgiving Day.

Until 1700 , other religious dissenters followed them: French Huguenots, other English Puritans and German Protestants.

3-a dream of democracy

Once in America, the settlers discovered a country with no traditions, no feudal system, no social orders.It was a good opportunity to experiment with democracy and try out new philosophical ideas on self-government.

CONCLUSION: this first wave of immigration, which lasted until 1790 brought 4 million people to America, 80% being white and 20% black.

The British settlements developed into 13 colonies which gained their independence in a victorious war against the King of England, and on July 4th,1796, the Declaration of Independence was signed.It still stands today as a landmark of American ideals:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

II)THE MAJOR IMMIGRATION WAVE (1800-1880)

It gave a strong start to the American economy and united the nation culturally.The immigrants came from:

-Ireland(potato famine in 1840 and anti-Catholic discrimination)

-Germany, Austria( Napoleonic wars and revolutionary movements)

-Scandinavia (poverty)

They found work in the industries of the North-East and also went West for farmlands.

They easily mixed with the first wave of immigrants, because of the language,similar religion and culture.They are now called the W.A.S.Ps(White Anglo-Saxon Protestant).They lived happily in a country where free enterprise and equality(except for the Blacks) reigned, where everything was ready for the taking.

III)THE NEW IMMIGRATION WAVE (1880-1924)

With this new wave of immigrants, things changed markedly.First, they came in far greater numbers than ever .Secondly, all the jobs in the industries of the North were taken up and there was no free land left in the West.However, the main reason why they were not accepted easily is the fact they were were different from the "old" immigrants.They came from:

-Southern Europe (Italy, Greece)

-Central and Eastern Europe( Poland, Russia, Hungary, Rumania)

-the Far East (Japan, China)

Of course they constituted a cheap labour force, but some Americans wondered whether they would one day melt into the great "melting pot".

This leads to a great paradox in American culture.On the one hand, America symbolized the refuge for the oppressed whom the Statue of Liberty( standing next to Ellis Island in the harbour of New-York) traditionally welcomed.

(Ellis Island was where the registry offices were situated to filter the new immigrants and reject those who were illiterate or ill because they would be a burden for the USA.)

But on the other hand, America tried to limit immigration by nationality.The 1924 Quota Laws established quotas of immigration per country to maintain the ethnic and linguistic unity of the US.Thus we can conclude that the paradox between the myth of the Open Door and the reality of xenophobia is striking.

IV)IMMIGRATION TODAY (since 1960)

America is still today a magnet to immigrants from all over the world.Even if the myth of the melting pot is largely outdated, the images of the tossed salad or the rainbow illustrate the fact that America is a mosaic of people.

1-Who wants to become American?

In the last two decades, two major groups have emerged :

a-the Hispanics: this term apply to Puerto-Ricans, Carribeans, Chicanos from Mexico or Latin Americans.Puerto-Ricans are US citizens from birth whereas other Hispanics have to apply for American citizenship.

Some of them came for political reasons(Cubans fleeing the communist regime of Fidel Castro or others South American dictatorships), others because they were poor , unskilled and starved in their countries.

Some succeeded in America, others did not:40% of Puerto-Ricans lived below the poverty line in 1984.

The integration of Hispanics is not complete : even those who have succeeded live in their own district, have their own TV networks in Spanish, their own restaurants etc...

There are also a lot of illegal hispanics who live outside cities in the fear of deportation to Mexico.

b-the Asians : they mainly come from China, Japan, Vietnam( after the Vietnam war) , Korea, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Pacific Islands.

Apart from bringing valuable energies and skills to the country, Asian immigrants have also contributed to a marked change in American culture.Most of them have settled on the Pacific Coast which has thus become a new focal point for political and economic concerns.

2-How many can become American?

The 1924 Quota Laws were abolished in 1964.However, there still exist several Immigration Acts restricting immigration to about 600,000 people per year.The Refugee Act of 1980 also allows 70,000 additional people into the States annually, when they have a "well-grounded fear of persecution" on account of race, religion, nationality or political opinions.

There are also a lot of illegal immigrants: students who overstay their visas, boat people from Haiti and the Caribbean Islands, and Hispanics crossing the Rio Grande("wetbacks").