American Immigrant Economy

Paper Summary:

In this paper, the writer discusses that in general immigrant life, in the early 20th century was one of challenges and hard living. The writer notes that the ideal of the accepting bosom of the wayward masses was propagated further in America during this period, possibly to help the immigrant come to terms personally with a choice to immigrate, which at many times probably seemed dubious to the new American as he or she and her family struggled to stay together, stay clean, earn wages and even eat. The writer points out that different nationalities, at different times in the immigration history of the US, had differing experiences of what it meant to be new to America but it was in general marked by economic stress, that demanded everyone including women and children work for wage labor and unpaid labor to keep the family clothed and fed. Finally, the writer concludes that most immigrant groups settled in areas where others of their national origin had already eked out a pseudo-homeland existence, to try to build even a sliver of the dream of America.

From the Paper:

"At the turn of the 20th century the mental picture of the Immigrant settling in America was one of a rugged hard working and largely hard living family. According to many posthumous accounts, depending upon where the family settled, living conditions were sparse and often painfully overcrowded by any standard. Additionally, the early 20th century marked the beginning of the moves to restrict the work of children, a change that would be difficult to stomach, economically, for many immigrant families but one that was also considered socially progressive, along with old age pension plans and unemployment insurance. The economics of the immigrant family in the early 20th century were often precarious and challenged as the work was hard, the hours were long and the pay was usually barely adequate to maintain a family."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Guerin-Gonzales, Camille. Mexican Workers and American Dreams: Immigration, Repatriation, and California Farm Labor, 1900-1939. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1994. Questia. 20 Feb. 2006 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=23313773>.
• Higham, John. Strangers in the Land: Patterns of American Nativism, 1860-1925. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1955. Questia. 20 Feb. 2006 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=54396816>.
• Kessler-Harris, Alice. In Pursuit of Equity: Women, Men, and the Quest for Economic Citizenship in 20Th Century America. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. Questia. 20 Feb. 2006 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=107477652>.
• Miller, John J. "Miss Americanizer." Policy Review (1997): 64. Questia. 20 Feb. 2006 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000433588>.
• Podea, Iris Saunders. "Quebec to "Little Canada": the Coming of the French Canadians to New England in the Nineteenth Century." Readings in Ethnic History Readings in Ethnic History. Ed. Leonard Dinnerstein and Frederic Cole Jaher. New York: Oxford University Press, 1977. 173-180. Questia. 20 Feb. 2006 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=98867801>.

More papers on American Immigrant Economy:

• Analytical Essay # 23684 : "American Immigration"
• Persuasive Essay # 66622 : "Immigration on the Economy"
• Argumentative Essay # 97370 : "Illegal Immigration and the U.S Economy"

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