Abstract
This paper uses the functionalist and conflict perspectives in sociology to explain the factors that make California a beacon for many immigrants from around the world.

From the Paper
"Functionalists tend to analyze social phenomenon in terms of how these events contribute to or detract from social order. For functionalists, one of the biggest factors that would draw immigrants is the need for inexpensive labor. There are large segments of the California economy that are dependent on this important resource. This need can be seen in the number of unauthorized immigrants who are employed in low-wage occupations. For example, in California, undocumented workers comprise 19 percent of farming workers and 17 percent of workers employed in cleaning occupations (Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy 2005)."

Tags:influx, sociology, economy, relocation

Abstract
This paper presents an essay that explores the concept of the California dream, as discussed in the book, "California Dreams and Realities". The essay touches upon the impact of immigration, the environment, education, economics, the entertainment industry, and the automobile industry on the California Dream.

From the Paper
"In "California Dreams and Realities", editors Sonia Maasik and Jack Solomon maintain that California is neither the sun-drenched land of glitter and glamour that many outsiders imagine when they think of the Golden State nor is it the war zone that has recently captured the national imagination. In a state where the one constant of life is change the California Dream is part myth, part reality and typically something in between for those who inhabit the Golden State. From a review of the essays in..."

Tags:Steinbeck, Fitzgerald, pollution, University of California, Hollywood, inequality, Silicon Valley, politics, corruption, water

Abstract
In spite of recent referrals to the decline of boundaries between nations and cultures that is a feature of globalization, issues of immigration remain much debated in the United States in the late 1990s. This paper examines the 'Mexican Question' in California with regard to history, as it most definitely continues to shape Californians' attitudes and political sentiment. The result is a view of an American region that by no means reflects the dissolution of borders between cultures that is held by some theorists to be occurring at the present time.

Abstract
This paper analyzes the presence of Mexican immigrants in California, and how they came to play an essential role in the structure of the American society. The author studies the reasons for Mexican immigrants to settle down in California and New Mexico, and how the American economy was influenced by the influx of immigrants; the Mexicans became a source of cheap and strong labor in the gold mining business. The paper also discusses the ways in which the Mexican community assimilated into American culture.

From the Paper
"The fact that the Mexicans came to be more appreciated in terms of financial gains in California rather than in their native land, they decided to establish themselves with their families as well. In this sense, the structure of the society changed as well. More and more Mexicans became part of the American culture and contributed to its definition. The Mexican family played a major role in creating the sense of multiculturalism inside the society. Unlike the traditional way of life of the American family the Mexican family was quite different."

Tags:immigration, culture

Abstract
This paper discusses treatment of Native American Indians during the Great Depression, contrasting their treatment in California with elsewhere, and also discussing treatment of blacks, immigrants, women, and Hispanics.

From the Paper
"Native American Indians, on the whole, fared rather well during the Great Depression. The economic position of Utah's five Paiute bands of Indians, for example, gradually improved during the ...s and Weber State University Professor, Ronald L. Holt states that; "For many Indians, the depression years were a relatively good period." (Bartholomew) This was due in part to the changes in Indians' rights that came with President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal which replaced the old system of allotments under which Indians..."

Tags:Native American Indian, blacks, immigrants, women, Hispanics, Great Depression, California, Hollywood

Abstract
The paper asserts that since it is impossible to predict what will happen as the battle over immigration continues, our most reasonable course of action is to look to the past, to the history of immigration in the United States, to get a clearer sense of the ways in which immigration has shaped the nation. Such an examination reveals that immigration is a social and historical phenomenon that has previously been to the benefit of the nation. The paper argues that although circumstances are somewhat different today, history illustrates that the value of immigration will likely far outweigh any negativity in the coming years.

From the Paper
"Few issues in the United States currently have the capacity to elicit as much ire as the debate over immigration. At times, the debate seems to be anything but rational, as individuals on both sides of the issue make extravagant claims. The old American myth that the country was built by freedom-loving immigrants comes into conflict with the realities of cultural integration and economic crisis. Since it is impossible to predict what will happen as the battle over immigration continues, our most reasonable course of action is to look to the past, to the history of immigration in the United States, to get a clearer sense of the ways in..."

Tags:immigration, u.s., history

Abstract
This paper examines immigration policies in the United States. The paper describes some of the reasons that immigration rates in the U.S. have risen and fallen, including domestic political, economic, social, and religious factors, which have in turn been impacted by the rate of immigration from abroad. Then paper then discusses what effects these changes in rates of immigration have on the U.S. government immigration policies.

From the Paper
"Immigration: An Analysis of Policy Shifts Over the years, the pace of immigration in the United States has risen and fallen depending upon several factors. American immigration policies have shifted at various times due to domestic political, economic, social, and religious factors in the United States, which have in turn been impacted by the rate of immigration from abroad. When immigration rates have been high, government immigration policies have tended to become more restrictive because of government reactions to public concerns about "foreigners" undermining American society and taking away jobs. In times of economic expansion and prosperity, immigration policies have tended to be much less stringent, primarily because jobs are plentiful."

Tags:immigration, policy, shifts

Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses the role of immigration and anti-immigrant fears in American politics in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The writer looks at the volume and character of immigration and its economic impact. The writer discusses big city machines, Red scare and Palmer raids. Further, the writer examines how immigration became a major factor in American national politics.

From the Paper
"Immigration developed as a major factor in American politics during the late 19th century, due to the large scale of immigration, the new and more diverse origins of the immigrants and the resulting social and economic tensions. Immigration contributed to the growth of big-city political machines and after World War I fear of immigrant radicals triggered the first great Red scare in American national politics. Thus, immigration and the fear of immigration and immigrants played a major role in ... "

Tags:immigration, nativism, palmer, raids, red, scare

From the Paper
"Scope of Illegal Immigration
The United States has been unable to stem the tide of illegal aliens who are estimated to number more than 3.5 million (Yang, 1994, p. 34). California absorbs more than 50 percent of the nation's illegal immigrants (Wagar, 1994, p. 4). Because of the burden this places on the state economy, California has been leading the call for a close review of federal immigration laws. However, other states like Arizona, Florida and Texas are asking for more federal funding to reimburse them for services spent on illegal aliens, such as medical care, imprisonment and education.


History of Illegal Immigration
One of the reasons why the illegal aliens have become so difficult to stop is an ideological problem in the United States concerning immigration. The U.S. government cannot determine whether it wishes..."

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Abstract
This paper describes how John Fante uses the characters in his novel "Ask the Dust" to convey the inferiority complex common to many new immigrants. It looks at the immigrant culture portrayed in the novel and the impact this culture had on the development of Californian culture.

From the Paper
"John Fante's Ask the Dust is regarded as one of the most successful novels of the 20th century with its theme grounded in immigration and myth of American dream. The novel is not exactly negative in tone instead it simply focuses on realistically presenting the life of immigrants in Los Angeles community of 1930s. The author has beautifully recreated the early times of massive immigration to the Golden State where people of many communities settled down in the hope of building and carving a more positive future for themselves than the one they would have been accorded in their native lands. After reading the novel, it appears that the most important theme of the novel is "struggle of immigrants to become an American by degrading others"."

Tags:immigrant, communities, arturo, los, angeles, spanish, indian, african, camilla