Do you believe its fair to compare?

Question

todays immigration procedures to early 1900's immigration policy?


Most people say that their ancestors immigrated here in legal ways and use that as an argument but do you think thats a fair argument considering how easy it was to immigrate back then then it is today?

thanks <3

no cartman I think we should keep it like this posting news stories everyday of things that Americans themselves do by the thousands

is that fine with you?

wow amnesty sucks...no **** its legal, you missed the whole point...anyone who applied that was able body were granted status...not the same as today

Answer 1

No, it's not a fair comparison. Until the Chinese Exclusion Act, there were virtually no restrictions on immigration. Citizenship could be hard to acquire, but the act of immigration itself was easy by comparison. A boat full of immigrants would dock at an American port, the passengers would walk off the boat and onto American soil, and that was basically the end of the procedure. Immigrants in the late 1800s and early 1900s had a somewhat more difficult time entering the United States. Xenophobic sentiments about southern European Catholics not being able to assimilate into American life were popular justifications for putting stricter limits on immigration, especially from certain parts of the world, but that didn't stop the floods of Irish, Germans, Italians, Jews, Poles, and many others from flooding into the United States. And guess what? They assimilated. I'm a third generation Sicilian American.

Most of my ancestors immigrated to the US before 1900 and they were all white, so the hardest part of the process was leaving relatives and raising enough money for fare and living expenses. And I'm tired of people saying their ancestors immigrated legally. There WAS NO legally before a certain period of time. In the US we've had an open immigration policy for a lot longer than we've had a closed one.

There are always reactionaries and fearmongerers about immigration, like the Know Nothings in the 19th century.

Answer 2

It is not unfair to compare because it has never been easy to immigrate and then become a legal citizen, but the people who immigrated in the early 1900s had more respect for the country they were moving to. The thing that really burns me about the new immigrants is that they want all of the traditions and customs of their native land, but are unwilling to conform to the government under which they now live. If it was so great where they were that they feel the need to continue doing what they did there, why don't they go back?
My ancestors came over legally and then would not allow their child to speak their native language in their own home, and I think that is sad. In my family we lost the traditions and language of our history, but I don't think it is right that the new immigrants expect Americans to conform to them.
I don't know how it will happen but I hope that we can find a balance between the loss of culture the old immigrants had and the steadfast inability to conform to their new country that the new immigrants are practicing.

Answer 3

Immigration policies and laws change. However, yes, I think it is fair to say that coming legally by whatever the rules were at the time is different from coming illegally. Countries need different things at different times, and countries have the right, through their legislative process, to set immigration quotas and restrictions.

No one has a 'right' to come if the country doesn't want them here, as evidenced by its law at the time.

Also, there were no food stamps or welfare programs or 'in state tuition' or birthing care or any of the rest of it back then, either, so immigrants weren't subsidized like they are today. Greater subsidy means greater expense on the host country.

Answer 4

My grandmother came from Ukraine with two young kids and she was alone on a ship with them, didn't know anyone or speak English at the time. She was also hand icapped with only one arm having lost it in a farming accident has a young child.Her husband ( my grandfather ) was a US citizen and was waiting for her in the states. It still wasn't easy for her.It is never easy to immigrate anywhere.

Answer 5

There is a huge difference. It's called ILLEGAL. Immigrants in the early 1900s were LEGAL!

It was not easy to immigrate back then. Why do think they called Ellis Island the "Isle of tears?" Besides, even if it is harder today, SO WHAT! You are suppose to obey the law!

What part of ILLEGAL is so hard to understand?

Answer 6

The demise of any new child is unhappy yet whilst one gets abused and murdered is tragic.i will comprehend human beings evaluating Maddie McCann with this little lady. Neither have been discovered yet with regards to Rose Ron a grandparent has confessed to her homicide. no person is acquainted with what got here approximately to Maddie so its no longer top to evaluate the two. I purely wish that the grand fathers confession proves to be fake and the two ladies are discovered alive and properly

Answer 7

No, it's not fair. The demand for immigration was much different than it was today. And the conditions for the immigrants are different. Not everyone came to the US to work low end jobs in the 1900's. Some came just to relocate, or for the heck of it. Conditions in Central and South America are bad, and the poor there relocate here to get a better life. They lack the money and time required to immigrate here legally. For such a hard working force, the system needs to be overhauled to get them in here in a fair manner.

Answer 8

I think its fair to compare the relative easiness to enter the USA in 1900 with the difficulty in our time.

Answer 9

Every country has the right to limit immigration and make the process as easy or as difficult as they choose. It isn't about the needs or wants of the potential immigrant. Check out Mexico's immigration laws.

Answer 10

The U.S. allows more people to legally immigrate BY FAR than any other country in the world. So what is your response to that??
Do you think we are unfair?? If you want actual numbers, they are readily available. why don't you read them, you will be stunned if you compare OUR immigration policies compared to other countries


Another issue we DIDN'T have was people swimming across the ocean by the millions...compared to people WALKING across the border illegally by the millions today...so NO I don't think it's fair to compare.