M8A1 Immigration three 750 word essay questions. Some attached work can help.

This can help write the paper. Do not plagiarize this assignment.

What were the major push and pull factors driving Chinese and Japanese immigration to the US?

           The Chinese migration to the United States was fueled (pushed) by multiple issues.  The first one that forced many was the notion of sanctuary in a land far away from the oppression of Britain and Irish Opium wars (Takaki, 1993).  The colonization of China by the British was pushing the Irish west and the Chinese east due to conflict.  Along with this war, there was instances of in-fighting between local peasant tribes which forced healthy young men to migrate to the Pacific.  This entire side of the conflict was over fertile land (E.G. Taiping Rebellion).  Second, the threat of starvation in China was also a major factor in the rising of the migration to the US (Takaki, 1993).  This was caused by the massive rains that were occurring in the region and the rapid dense population.   

However, in my opinion the real underlying reason the Chinese migrated in large numbers was due to the conditions they were forced to endure.   The economy was horrible (3 to 5 dollars earned in a month when an immigrant earned 30 in the US) In addition; taxes were imposed on the farmers to pay for their lands that were too high for them to pay.  As a result of this, many farmers lost their lands to the Qing government and migrated west (Takaki, 1993).  That encompasses all the “push” reasons a Chinese Immigrant had to migrate east as soon as they were able.  This led to a massive migration for voluntary labor in the United States, where the Chinese were borrowing to come over and working off their debts with the hopes of dream articulated in their “Gold Hills” stories (Takaki, 1993).The “pull” portion of this for the Chinese is much easier to explain and is less in number, as they didn’t need much of a pull.  The biggest one is the stories and possibilities of striking it rich in GOLD.   The “Gold Hills” stories from people coming home to China with more money than most peasants earn in a lifetime were more than enough to push some over that were riding the ledge on the decision (Chew, 1903).  In addition, the promise of the opportunity alone to earn more than double your current income right off the bat doing the same kind of work you are accustomed to.  Second, the promise of simple employment and the opportunity to work and earn a living became a major contributor.  These opportunities were simple in range and skill, even for the illiterate or unskilled.  Some examples were railway workers, miners (they mostly joined the 49er movement), and simple farmers.  In conclusion, the Chinese were, for a period of time, very welcomed.  To say it best, I will quote the text by saying; “No people in all the East are so well adapted for clearing wild lands and raising every species of agricultural product…as the Chinese” (Takaki, 1993)

The Japanese migration boom happened in part to the Anti-Chinese immigration law of 1882 called the “Chinese Exclusion Act”.  This act prohibited plantation owners and laborers from hiring Chinese workers and laborers (Ref. 3).  Therefore, the Japanese filled a void.  The Japanese had already started migrated to the United States (Hawaii), just not the recognized continental US.   The “push” was simple; the emperor has just recently opened the opportunity for a Japanese citizen to emigrate.  This was a major boom that contributed to the “pull”.  Being able to earn 10 times more than they were in Japan, immigrating to Hawaii for work in the sugar cane and pineapple fields became very appealing.

 References:

1. Takaki, Ronald, 1993.  A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America.

2. Excerpt from A Chinese Immigrant Makes His Home in Turn-of-th-Century America by Lee Chew, 1903.

3. Excerpt from Japanese Immigration; Immigration to North America.  ( http://immigrationtous.net/170-japanese-immigration.html )

4. Japanese Immigrants.  ( http://immigrationtounitedstates.org/663-japanese-immigrants.html )

 

How did the realities of life in the United States for Chinese and Japanese immigrants compare to what they were hoping for when they immigrated?  (Support your answer with the examples from Fu Chi Hao and Lee Chew’s Stories and the video).

            When compared to the sweet and delightful dream, like Mr. Chew saw first-hand, life in America for the Immigrants was not at all as envisioned.  Mr. Chew wrote an experience down detailing a member of his community returning home to China and having the riches to purchase outlandish things (home, wall, food, etc.) and live an extraordinary lifestyle (Chew, 1903). This life and accomplishments were all due and contributed to the “American Wizards” of the east.  It must be true if one can see it and taste it and actually live it, right?  As life would have it, it was not so green on the other side. 

            Immigrants faced many oppressions and labels almost upon arrival.  The other immigrants (Irish, English and Spanish) didn’t want them there, simple competition rules.  America, for the most part, was viewed as the land of opportunity and freedom, as explained in great detail by Chew in 1903; “Indeed, America is a wonderful nation.”  Reading the overview of the treatment of Mr. Chew in his letter, it is evident that this was a man that changed his view of the country he migrated to due to the treatment he had received over a 6 year period.  Yes, he was able to earn a living, an actual good living, making more than he would have in his home country.  His occupation of choice was of course a laundry operator (as prevalent in Chinese Immigrant history; Takaki, 1993). 

            Mr. Chew’s view was the Americans took advantage of his race due to its kind nature and quality of work.  He comments that cheap labor was never cheap; it was simply excellent and took no supervision or re-work.  This caused jealousy among other immigrants (mostly Irish), resulting in protest against them.  This was not the land of opportunity that was foretold in the stories; it is a limited country with capital needs.  For example, most Chinese went into the laundry business due to low capital and it was a opportunity that hadn’t been exploited yet by other races or denominations. 

            Mr. Hao’s experience is somewhat different.  His ascertain is that America should be proud of its liberty and freedom.  It’s just the limitations it put on his people made his view of the country as a whole.  Being denied entry (even with an approved passport), suffer in holding camps, and not being able to conduct any manual labor due to the new laws are just a few he listed as his hardships.  This treatment was not at all like the stories he was promised or the opportunity he was to gain by migrating.  Not being able to bring your family to keep numbers at appropriate levels, confining immigrants’ illegally and enforcing the “no labor at all” made life very difficult for these dreamers.

            In conclusion, the promise and dream of what America was “Supposed to be” and what it actually was in reality was a shock to the masses that were migrating.  All migrants were seeking a better life, better opportunities and came from almost the harshest environments possible. Ranging from starvation, low wages, manual labor with no pay, and over taxation, and these people came to a land that was supposed to be the “big break” for them.  Some were able to save and send money home, even when their conditions were not favorable, they were better than what they had lived for.  In my opinion, it’s what happened after the first waves hit and the country started to realize the second and third order of effects. 

They were coming in by the thousands and they had no control on the labor market.  At first, the immigration was great and was doing exactly what the nation needed; replace black labor (Takaki, 1993).  Then the numbers continued to grow, political alliances changed, laws changed and the status quo was shifted to an anti-Asian stance.  This changed the landscape and it caused the many civil lawsuits, racial profiling of immigrants, and declined the profits of the mines.  Taking all of this into account, the country had become the battle ground of racial tension, mistreatment of all immigrants and led to boycotting of American goods by Asian countries (Hai).

References:

1. Excerpt from A Chinese Immigrant Makes His Home in Turn-of-th-Century America by Lee Chew, 1903

2. Excerpt from The Christian Student; My Reception in America by Fu Chi Hai, M.A.

3. Takaki, Ronald, 1993.  A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America.

4. Question 1:  What factors contributed to the rise of illegal immigration in the late twentieth century?

5.             The factors leading to the rise of illegal immigration can be broken down into three facets:  Prospective, Accessibility, and Desire/Opportunity.  America is portrayed as a country with endless fields, great employment, and the ability to gain a good education followed by employment (Gerber, 2011).  This is the view the world sees on the television, hears on the radio, and reads in magazines and books.  The view of what it is and can be for a person that is living in poverty, oppressive regions, and underdeveloped countries around the world is the first driving factor that has led to the rise in illegal immigration.  People wishing to migrate are filled with stories of experience of family members, letters from loved ones, and gossip passed along lines of communication of just how much easier life really is in America (Takaki, 1993).  So why not go?  The drive to get there is unmatched; a chance at a better life without oppression, poverty, employment opportunities is the first reason so many take the journey, an often dangerous one, to the land they covet so much. 

6.             Second comes the accessibility of America and her borders.  With the borders of Mexico and Canada so easily accessible, it goes to reason that it is a contributing factor to the rise.  Mexico and Canada do not have the same immigration laws America has and makes it much easier for a transient to gain access to the border and cross.  In Mexico for example, Mexicans have been crossing that border since the early 19th century and are very familiar with it (huffingtonpost.com).  In addition to just the illegal way of simply crossing the border or boating in under the radar, there are the ones that came in legally on a work visa or student visa and never left.  These individuals made a life for themselves, established roots, and decided that there was no going back and wanted to stay.  Some never had any intention on returning.  This is becoming more prevalent in the Mexicans that migrate on work permits to America (Gerber, 2011). 

7.             Lastly, the biggest drive in my opinion is the desire and opportunity to succeed with a new beginning.  Being able to start a family, support a family, or begin anew is a huge contributor to illegal immigration.  Immigrants have been coming to America for employment and a chance at a better life for centuries, it is a dream come true, whether it be legal or illegal.  For example, the Jews came to America in search of a country to call their own, a new home.  Some got here legally and some illegally by the boat loads, they made a life in America, adapted to the its society and culture (Takaki, 1993).  Mexicans have been migrating north and taking jobs that the American work force refuses to take (i.e. manual labor) because it pays to low for them (Takaki, 1993).  What Americans fail to realize is that the money they make is more than double what they could make in Mexico.  One of the biggest contributors to illegal immigration was NAFTA or the North American Free Trade Agreement (huffingtonpost.com).   NAFTA essentially killed all low skill or manual labor jobs in Mexico and created them in America, it was like a beacon of light being sent up for all Mexicans to see.

8.             Illegal immigration is wrong as it breaks the law and it must be enforced.  However, the migrants are truly looking for a better life, a way to support their families and themselves.  In some cases, they are seeking a life without pain and suffering or possibly going hungry.  While there has to be action taken on the part of the United States on the issue, there must be consideration to the immigrants themselves and remember what the country was built on, as we are all, minus the American Indians, sons and daughters of illegal immigrants. 

9.  

10. References:

11. Film on Demand:  Illegal Immigration:  A Dangerous Journey

12. Takaki, Ronald, 1993.  A Different Mirror.

13. Gerber, David, 2011.  American Immigration:  A Very Short Introduction

14. Huffington Post.  These are the Real Reason Behind Illegal Immigration.  https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/25/undocumented-mexicans_n_5709141.html

15. Question 2:  What solutions have been proposed to deal with illegal immigration and why?  Which solutions do you agree with and why?

16.             Improvements to border security, immigration reform, and enforcement of laws to illegal immigrants in country have flooded the news as of late.   Looking at illegal immigration from a numbers stand point is overwhelming.  There is over 134.9 billion dollars in cost to cover the 12.5 million illegal aliens currently in the United States (Fairus.org).  These cost range from medical care of the immigrants and their children that were US born, welfare programs and miscellaneous costs (Fairus.org).  It is unsustainable.    It is both a burden and curse put on the American tax payer to support these illegal immigrants, while still trying to support their own families.

17.             Steps to improve and relieve that strain on the taxpayer are ongoing and a growing debate in American society.  The public call for controlling the available things to migrants that enter America illegally such as schooling, medical benefits, social security and housing is growing louder (fairus.org).  Immigration control consists of three components:  Deterrence, apprehension, and removal (fairus.org).  Deterrence starts at the border and the advertising of America and her laws.  One proposal is the wall by the current administration.  This is more of a symbol vice a deterrent in my opinion.  It won’t solve the issue, there are more ways to cross and with the innovation of the smugglers, it will only slow for a short time.

18.  The real solution is the restrictions that can be placed.  Current proposals request that jobs be taken, law enforcement forcing deportation, and loss of rights of things like visa overstays and amnesty.  These I agree with, it will deter immigrants if they know that border security is ramped up, the possibility of deportation is more likely and if they can’t attain a job for employment (the biggest factor in migration) (numbersusa.com)

19.             The apprehension and removal parts are simply as stated.  If an immigrant knows that being apprehended and deported is more likely than before and there is legislation in place to do just that, they will have to rethink their voyage and view.  The current rewards that an immigrant attains simply by being in the country are too much, such as laws prohibiting officers to ask about immigration status,  employment opportunities, and the ability to gain medical insurance (Sensible Solutions).  Making these opportunities illegal will force immigrants to follow the legal ways attaining a visa or gain citizenship.

20.             The grey area comes in with the US born children of illegal immigrants.  The Dreamers as they are called present a very clear issue in today’s debate over immigration reform.  My own wife falls into this category, she is a citizen due to the fact she was born here, it is her birthright.  A proposal for reforming this birthright is coming to light to prevent the draw from immigrants to migrate to America and have children just so they have a US citizenship (sensible solutions).   This becomes very complicated in nature.  A person born in America is currently, by law, American by birth, they are a citizen.  While I agree that the process of this is broken and should be reformed, it isn’t the child’s fault.  I cannot expect a country to hold the children responsible for the actions of their parents.  I compare it to slavery; the black slaves were born slaves due to the parent’s lineage.  It was wrong then, and it is wrong now regardless of the parent’s situation.

21.           

22. References:

23. Film on Demand:  Illegal Immigration:  A Dangerous Journey

24. Takaki, Ronald, 1993.  A Different Mirror.

25. Gerber, David, 2011.  American Immigration:  A Very Short Introduction

26. Obrien, Matt, 2017.  The Fiscal Burden of Illegal Immigration on United States Taxpayers.  Federation for American Immigration Reform.  https://fairus.org/issue/publications-resources/fiscal-burden-illegal-immigration-united-states-taxpayers

27. Numbers USA. Sensible Solutions.  https://www.numbersusa.com/solutions

Question 1:  How did the 1965 Immigration Act and the Cold War change patterns of immigration to the United States?

            The Immigration Act of 1965 essentially opened the flood gates for all nations to America and the opportunities that lied in her borders.  The Act and the Cold War brought with it some unexpected issues, but for the most part the biggest thing it did was ride the immigration system of the quotas set in the 1920’s (history.com).  This action only set restrictions on west and east hemispheres of America with a total number of entries without the base of race and origin on the west coast.  The East, set at 170,000 with a 20,000 limit per nation was established while the West had a cap of 120,000 set on it without a per country limit (history.com).  The effects sent unexpected ripples in the American diverse ethnic communities.  It was thought that the majority of the immigration boom would come from the same place as always, Europe, that calculation was inaccurate. 

            The immigrants that found it so much more appealing were the Asian countries, to include, Vietnam, Japan, and China.  However, the biggest number of immigrants had come from a very close neighbor, Mexico (Filmondemand).  This happened due to the repressive Soviet rule over Central Europe that restricted the movements of its residence, allowing the other countries to simply take up the numbers that were vacant (Gerber). Along with this huge gate opening in immigration reform came the illegal problem.  Many people didn’t have the time, money, or patience to wait for a visa or were simply denied.  In response to that, they simply entered the country illegally anyway (Takaki, 1993).

            The real question was why did this happen?  America was the prime target for mostly all immigrants, and why not, it was promoting itself to be the  best place on earth.  With the Act of 1965, the Cold War in Russia, the easy system to get in the country, and access to borders if need be, America had positioned itself to be over-run (Gerber, 2011).  In addition, America was being promoted worldwide as the land of opportunity, beached, farms and jobs (Gerber, 2011).  No wonder America was facing and is still facing a immigration reform nightmare.  While it is still easy to get the visa on first come, first served basis along with America’s empathy for family reunification, illegal immigration is still rampant.  With easy access to smugglers and borders immigrants are taking advantage of employment for less wages and bettering their lives in the process.  

            In conclusion, the Act of 1965 and the Cold War set in motion the crisis we still fight today.  From President John F. Kennedy’s misunderstanding of what and where the immigration reform would take to the country to the current administration trying to restrict what has become a huge issue for the American society.  There is no simple and easy solution to this issue and it will continue to be mitigated. Governed and modified over the next years. 

 

 

References:

U.S. Immigration Since 1965.  http://www.history.com/topics/us-immigration-since-1965

Takaki, Ronald, 1993.  A Different Mirror.  A History of Multicultural America.

Gerber, David, 2011.  American Immigration:  A Very Short Introduction.

 

Question 2:  Choose at least one of the groups of post 1965 immigrants discussed in Takaki to focus on in detail – how did their experience compare and contrast to immigrant groups of earlier eras?

            Pre 1965, Mexicans had dealt with racial profiling, discrimination, displacement, and had to learn to adapt to a new set of rules in a new country.  The United States had grown and with it taken over properties that became American that used to be Mexico.  The Mexicans essentially became Americans and had to learn and adapt to the new system of laws, government, and how to make a living (Takaki, 1993).  Fast forward to post 1965, you have some similarities and some differences in this race that is flooding the gates of America and its immigration policies or lack thereof. 

            Mexicans have always and still migrate to America to this day legally and illegally to escape poverty (Takaki, 1993).  Mexico, with its crime, bad agriculture and historically low wages provides a low quality of life for Mexicans.  America provides both the dream and the opportunity to escape all of that.  Simply by crossing the border, they have job opportunities, cash flow, and means to provide for their families.  This was true for the pre era and the post era Mexicans searching for an escape in America.  The driving forces have remained the same, the consequences have remained the same and the drive for them to succeed has remained the same. 

            All Americans, both immigrant and not, want to succeed and live out their dreams.   Started with the redrawing of lines of what was to be America, to the creation of NAFTA, to the dream of what could be accomplished.  Mexicans immigrate to get that slice of heaven, they come to work jobs in American that Americans won’t take (Takaki, 1993), such as agriculture, tobacco, corn fields, and farms.  In the pre-1965 era, Mexicans had to immigrate for employment to support their families, the post 1965 era migrants are doing the same.  The largest difference however is the fact that the newer Mexican migrants are simply not returning to Mexico.  Prior to the act of 1965, Mexicans were coming to America and working for money and returning home once they had accumulated enough cash flow.  Currently, after 1965, the Mexicans are not returning, they are simply sending money or sending for their families to join them in America (Takaki, 1993).  There are also so many more of them migrating.  Mexicans flooded to American after 1965 out of necessity (employment, starvation, poverty), vice what they are doing now. 

            While they are still escaping poverty, searching for employment, and sending money home, they are paying taxes and making homes in America now.  By now returning to Mexico and contributing to America’s economy, they are becoming more and more American.  The dreamers are coming to make a life, a dream come true, and living out their plans.  Mexicans are no longer just looking for work, they are looking for schooling, husband and wives, and being a productive member of the society they are migrating too.

 

References:

Takaki, Ronald, 1993.  A Different Mirror.  A view of Multicultural America