A Journey Though The Golden Gates Of Promise Essay Example For Students

A Journey Though The Golden Gates Of Promise Essay A Journey Though the Golden Gates of PromiseGreat controversy exists over the true promises of the Golden Gates in the United States. Discrimination occurs with different ethnic groups, but for those immigrants permitted into the country, the opportunities are excellent. The laws and practices established to control immigration into the United States limit the amount of poverty that can be present in the country. Without these important practices and laws created by the United States Congress, cheap labor would overpower American citizen labor and lead the country to an economic and social catastrophe. Although the United States is often criticized for its establishment of immigration laws and practices during 1865 and 1930, these actions are very fair. It seems that the people of China have received a lot amount of discrimination as they try to venture into the promise lands of the United States. Early discrimination of the Chinese is revealed when considering early laws and practices of the United States towards immigration. Not only did Congress pass laws and restrictions against Chinese but the attitudes of citizens towards the Chinese often led to uproars and bitterness towards the immigrants arriving from China. In the 1850s, the California legislature passed a series of anti-Chinese restrictions. These restrictions forbade Chinese Americans to enroll their children in public schools, to marry whites, or to testify against whites in the court of law. Some particular court cases display the effects of this law. A very upsetting California court case decision in the 1850s for the Chinese people is called People vs. Hall. In August of 1853, George W. Hall, his brother, and their friend assaulted a Chinese miner in Nevada County. When Ling Sing, the Chinese mans cousin, came to help him, Hall shot and killed Ling Sing. During the original trial, Hall was found guilty of murder charges and sentenced to death. Hall appealed the decision to the California Supreme Court and he was acquitted because no white witnesses to the murder were available. This reasoning is supported by the California State Civil Practice Act (under Section 394) that says no black, mulatto, or Indian can give testimony agains t white defendants in criminal cases. The controversy over this case occurs not just because of the obvious discrimination but because Chinese are not specifically referred to in the act and it is assumed that Indians and Asians belong to the same ethnic group. Basically anyone who was not considered white was looked down upon by the American white population. The word white has a distinct signification, which ex vi termini, excludes black, yellow, and all other colors, (Beesley 123). Chief Justice Hugh C. Murray, felt that the line had to be drawn, further states, the same rule that would admit them to testify, would admit them to all the equal rights of citizenship, and we might soon see them at the polls, in the jury box, upon the bench, and in our legislative halls, (Beesley 123). The ruling of the Hall court case led to many violent uproars among white American citizens and Chinese immigrants. Another action taken to try and get rid of the Chinese immigrants was the California Miners Tax of 1855. Its sole purpose was to drive Chinese immigrants out of the mining business by taxing foreign miners every month. Many Chinese spoke out about these practices. When your honorable government threw open the territory of California, the people of other lands were welcomed here to search for gold and to engage in trade. The ship-masters of your respected nation came over to our country, lauded the equality of your laws, extolled the beauty of your manners and customs, and made it known that your officers and people were extremely cordial toward the Chinese. we trusted in your sincerity.But alas! what times are these!when former kind rela-tions are forgotten, when we Chinese are viewed like thieves and enemies (Pun 589). These awful laws and practices towards Chinese immigration led to many violent events. In 1871, a mob of whites invaded a Chinese neighborhood in Los Angles and killed 21 residents. A similar event occurred in 1876 that became know as the Truckee Raid. During this incident, whites torched a Chinese home and shot its residents when they fled into the streets. More episodes followed that were often instigated by the Order of Caucasians, thugs who openly advocated violence. Groups such as the Order of Caucasians became common during this time period and provoked Chinese discrimination. The early discrimination of Chinese immigrants is the foundation for the later discrimination that developed and soon pertained not just to Chinese immigrants but to all immigrants in general. In 1879, Congress passed a Chinese Exclusion Bill, giving in to pressure from anti-Chinese organizations and making a deal with Western lawmakers who promised political favors. Later, in 1882, Congress passed, and President Arthur signed the Chinese Exclusion Act. This act barred all Chinese immigrants from the United States for ten years, except students, merchants, and children of Chinese-American citizens. Although this act was enacted, the Chinese already present in the United States, were ready and willing submit to the designs of white Americans: Their curiously timid and unaggressive character was shown in every line of industry.Not the least of their good qualities appeared to be this tendency to mind their own business and slip away before the more aggressive Anglo-Saxon.Several early observers and pioneers praised their spirit of subordination to the law in comparison with other and more lawless immigrants. (Coolidge 24). In 1892, the exclusions were extended and they remai ned in place until 1943. This particular exclusion act represented the first time Congress had restricted immigration and it marked the only occasion in United States history that an ethnic group was specifically singled out for exclusion. A head tax was also placed on each Chinese immigrant already present in the United States with the Chinese Exclusion Act leading to harsh attitudes from Chinese people towards the American government. The Chinese Exclusion Act is the foundation for the many ethnic discriminatory acts to follow dealing with immigration. In 1907, Theodore Roosevelt issued an executive order that forbade Japanese to enter the United States from Mexico and Canada and then convinced Japan to discourage its citizens from immigrating into the United States. The Gentlemens Agreement of 1907-8 ended the immigration of Japanese laborers to the United States by having the Japanese government refuse to issue passports to such persons. This agreement also said that the United States should stop discrimination against the Japanese. The Gentlemans Agreement did allow wives to join their husbands if they were already in America. Since the overwhelming number of Japanese in the United States in 1907 were males, the agreement led to a surge in legal immigration of females, who were often married by proxy in Japan to husbands who chose wives on the basis of pictures sent from the mother country to America. The Gentlemens Agreement displays the discrimination towards Japanese immigrants the beginning of general immigration. The California Alien Land Acts of 1913 and 1920 affects only Asians also. The people most affected by this act are Japanese farmers because it bars them from owning land. People affected by the California Alien Land Act are those ineligible to citizenship (Asian immigrants) who were not allowed to own or lease real property (land) unless a United States treaty provided otherwise. The consequence was that Japanese immigrants were not allowed to own farms in California. Most of the states west of the Mississippi River enacted similar laws soon after. According to these laws, if an alien not eligible to citizenship tried to lease or own agricultural land, the deal was considered null and the land became the property of the State. The Alien Land Laws were justified as a means of protecting white farmers while at the same time discriminating against the Japanese immigrants because it left more land available for white farmers. In 1917, Congress established the Asiatic Barred Zone, shutting off the flow of emigrants from a region that encompassed not only China, but also Japan, Korea, India, Indochina, East Indies, Polynesia, parts of Russia, Arabia, and Afghanistan also. This act was enacted to try and ease the tension arising between American citizens and the arrival of many Asian immigrants. When this act was being created, the Asiatic Exclusion League demanded the exclusion of Koreans because they are the third sizable group from the Far East. Together, the restrictions on Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans excluded virtually all Asians who wanted to come to the United States. The Barred Zone Act made it almost impossible for the immigration of Indians to occur, although students, scholars, ministers of religion and merchants could come in and stay sometimes. As Sucheng Chan stated, Stereotypes of Asian immigrants as plodding, degraded, and servile peopleindeed, virtual slavesnotwithstanding, members of eve ry Asian immigrant group did stand up for their rights and fought oppression in a myriad of ways (81). The discrimination of different ethnic groups grows as new acts and practices are enacted causing more uproar between immigrants and non-immigrants. Interpretation Of Ibsens a Dolls House Analysis EssayThe mixing of ethnic groups was considered a melting pot. America is Gods Crucible, the great Melting Pot where all the races of Europe are melting and reforming! Here you stand, good folk, think I, when I see them at Ellis Island, here you stand in your fifty groups with your fifty languages and histories, and your fifty blood hatreds and rivalries, but you wont be long like that brothers, for these are the fires of God youve come to- these are the fires of God God is making the American the real American has not yet arrived. He is only in the crucible, I tell you- he will be the fusion of all the races, the coming superman (Zangwill 37). Although many people accept the theory of a melting pot, some Americans still disagree with this system. It is no solution for those who wish to participate in American life, and yet desire to retain their ethnic identity (Jacobson 645). Many people didnt grasp the concept that if conditions in a mother country are bad enough to want to immigrate into another country that a person is going to have to give in a little. In this case, giving up some of their culture to conform more to the American culture was just one sacrifice that was expected. The United States wants to help out different ethnic groups, but it is extremely difficult to help out each group on an individual basis and it is not logical to grant all immigrants the same rights because they come from different intellectual and cultural backgrounds with different interests and expectations. Congress developed many different ways to screen who can enter the United States. These processes are very important in controlling the type of population that lives in the United States. In 1891, Congress created the Immigration and Naturalization Service, otherwise known as the INS. This service was developed to administer federal laws relating to the admission, exclusion, and deportation of aliens and the naturalization of aliens lawfully residing in the United States. The INS was required to enforce the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the Contract Labor Law of 1885, and the Immigration Act of 1891. In 1875, a law that prohibited entry of prostitutes and convicts established direct federal regulation of immigration. The government of the United States saw these types of people as a danger to the country. In 1892, the INS opened up an immigration screening station at Ellis Island in New York Harbor and claimed this to be the INS headquarters. Seeing Ellis Island was amazing for most immigrants: I remember seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time and it was the greatest thrill. It was a very clear, crisp day in February. And it was such a thrill that its hard to describe (Coan 207). More than 12,000,000 immigrants underwent immigration processing or detention at Ellis Island from January 1, 1892 until November 12, 1954. Congress is trying very hard to screen immigrants entering the United States so that only immigrants that can contribute positively will be allowed entrance by establishing an orderly method of deciding which immigrants could stay and which immigrants would not be allowed to remain in the United States. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 is an example of screening immigrants because it barred convicts, the insane, and the cognitively disabled from entering the United States. In 1893, the United States government made it a requirement that steamship companies had to record in manifests the vital statistics of all passengers aboard that particular ship. Many people were involved with this technique of screening immigrants. An immigrant inspector was given the task of verifying the information on the manifest sheets and was given the power to change or simplify immigrant names. Many times the names of immigrants were either shortened or replaced with more Americanized names. This made it not only easier on the inspectors to identify different immigrants but it also made it easier for the immigrants to fit in with the people living in America. Immigrants trying to enter the United States have to show their money to inspectors to prove that they are not paupers. As controversial as this issue seems to be, it is very logical for the government to want immigrants to have some money. As the immigrants venture out into the new lands, the United States hopes that they will be able to spend some money in America and help the nation to prosper. In 1906, knowledge of the English language was made a basic requirement for immigrants. Congress felt that if an immigrant was going to come to America, that it would be necessary for that person to know English so that survival in the New World would not be so difficult. Legislation excluded all mentally disabled persons, paupers, and those who might become public charges. It excluded those suffering from a contagious disease, as we ll as those convicted of a felony, an egregious crime, or a misdemeanor involving a moral turpitude. Anarchists were added to the list of unacceptable aliens in 1903. In 1907, Congress passed a law excluding immigrants with physical disabilities or mental defects that might affect their ability to earn a living. The United States government was very concerned for these immigrants welfare and did not want to see them enter the country and end up in poverty. The same law also barred those immigrants that had tuberculosis and children unaccompanied by their parents. After 1907, immigrants had to demonstrate their physical health during a thorough medical examination. In 1924, the Immigration Bureau made immigrants register with the government and gave them documents that described their legal status. The Immigration Bureau has been a part of the Department of Labor since 1913. This very important Immigration Bureau set up the Border Patrol which is made up of 400 recruits who are train ed in law, investigation techniques, fingerprinting, jujitsu, the use of firearms, and tracking and trailing. These are all very important laws and practices established by the United States Congress as a way to deal with the tremendous number of people who crave immigration into America. Each act is enacted for different reasons but in general, if Congress sits back and does nothing about this rush of immigrants to America, our nation will crumble and, not only will immigrants suffer, but also the citizens that have already gained their rights to be here will be devastated. It is not fair to do that to the American citizens. Although many immigrants find it to be discriminating towards their specific ethnic group, when analyzing the concept of screening, it is very plain to see why Congress has developed more laws. The United States government is not ignorant; they only want what is best for the nation. If keeping the American citizens secure with an economy of prosperity and a soc iety of happiness is not considered fair, then justification for these acts and practices cannot be described. A nation filled with thugs, prostitutes, and unskilled people benefits the country in no way and therefore the intelligent United States of America government use their power to create systems to help avoid this terrible future from occurring. Laws and practices established by the United States towards immigration during 1865 and 1930 are very fair despite the controversy and criticism that exists over this issue. Discrimination occurs with different ethnic groups but for those immigrants permitted into the country, the opportunity to excel in life is excellent. The laws and practices established to control immigration into the United States limited the amount of poverty that can be present in the country. Also, the nations government is looking out for the best interest of American citizens by not allowing unintelligent, unskilled, thugs into the country. Without these important practices and laws created by the United States Congress cheap labor would overpower American citizen labor and lead the country to an economic and social breakdown. No question exists that the laws and practices established by the United States towards immigration do indeed discriminate certain ethnic groups but, in order for the country to maint ain a stable and organized society, the actions of Congress are necessary. These practices and laws offer immigrants an opportunity to better their lives simply by walking through the Golden Gates. The Statue of Liberty extravagantly symbolizes hope for immigrants, Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door! (Lazarus 42)