Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Immigration in the news


Immigration in the news: As a nation comprised mainly of migrant cultures, what are are just expectations and regulations for immigration?

As a nod to the sectional politics affecting life in the urban centers of the north eastern and western US territories in the mid-19th century, this week's blog asks you to consider some ways in which modern-day immigration is affecting politics, culture and economics in the United States and, more specifically, New York City.
1) Read"Immigrants make up 40 percent of New York City's population"
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/jul2000/nyc-j31.shtml
and one of the following articles:


a) Topic: Immigrant workers rights
"Two cases reveal wretched conditions for immigrant laborers in New York City"
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/jan2000/nyc-j19_prn.shtml



c) Topic: Rudy Guliani's immigration policies as mayor of NYC and his postion on immigration as presidential nominee
“Romney blasts Rudy's immigration stance as NYC mayor”
http://www.examiner.com/printa1040442~Romney_blasts_Rudy

2) Summarize each article, identitfying the major issues and conflicts immigrant populations face in modern US society. Discuss the perspectives each author presents on these matters and how these articles relate to our current study of sectional crisis and immigration in the 19th century.


3)Answer the focus question: As a nation comprised mainly of migrant cultures, what are are just expectations and regulations for immigration?
Minimum 200 words, please respond to at least one other post.


Due Friday 12/14 by 7 a.m.

17 comments:

TJK said...

Teresa Konopka
Block H
AP US

Two out of every five New Yorkers were not born in the United States. Fred Mazeli’s “Immigrants make up 40 percent of New York City's Population” article, which is very compelling, articulates this fact. It was interesting to know that most immigrants used to come from primarily Ireland, Germany, and England; now, immigrants come from mostly the Soviet Union, South Asia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Mexico, and other nations around the world. Due to such an influx of new citizens, the article talks of “Chinatowns” and “Little Italies” popping up. The most interesting fact in Mazeli’s work was, “The borough of Queens includes 167 nationalities and 116 languages, the greatest variety in the country and undoubtedly in the world.” The great economy of the United States lures immigrants in, due to successful fiscal capital in America. Sadly, as the article shows, many immigrants condone working for low wages, doing menial labor.
Also related to labor is Joe Tanniru’s article “Two cases reveal wretched conditions for immigrant laborers in New York City.” This story accounts for immigrant lawsuits. Apparently, grocery stores and other employers have paid immigrant workers far below the minimum wage. So, new American citizens busted their backs for hours on end, only to receive small pocket change for their strenuous efforts. Some other immigrants complained of their nefarious working chambers and spaces. Afterwards, they were fired and went from making less than a dollar (at some times) to making nothing at all.
Overall, as both articles and current events demonstrate, immigrants new to America are expected to work long hours for little pay. In respect to the coined American dream, immigrants are expected to work their way up. They dream of going from earning pennies to earning millions. However, many immigrants only make it as far as securing one meal for themselves a day. This is similar to the 19th century, in respect to immigrants coming for vast new opportunities and not finding them. At least in the 20th century, there are less cases of cannibalism involving immigrants.

Question to AP peers:
If you were an immigrant, would you want to be one in the 19th century or in the 20th century? Why?

rachel geissler said...

Rachel Geissler
H Block

Fred Mazelis’ “Immigrants make up 40 percent of New York City’s population” discusses the major section of the New York City population, which is comprised solely of immigrants. Mazelis recognizes the importance that economy plays in attracting an immigrant to the United States. From 1990 to 2000, the percentage of immigrants making up New York City’s population has jumped from 28% to 40%. The push-pull factor plays a role in the attraction of immigrants to New York City. Oppression back home pushes the immigrants away from their country and the developed cultural neighborhoods that already exist pull them in the direction of New York City. Immigrants moving to New York City, however, are faced with the challenges of limited job opportunities, as well as housing availability.
In “On Staten Island, Without a Life Boat”, Leslie Kaufman talks about the poverty rate of Staten Island which has risen 48% between 1990 and 2000. Immigrants moving to Staten Island find themselves living in single family dwellings with up to three or four different families, simply because the costs of rent on Staten Island are way too high for them to afford. There are few lawyers to assist immigrants on the island also. Staten Island has the lowest budget for charities, which makes it difficult to provide the poor with adequate amounts of food and results in short work hours. The constantly growing population on Staten Island also increases the competition for employment and housing.
Modern immigration to New York is still similar to what it was during the 19th century in the way that immigrants still face similar problems. For example, many immigrants found themselves living if not in, then close to, poverty then, as well as now. Vacancy is definitely a major issue still also. Immigrants are extremely challenged with finding employment opportunities. In the 19th century and today, many employers were reluctant to even consider an immigrant for a job. Some immigrants are undereducated and can speak only very limited English. As a nation comprised mainly of migrant cultures, it’s imperative that our government has a just set of expectations and regulations for immigrants. It’s not fair to expect immigrants to be completely fluent in English or to have a thorough understanding of the American culture. However, before being able to apply for a job, immigrants should be required to take some sort of English language course in order to improve their chances at employment. In response to Teresa’s question, I personally would’ve preferred being an immigrant during the 20th century simply because it was more modern than the 19th century. Cultural neighborhoods, although maybe not fully developed, were somewhat developed. Knowing that there were people already settled with whom I could easily communicate would just make the entire immigration process easier.

Elizabeth said...

Elizabeth Che
Block H AP US History

Immigration problems repeat itself as noted throughout “Immigrants make up 40 percent of New York City’s Population” by Fred Mazelis and “On Staten Island, Without a Lifeboat” by Leslie Kaufman. Similar to the early 19th century, immigrants continue to migrate to the United States in hopes of obtaining a prosperous life however, reality is unkind as immigrants are to face the cruel truths of America. “Immigrants make up 40 percent of New York City’s population” by Fred Mazelis takes on an informative stand in the rising issue of immigration. As stated by Mazelis, “Roughly 100,000 immigrants have been arriving and making new York City their home each year for the past decade...There is barely a country in the world that doesn’t have a significant presence in the largest city in the United States.” In modern times, diversity is not commonly believed to be a bad aspect to society as it was in the 19th century. Before the general public decided to accept “differences,” discrimination was more present and common to all foreigners whereas rates have decreased overtime. Unfortunately, economic and living conditions are still the major focuses of immigration conflicts.

The Gold Rush starting in 1849 led to the mass migration of people from Mexico and the west coast of Latin America, Europe (Ireland and Germany) and Asia (Chinese) leading to a faster development of California’s economy. Similarly, “changes in the world economy, the accelerating globalization of production and of economic life” are present in modern society, as noted by Mazelis. In both cases, modern and 19th century, money is the epitome of happiness. Immigrants sought to escape from economic suffering for even the slimmest hope of a better life or were oppressed by their countries of origin. Seeking to end their repetitive feelings of hopelessness changes are needed for better or worse. Rumors of obtaining success in America spread to the furthest reaches of the world allowing the suffering to yearn for the believed happiness they may obtain in the United States.

But as different nationalities tend to prefer “sticking together,” communities develop creating areas like “Chinatown.” Along a similar line, “On Staten Island, Without a Lifeboat” by Leslie Kaufman focuses on Staten Island and the insufficient support being provided for the poor. Kaufman notes that Staten Island “has no publicly financed shelter beds for homeless men, no offices for free lawyers for immigration issues, and no city hospital,” resulting to the lack of care for the needy. Renters as the Kaufman further describes “spend over half their income on housing utilities” limiting the amount of money individuals may use to support themselves. Immigrants are not the only ones facing problems in living but also American citizens such as the homeless. Ms. Troia states that “homeless men have hidden themselves away in places like the abandoned barge about five feet offshore near Snug Harbor, or in tent communities deep in the woods.” Like so, miners in the past lived in small tent communities that were generally filthy, uncomfortable and cramped. With more demands on services, the rates of the needy continue to rise as there are just not enough support to be given to those seeking it.

Immigrants and any citizen in general, are to trudge through unfair conditions and seek a better life with their own hands despite the uncooperativeness of society. Yet, there is not much a foreigner can do when even the American-born are suffering. With the lack of affordable housing, the underprivileged groups are left with no choice but to crowd together in order to survive the Capitalistic society. As Mazelis explains in “Immigrants make up 40 percent of New York City’s population,” “newcomers have been used to take the many poorly paid jobs in the service sector, including personal services provided to the growing numbers of millionaires and the upper levels of the middle class.” And so, taken advantage of for their financial background, the poor are given under paid jobs as a method of cheap labor. Connecting back to the 19th century, immigrants were always receiving the smaller end of the bargain as money is desired no matter how small it may be.

In response to Teresa’s question, I like Rachel, also prefer to be an immigrant in the 20th century than an immigrant of the 19th century. There are more opportunities for improvement in modern times than that of the past. Even though economic situations are fairly similar, the acceptance of society plays a large impact on the living conditions. With a better advanced society, maturity increased a notch even if it is in the slightest sense, creating a more welcoming atmosphere than the high rates of violence in the 19th century.

Anonymous said...

Michelle Shed
Block H
AP US History

The United States is famous for it’s immigration. From all over the world, many people come into the country for economic prosperity/and or religious and political freedom. All these immigrants in one country are what make the United States culturally diverse.
Fred Mazeli's article, " Immigrants make up 40 percent of New York City's Population," portrays the fact that the number of immigrants coming into the state has doubled to triple. According to Mr. Mazeli, the number of immigrants coming to New York has matched the recorded forty percent of the immigrants coming into the country in the period from 1880-1920. This period was the era that brought millions of workers into the nation. In that era, most of the immigrants that came into the country were those from southern and eastern Europe, Germany, Ireland, and Great Britain. Today, immigrants in New York are from all over the world. According to Fred Mazeli, the number of New Yorkers born in the Dominican Republic has jumped from 230,000 in 1990 to 387,000 in 1999. During this same period, city residents born in the former Soviet Union nearly tripled, from 81,000 to 229,000; South Asians from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh increased their numbers from 67,000 to 146,000; and the Mexican population nearly quadrupled, from 35,000 to 133,000.” Not only that. There’s also been a significant increase in the number of Chinese, Korean, African, and Arabs coming into the country. In 1990, the immigrant population was about two million. Now, it’s three million. In 1970, the percentage of immigrants living in the nation was eighteen percent. In today’s year, the percentage of immigrants living in the country is forty percent. Mr. Mazeli feels that the reason so many immigrants are coming into the US is because of economic prosperity, as well as political and religious freedom. Also, because of our capitalist beliefs, the United States is able to accept poor immigrants looking for work. Especially, since these immigrants are able to except lower wages than the people already living in the country.
Leslie Kaufman’s “ On Staten Island, Without a Life Boat,” exhibits the fact that poverty is growing twice as fast in Staten Island, compared to all the other boroughs. Staten Island’s poor population jumped to 48% between 1990-2000. It’s almost neck-to-neck with Queen’s 50%. With an estimated population of 444, 000, Staten Island seems to be lacking enough government and charity services. According to Leslie Kaufman, surveys from area food pantries indicate that the poor on Staten Island are more likely to be disabled and less likely to be unemployed. The main issue, though, is that aren’t enough lawyers to handle cases involving immigrant issues. As more immigrants continue to come into the country, the nationwide legal help for immigrants becomes even shorter. Also, when immigrants come to Staten Island, they are unaware of the cost of housing. In Staten Island, a town house costs 400, 000 dollars. The real-estate market is so high that it’s impossible for the poor to afford proper and decent housing.
Immigration can be a positive experience for person/or persons. The thing is, once an immigrant is in America, they’re not going to be rich in two minutes. Immigrants have to work very, very hard. The only issue is that in today’s society, everything is much more expensive. It’s much harder to live in a society with higher prices. Especially, when a person has to pay for rent, food, and clothing,
In response to Elizabeth’s comment, I agree that even though the economic situation remained the same, I would rather be an immigrant in the 20th century. Even though everything’s so expensive, because of our huge population, there are more opportunities for work.

Sarah B said...

Sarah Berfond
Block H
The article “Immigrants make up 40 percent of New York City's population” by Fred Mazelis, details the growing and diverse immigrant population in New York City. For the first time in decades nearly forty percent of New Yorkers are foreign born. Almost every nation in the world is represented in New York. The author attributes the incredible growth to the ever expanding gap between developed country, specificall the United States, and the underdeveloped countries of the world. As America becomes economically stronger and poor people around the world struggle for basics like food and water, the obvious trend is going to be immigration. The article outlined=s concerns that the new immigrants are taking jobs from natural born citizens and upsetting the balance of the economy. In the second article, “Two cases reveal wretched conditions for immigrant laborers in New York City” the author details two active court cases concerning the abuse of new immigrants by various people in New York. One organization had brought a law suit seeking compensation for supermarket delivery men, mostly from West Africa, who were working 6-7 days a week but only earning about $100 a week. The other lawsuit involved a foreign diplomat who had basically enslaved a Bangladeshi woman in his house. She was required to work seven days a week, eighteen hours a day and paid only $100 a month. The lawsuits draw attention to the desperation of people living in this country illegally and the willingness for Americans to take advantage of them. The scenarios in these articles are similar in many ways to the immigration issues of the 19th century. At that time immigrants from Germany, Ireland and China faced discrimination and were often forced to work for low pay and poor wages because of their inability to understand the language and customs of America. As a nation comprised of migrant cultures, we should be tolerant of immigrants, their customs traditions and languages. It is hypocritical to restrict immigration or discriminate against immigrants, when every person in America is a descendent from an immigrant to this land. The actions of the organizations that have defended and protected immigrant groups should be applauded because as human beings they are entitled to be treated equally. Immigrants should be paid substantially the same wages as Americans for similar jobs.

Response to Rachel’s comment: I agree with your opinion on how immigrants should be treated in today’s society. Immigrants should be given proper pay and respected while learning about America and its culture. Many Americans view immigrants as extremely different and abuse them. Americans need to realize that we are all similar even though our cultures sometimes set us apart.

Heather Mattera said...

HeatherrrrV. :]

Immigrants in modern US society face economic struggles, as they are often offered the lowest wage available in our industrial world. The article, “Immigrants make up 40 Percent of New York City’s Population” by Fred Mazelis reveals the high increase of immigrants migrating to the United States for a new and better life. According to the article, a total of one million immigrants have arrived since 1990. During the time of the Gold Rush, immigrants were originating from specific countries like Ireland, Germany and China. However now-a-days immigrants from every corner of the globe travel to the United States for greater opportunities.
This article holds true, as New York City keenly illustrates the affect and influence immigrants have on the United States. By simply taking a walk on the streets of New York City, an individual will encounter the diversity of cultures that decorate the city’s atmosphere. The “Chinatowns” emulate the large cities developed back in China, however in a New York state of mind. It’s almost as if the Chinese immigrants have taken a piece of China and added it into the United States to create this newly, mixed culture.
Due to the economic globalization of production and of economic life, more than ever are immigrants attracted to the one and only New York City. These immigrants are searching for better economic opportunities, yet so is every other local New Yorker. Immigrants should be treated no differently than an American-born. This capitalist society is a huge competition, and the competition is continuing to grow as immigrants continue to migrate. As a nation comprised mainly of migrant cultures, America should continue allowing immigrants to enter the country. Since America developed and prospered due to the influx of immigrants, the country should continue to accept immigrants. However, America should definitely consider boundaries, as immigrants are slowly but surely dominating the American-born population.
Likewise, the article “On Staten Island, Without a Life Boat” by Leslie Kaufman details the unsuitable conditions immigrants on Staten Island are facing. In the midst of a middle class enclave, Albanians and Liberians are experiencing a rapid growth of poverty. With one city office to accept food stamps and welfare applications, Staten Island is becoming a borough of immigrants. Whether this is a negative or positive light to shine on the borough is not the question. Yet these immigrants are bringing poverty to the island, and are finding no escape from it. When immigrants choose to live in the United States they enter in the hopes of financially living a successful life. However based on the several articles published about immigration, this isn’t the case. America should at least help out the immigrants in starting a new life, so they could prosper from there on. A little help from the country itself wouldn’t hurt. However with so many immigrants entering the country at the same time, to help everyone is quite impossible.

In response to Teresa’s question, I would rather be an immigrant in the 20th century. Back in the 19th century, it was like an experiment accepting people from other countries into the United States. No one really understood what was going to happen, or how it was going to affect the country. In the 20th century, people are more aware of what happens when an immigrant migrates to the United States. Not only are there more economical opportunities in the 20th century, however there are more organizations used to help immigrants live the life they dreamed of.

LEEINZ<3 said...

Liana Inzerillo

"On Staten Island, Without a Lifeboat" by Leslie Kaufman was in in depth article that showed how our very own Staten Island faces poverty issues in regards to immigration. Staten Island's immigrant population has seen a sharp increase over the last ten years, but little to nothing has been done to accommodate their needs as new relatives to the Island. Since 1998, the poverty level has peaked at 48% and is capable of growing larger with increases in the cost of living and scarce work for illegal immigrants. These people cannot receive the help that they yearn for due to lack of representation and local government in Staten Island. Though people are fighting on the side of the immigrant, Staten Island is the only burough without public hospitals, soup kitchens that run daily, and free lawyers.
Many are struggling to live in housing projects, and so they are combining with as many as three families to pay for one apartments rent. Which, is a sad - not to mention shocking statistic. The people you work along side of may not have enough money for dinner tonight. It disgusts me that people of Staten Island have to choose whether to be fed or housed. Now there's food for a thought. "The rapidly rising housing costs that have affected the entire metropolitan region have been particularly acute for the poor on Staten Island because there are only a handful of public housing projects on the island and it has the city's smallest supply of rent-regulated private apartments. Throughout Port Richmond, a neighborhood of trim little houses that were built for single families, working people live three or four families to a house. They often cut back on food or medical care to pay the rent."
In the Immigrants make up 40 percent of New York City's population by Fred Mazelis, we see how New York has changed due to immigration from various countries like the former USSR, England, Ireland, Italy and China... just to name a few. The whole goal of the article was to inform the world that the United States is based on immigration. If the Britons had not traveled from England, then we'd have no basic history. I believe that the influx of new cultures allows New York to become a more cultured and beautiful place. I'm in concurrence with Sarah when she says immigration restrictions are hypocritical. Every ethnicity that has been brought here has faced some sort of scrutiny, and we as a nation should think twice before we scrutinize those who want to make a better life for themselves just as our fathers and forefathers wish for us. "Nearly every country in Latin America is represented in the Jackson Heights, Elmhurst and Corona sections of Queens. Nor are these immigrant groups confined to only one neighborhood. There are many sections of the city which have become a mix of languages, cultures and nationalities. The borough of Queens includes 167 nationalities and 116 languages, the greatest variety in the country and undoubtedly in the world."
Our world is becoming more and more modern and we must be willing to accept and incorporate new members of our society into the workforce.

JohnHarden said...

John Harden
Block H
December. 13th, 2007
AP United States History

The expectations of new immigrants are varied and high in number and along with these expectations come new proposed regulations and reactions. According to an article by Fred Mazelis titled “Immigrants make up 40 percent of New York City's population”, the United States census results in New York City show a dramatic jump in the number of foreign born citizens residing in the state. This dramatic jump is an amazing twelve percent. Also according to Fred Mazelis, over one million immigrants came to the United States between the years of 1990 and 2000. This increase in migration from citizens of foreign nations to the United States can be considered another great wave of immigration. The last great migration had taken place during the mid 1800s and was one of the leading factors that led to the Civil War, which was a bloody conflict which shaped our countries current inner boundaries.
Nevertheless, according to the Fred Mazelis, room for new immigrants is running low as the vacancy rate in many states if below five percent and to directly quote Marelis, “Capitalist globalization has meant the creation of new low-wage sectors of the economy inside the US, along with the search for cheap labor in other parts of the world. Immigrants have been pitted against native-born workers to drive down wages and conditions.” During the heavy wave of east coast immigration in the mid 1800s by people of Irish and German descent, many of the native-born workers then were being forced westward and losing their jobs. However, this was not a big issue as the country was growing and their was plenty of open space for people to spread and start anew. Today, there is not much room to spread and the only way to make more room is, as crazy as it sounds, gain more American land. According to an article by Joe Tanniru titled “Two cases reveal wretched conditions for immigrant laborers in New York City” many of the new immigrants are facing many hardships in their areas of occupation. According to the article, two West African immigrants, fresh off the boat were being under payed for all their hardwork. This is a sad and upsetting fact, as the United States of America was the first nation to establish itself as an economic superpower with Free-Market Capitalism and liberties for all people. America is the role model for the rest of the world in terms of how it should treat their citizens and these new immigrants are being treated unfairly. They were believed to be taken advantage of and they did not do much about it at first as they probably could not risk losing their jobs. If their was more land for American’s to create new business’ and opportunities, little discretions as such would probably not occur as often. America seems to organize it’s cities in the best possible way, as America has not run into such an “overcrowding” issue for quite along time. Thus, America should be given through payment or treaty the tract of land between Alaska and Washington State in Canada or some other Canadian land such as Quebec which currently is trying to separate itself from Canada.. This is one of the only ways to solve such issues without having to tell immigrants they are not allowed in the United States of America. It is the belief in Manifest Destiny that we should spread our liberties and give them to those who want them, not keep them to ourselves.
An article by Leslie Kaufman of the New York Times titled, “On Staten Island, Without a Lifeboat” describes even more hardships due to no room for fresh off the boat immigrants. These new immigrants to Staten Island are leading to poverty among both new immigrants and native born Americans. The fight for jobs is leading to a decline in the economic stability of Staten Island and New York as a whole. The raise in taxes is also leading to more poverty and the only way to solve this problem is through more business’ being created.
We, as a people whom live in a nation formed on the virtues of liberty, freedom, justice and opportunity have many varied expectations for new immigrants. Some people are flat out racist and believe the United States should disallow further immigration. Then there are those who believe that more room needs to be made for more people to enjoy those liberties that we as Americans so rightfully enjoy. America sees fresh immigrants as hard working and most likely uneducated people searching for blue collar jobs and an area to start a new life. Their hard labor could be well worth America’s time, economically, if they were sorted upon arrival in the United States. Sorted, meaning they were given optional but pushed for certain directions. Such as where to work and where to live, how to start anew. If something is not done about the over population, this country might crumble to its knees, especially the highly over populated east coast.
In response to Teresa’s query: “If you were an immigrant, would you want to be one in the 19th century or in the 20th century? Why?” If I was an immigrant I would want to be one in the 19th century. During this time period, people of the same descent as I, German, were migrating in large pacts to the east coast. Thus, I would have the advantage of being grouped as a minority with my fellow “brothers and sisters”. Also, Otto Von Bismarck was alive and well during this time period and was known for making quite a lot of public appearances. Hopefully, I would be able to gain enough money in America to go back to Germany (then Prussia) and meet the German statesmen in person.

ashley dalle said...

Fred Mazeli's "Immigrants make up 40 percent of New York City's Population," it is explained how in a manner of 10 years, the immigrant population rose 12 percent. Due to the increasing immigrant population in New York City, the overall population has grown as a result. It is mentioned in the article that the 40% population increase has not been seen since the immigration wave of the late 1800's/early 1900's, when Italians, Germans, and Britons came over from Europe to seek better lives here. Immigrants now seem to be coming from South Asia, The Former USSR, and Latin/South American Nations, amongst other regions. Even though many of these people are coming to the United States to seek work and prosperity, they are only met with low wages and probably poverty, hindering the illusion of "the streets are paved with gold."
Likewise, Bill Sammon's article "Romney blasts Rudy's Immigration Stance as Mayor of NYC" also portrays the aspect of immigrant workers coming to the United States, but yet meeting with a fate of low wages. Mitt Romney is seen attacking Rudy Giuliani's tolerance of illegal immigrants in New York City and questioning him drawing the line at drivers licenses. Giuliani's support of illegal immigrants is not that strange, calling them "some of the most hard-working and productive people in the city." They take on the jobs many people do not want to do, as immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries did as well.
In all honesty, the expectations for immigration should be strict yet fair. If someone is looking to seek refuge and opportunity in America, they should be allowed into the country on the condition that they must only do what they came to America for. Regulations that are fair, not forbidding should be in place so that they would be just.
I feel Liana touches on a good point when she states the fact in her article that SI is the only borough without a public hospital and free lawyers, which is strange considering the number of people living in poverty on SI.

Ashley said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ashley said...

Ashley Aydin.
Block H.


Starting with the arrival of the first Spanish and English settlers, the wave of immigration from the 19th century to present day has sky-rocketed. The topic of immigration in the United States has always proved controversial. Seemingly, native-born Americans remain divided in their opinions about foreign resettlement. Although particularly favorable to the United States’ economy, immigration has brought forth social division, tension, and setbacks.

Immigrants in the United States have and are still continuing to face much hardship due to popular national feeling. In 1795, the Naturalization Act, the first naturalization act in the United States, restricted citizenship to "free white persons" who had resided in the country for five years. During the 19th century, the law was broadened to allow both Whites and African-Americans citizenship, though Asians were still barred from inhabitance. Thus, as time proceeded, immigration became less restricted.

Nonetheless, problems involving health, beliefs, or lack of education arose. The 1850 United States census was the first federal U.S. census to query about the nativity of citizens— or where they were born. This raised much thought concerning the future of the nation. Hence, the viewpoints and attitudes of American residents came into full drive. Were immigrants to have the same privileges as Americans? Did they actually deserve them? Today, we are still faced with these issues.

“Immigrants Make Up 40 Percent of New York City's Population” by Fred Mazelis touches on the benefits of migration to United States. Chiefly, Mazelis explains that immigrants take on a variety of jobs, occupations that Americans tend to overlook. Economically, immigrants provide rich capital and cash flow for the United States. “A combination of factors and circumstances are involved, above all the changes in the world economy, the accelerating globalization of production and of economic life. The growing gulf between living conditions in the advanced capitalist sector and the countries of the ‘Third World’ has made the economically advanced nations a pole of attraction.” Furthermore, Mazelis suggests that immigrants contribute to an innovative and convenient work force, especially regarding productivity. “Capitalist globalization has meant the creation of new low-wage sectors of the economy inside the US, along with the search for cheap labor in other parts of the world.”

Contrastingly, “On Staten Island, Without a Lifeboat”, by Leslie Kaufman, highlighted the many disadvantages of immigration in local city communities. The majority of immigrants have widely considered the advantages their inhabitance in the United States has granted them. “The dearth of lawyers handling green cards and deportation hearings is particularly severe.” With the rise of immigration, the United State’s population remains a crucial fear. Certainly, the rise in immigration has taken affect on the resources available to native-born Americans and citizens alike. “For the roughly 56,000 people on the island who are poor enough to qualify for government benefits, the island has only one city office to accept applications for food stamps and welfare. It has no publicly financed shelter beds for homeless men, no offices for free lawyers for immigration issues, and no city hospital.” The lack of privileges and resources has indeed been detrimental to both foreigners and citizens.

Despite the negative light on immigration, Americans tend to overlook the fact that this country was founded and structured by immigrants, themselves. The relocation of Europeans and other ethnic groups created a mass of people, all determined to succeed in forming a free, independent nation. Although immigration should have limitations, foreigners should not be deprived of the right to experience economic opportunity and cultural dispersal. The United States has persistently been known for being home to a relatively diverse population. Accordingly, immigrants play key roles in our country’s politics, economy, and social standards.

*Liana’s view is understandable and enlightened. She makes a significant point by explaining that our nation must modernize its perception of immigrants as negative contributors to the economy and American populace. The United States has experienced great change due to immigration. Undoubtedly, immigrants have helped our communities become more culturally enriched and diverse.

Justin Lefty said...

Justin Lefkowitz
H Block
AP US History

“Immigrants make up 40 percent of New York City's population” by Fred Mazelis goes into deep details on New York’s increasing immigrant settling rate. New York has always been the most populated city with immigrants ever since the mid-nineteenth century. This is why the city of New York has always been referred to as “The Melting Pot” of the world. New York is one of the most diverse places in the world. According to the reading, Queens, one of New York City’s Five Boroughs, includes 167 nationalities and 116 languages, the greatest variety in the country and undoubtedly in the world. The absolute number of foreign-born New York residents has climbed from about 2 million in 1990 to nearly 3 million in 1999. This does not include 290,000 more who were born in Puerto Rico.

This article is hard to analyze because these are statistics from almost eight years ago. That’s a lot of time that has passed. Statistics are supposed to be up to date pieces of information. According to the article and the US Census Bureau, there were only 7.4 million people living in New York City. I say only because within this eight-year margin, the population has been raised to an estimated total of 18,747,320 people. This population was determined in a 2005 population census. I could not find the current population of immigrants living in New York, but I am sure that it increased as well.

The article “Two cases reveal wretched conditions for immigrant laborers in New York City” by Joe Tanniru goes into details on the way that immigrants are being treated in the work industry. According to the article, a group of West African immigrants working as deliverymen get paid $1.25 per delivery, regularly received the equivalent of as little as $.87 to $1.74 an hour, plus tips.

I believe that if these immigrants just came to America not too long ago, then they should not be earning full wages. They are not American citizens. They should not be entitled to American money, until they have become Americans themselves. Everybody works hard here. They need to work hard to for just as long.

I honestly believe that immigration is becoming a problem. When almost half of the people living in a state come from another country, there is a problem. The government needs to control this because before we know it, immigrants will rule this country. Immigrants are taking away the jobs of the average American citizens. Laws need to be put into place to limit immigration. I am not saying close down the immigration ports of the world, but limit the amount of immigrants being accepted as citizens every year. Maybe the United States should only accept 100,000 immigrants as citizens a year. We can’t just keep letting people into our home. The United States does not seem to be growing in size anytime soon, but it does keep increasing in population. Eventually, if precautions are not taken, the United States will become overcrowded and there will be a big problem.

Looking at the question that Teresa asked the class, I would have liked to be an immigrant living in the 20th century. In the 20th century, immigrants had more rights than the ones they had in the 19th century. Towards the end of the 20th century, many immigrants were starting to lead good lives, well, at least better lives than what they were living. Now if the 21st century were an option, I would’ve picked that because immigrants have basically equal rights to citizens.

jaclyn said...

The article “Immigrants make up 40 percent of New York City's population” by Fred Mazelis discusses the huge rise of immigrants in New York City in the past decade. Roughly 100,000 immigrants have made New York City their home each year for the past decade. One million have come since 1990, which made the prior 28% jump to the current 40% in less than ten years. This percentage matches one in the past when immigrant workers were brought to the US for work. These immigrants have all come to the US in search for a better life, but sadly it’s not what they are all getting. “The conditions of ruthless exploitation and miserable housing facing many immigrants in New York has still seemed far preferable to the semi-starvation and generalized hopelessness in their countries of origin.” Based on my own personal experience, the way some people treat immigrants is purely disgusting. Some people believe since they were born in this country they are superior to the immigrants. Even if in their minds this is so, immigrants still have rights since they are, of course humans as well. As Sarah said, America is filled with diversity, and Americans should be more accepting rather than abusing others as a result of their nationality.

The New York Times article, “On Staten Island, Without a Lifeboat” by Leslie Kaufman was quite an eye opener for me. It’s ironic that when people think of poverty, they usually refer to broken down areas of the Bronx or Brooklyn, but in reality Staten Island’s poverty rate is sky rocketing. Because of the proportion of well off people to poverty stricken ones, Staten Island doesn’t receive all the care needed to support the high rate of poor people. “For the roughly 56,000 people on the island who are poor enough to qualify for government benefits, the island has only one city office to accept applications for food stamps and welfare. It has no publicly financed shelter beds for homeless men, no offices for free lawyers for immigration issues, and no city hospital.” This fact is really sad because Staten Island isn’t getting all the attention it needs, which isn’t fair to the poor people living there. Everyone in the country should receive all the help they need or as much as possible. I live in Staten Island and was not aware of the high statistic, which leads me to believe many others are unaware as well.

Marco MUNiz said...

Question to AP peers:
If you were an immigrant, would you want to be one in the 19th century or in the 20th century? Why?


If I was an immigrant,I would definetly want to be one in the 20th century, than in the 19th century, as life was more technologically advanced in the 20th century. Also, in the 19th century, there was much more racism.

Marco MUNiz said...

Discuss the perspectives each author presents on these matters and how these articles relate to our current study of sectional crisis and immigration in the 19th century.


“Immigrants make up 40 percent of New York City’s population”, by Franz Mazelis of The World Socialist Website, is about the rising population of immigrants in New York City. 7.4 million People live in New York City, and analysts believe in a few years half of which will be immigrants. A decade ago, the percentage was 28 percent. New York City is very diverse because of this. In Jackson Heights alone, almost every nation in Latin America is represented. Many have come to improve their lifestyles. However, many end up working as minimum wage workers.

“Two cases reveal wretched conditions for immigrant laborers in New York City”, by Joe Tanniru of The World Socialist Website, is about harsh working conditions for immigrant workers. Immigrant workers from Africa in a delivery service were paid $1.25 per delivery, but they only manage to make around a dollar an hour which is about 1/3 of the minimum wage in New York where tips are customary. Even worse, immigrants usually are afraid of complaining for fear of losing their job and for fear of being deported. In a certain case, Ms. Begum made $100 dollars a month working for two rich people, and she worked for nine months. She never complained, and she left the house only three times, never unaccompanied. In the corporation she works for, all the maids are not even allowed to see their friends. What’s worse, those who pay extremely low wages cannot even be convicted, as the workers are immigrants. Thus, these employers are abusing their powers.
These articles relate to our study of sectional crisis and immigration in the 19th century. Many come to the U.S today for a better life. Immigrants have been coming to the U.S for a better life for years. For instance, the Irish left Ireland because of a potato famine during the 1840’s. Germans left Germany for a similar reason. Like many immigrants today, those skilled obviously obtain better jobs than those unskilled. In the 19th century, most Germans were more skilled than the Irish. As a result, Irish immigrants stayed in the cities and worked for little money. Many Germans though went in west U.S to farm after they made money with the use of their skills. Moreover, the nation is also divided like in the 19th century. Today, the nation is debating whether immigrants should have more rights, the right to vote for example. In the 19th century, the nation was debating whether slavery should be abolished or not. In the end, times today resemble 19th century times.

3)Answer the focus question: As a nation comprised mainly of migrant cultures, what are are just expectations and regulations for immigration?
Minimum 200 words, please respond to at least one other post.

As a nation comprised mainly of migrant cultures, just expectations and regulations for immigration should change. Today, many feel immigrants should stay in the lowest class, as many feel superior to them. However, the nation was basically founded by immigrants. For instance, the British, the formers of the U.S colonies, were basically immigrants on North American soil. Therefore, Americans should also be more kind to immigrants. The articles show how immigrants are treated unfairly, and this shouldn’t happen anymore. These people come to the U.S for a better life, not for the same life or a worse life. The U.S, being the most “powerful” nation, should show this by providing better lives to immigrants. Therefore, immigrants, since we all have ancestors who are immigrants, should be treated as equals.

jakub said...

In 1999, a survey stated that more than 40% of New York's five boroughs contain immigrants. Today the population is about a million larger then it was in 1999, coming in at about 8.2 million and growing. Therefore, the population of immigrants are still growing and so could the percentage on the rise. Nearly a hundred thousand immigrants have been coming to the United States and making their home New York for the past decade. But recently, Mexican immigration has declined as stronger border control has been set out to eliminate illegal immigration. In less than 10 years the population of foreign-born New Yorkers has jumped from 28-40 percent. In modern times the New York immigration has been very paced but during the mass immigrations in 1880-1920 when millions and millions came over a short period of time. However, only some percentage of those first generation immigrant families still live in New York. The first immigrants came from Germany and Ireland. Today many Irish and some German communities still exist in the New York region. Europeans weren't the only ones to come at the time. Soviet and Mexican population more than tripled at the time. Today Russian population isn't that high but on the other hand many Mexicans still come to the US for better opportunities. Also, the Chinese came at large amount of numbers during the gold rush. Also the first Arabs came during the same time.

Recently, two lawsuits have been filed against grocery stores. The workers said they received $1.25 for delivery and around a dollar an hour, plus tips. The average of hours worked a week was 69. The minimum for a job with tips in New York is $3.20. The deli's, however, claimed that they paid $7-$8 an hour. The other case was when a couple forced the house maid to work 7 days a week for minimum wages. She earned about $100 a month. This is nothing and will not get anyone anywhere.

The first article summarized American immigration and focused mainly on New York immigrants. The other stated two cases of the rich abusing immigrants and taking advantage of them in modern times. If this is happening in modern times there's no question that this was happening a hundred years ago.

**sorry for late post i had network problems. btw who's mark?

Gerry said...

Gerald lara jr.
A block

"On Staten Island, Without a Lifeboat" by Leslie Kaufman explianed the issue of poverty in our very city, staten island, is affected by mere immigration. Staten Island's immigrant population increased estatically over the years, and we are slowly becoming overpopulated.The island's homes cannot accomodate a large amount of immigrants.Though people fight to keep their families from other countries, Staten island can only get public aid such as public hospitals and free lawyers.
many people like to with with numerous amount of family members to only pay one rent. by doin so sometimes there is lack of money for other things such as food and clothing for other family members. This issue had been affecting a massive number of people on staten island wether to be housed or fed.throughout many neighbore especially my neighborehood of pot richmond, people continuously work hard to live under one roof and try to feed everyone in the family. They often cut back on food or medical care to pay the rent.
The main purpose of the article was to inform the nation and the world about immigration. Our world is advacning in technology, and the people must be able to keep up with the advancments. We must be able to keep up with it, and provide more job oppertunities for people who are in poverty.