By Laurie Bergner
When I was in high school, I didn’t see the relevance of history. I hated those classes. But now I see it differently. Studying history helps to put current events into perspective. Without the longer perspective of history, we are stuck in a narrow view of our own times.
With that in mind, I did a little digging into the history of immigration in the United States. What I found is that today’s love-hate relationship with immigrants is nothing new. Our feelings toward immigrants have depended on our own economic situation, as well as prejudice against those we see as different. While we are indeed a nation of immigrants,almost none of them were accepted happily and graciously when they first came over.
After our nation was created, immigrants began coming from Western Europe during their difficult times, like those from Ireland during their 6 yearpotato famine, which started in 1845 and killed almost a million people. Another million emigrated to the U.S. They were hated for being Catholic. The California gold rush of 1849 brought many Chinese, who were in the midst of unstable times in China. Perhaps predictably, these waves of immigrants were followed by a backlash.
I want to focus on the Chinese for a minute as an example. The Chinese first came over when the Gold Rush began in 1949. Initially, they were welcomed because they would do the most menial work for very low wages. But when our economy worsened, people turned on those pigtailed Chinese and blamed them for the bad conditions, using them as scapegoats for depressed wage levels by politicians and labor leaders. There was violence and riots against them, and in the 1870’s and 80’s, federal laws were passed that explicitly barred Chinese from becoming citizens and that almost totally restricted immigration from China. Additionally, dozens of states passed alien land laws that prohibited non-citizens from purchasing real estate, thus preventing them from establishing permanent homes and businesses. These laws were not repealed until 50 years later!
When we did pass quotas for immigration in 1924, we rigged them to allow in more immigrants from Western Europe and keep out Asians and those from Southern Europe, like Italians. It took until 1965 to correct these intentionally prejudicial quotas.
I give you this history because I believe it has a connection with our feelings and beliefs about Muslim and Hispanic immigrants today. We allowed Hispanic workers to come in to work when we needed them for many years, but when our economy worsened, we blamed them for taking American jobs. When a Muslim commits a terrorist crime, we blame all Muslims. And 9/11 began an era of fear and xenophobia that continues today, even focusing on securing our southern border for purposes of security from terrorism, despite the fact that no terrorists have come through that border.
Immigration is a difficult, sticky issue that throughout our history has been, and continues to be, one that brings out our fears and prejudices, perhaps the very worst in us. But today we must remember that it is our melting pot of immigrants that provides the vitality and strength of America.
Laurie Bergner is a clinical psychologist in private practice, working with individual adults, families and couples. She also works with the nonpartisan League of Women Voters, helping organize candidates forums, educational programs, and many issues in the field of law and justice. She has received many recognitions in both fields, including YWCA’s Women of Distinction in the Professions, Leaguer of the Year, LWV Special Project Awards, and the LWV of Illinois’s prestigious Carrie Chapman Catt award. Laurie has a wonderful husband and two grown children – also wonderful. She loves biking in the countryside, reading, and traveling.
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