Emigration and immigration are the reasons why different races come together. These kinds of movements pose a threat to the culture and lifestyle of native people hence a backlash against immigrants. This was the case in the U.S. as people from other countries started moving into the U.S. The result was a diverse racial composition in America due to enormous number of immigrants, who have begun moving into the land since 1600.
Immigration to America began when the British moved into America in 1607 in their pursuit to colonize America. The British were assimilated into the American culture and the two cultures used a common language: English. The British readily accepted the American culture and they were not discriminated against since they were not seen to belong to a lower socio-economic class than the Americans.
However, the immigration of the Germans led to a slight twist of events because the Germans settled in ethnic enclaves and used a different language and different cultural customs. The British immigrated into America in search for religious freedom and economic gain. When a large number of the British moved into America, many African slaves involuntarily immigrated into America as well. Since the Africans were socially and economically underprivileged unlike the Whites, they were forced to work on large farms.
The Germans did not experience American backlash compared with their other counterparts, for example, the Irish, who moved to America between 1820 and 1880. Racial discrimination in the U.S. was mainly based on social status and religion. Other than the blacks, also the Africans who were discriminated first due to the color of their skin and lack of economic power, the Irish were discriminated against due to similar reasons as lack of education and poverty. In addition, the Irish were Catholics yet the Americans were Protestants.
As a result, these racial minority groups were not welcomed to live in the better parts of the country. They were designated the worst jobs and lived in deplorable conditions.
These minority groups fought in civil war under duress. The minority groups did not get a chance to enjoy the privileges of good health, economic empowerment and well paid jobs. They lived miserable lives of oppression from those who were regarded as white skinned. The Italians, Russians, Poles, Spanish and Baltians moved into America between 1880 and 1930. They were considered to be the groups of minority and they all faced a worse kind of discrimination in contrast to that of the African slaves.
These Eastern and Southern Europeans were poor rural farmers and peasants, who lived in crowded and sub-standard conditions. They were regarded as racially inferior because they had a darker skin color that was not white, in addition to being socially and economically handicapped.
The Chinese moved into America in 1850, and a large percentage of them were men. Racial difference and discrimination led to their subordination as workers in Hawaiian plantations, mines and railroads companies. The Chinese were banned from entering into the U.S. in 1875 because they were considered to be culturally, racially and religiously worse compared to the Southern and Eastern Europeans.
The Japanese were in the same situation when they moved into America during 1870-1924. The Jewish, who moved into America during the period 1880-1930 though less educated and of lower social cadre, did not face much discrimination. The reason is attributed to the fact that these Jewish were among the most successful in Southern and Eastern Europe.