The threshold of the twenties century was marked by the era of industrialization in Europe, which led to mass discontent among the workers. As a result, about 27 million immigrants considered the United States as the land of new opportunities for building a better life as compared to the conditions offered in Europe.
This is of particular to concern to southern and eastern Europeans who had a considerable impact on the population shifts in the United States. Italian, Jews, French, German and English people were among the pioneers of the migration wave in 1890s.
The first immigrants arriving in the New World were more encouraged to become the members of the American community. However, later waves of immigrants were met with a prejudiced attitude. In particular, most of the residents referred to them as to the people of lower social position.
The inferior attitude and perception has been shaped toward the most multiple groups. For instance, “Italians were criminal by nature and…are as a race simpleminded and often grossly ignorant” (A New Wave of Immigrants, 1890-1920s 188).
However, the Americans themselves could not be regarded as honorable members of indigenous population of the New World. In fact, their hostility to migration groups could be presented as the attempt of Americans to prove their dominance over the new territory and exterminate all possibilities for new invasions.
Their concerns were logical, but partially, because most of their preventive measures and restrictions imposed on the new comers did not allow them to apply for a job. The point is that industrial process required cheap labor, which was available among the newcomers. However, older generations of immigrants, as well as native-born employees resisted the conditions that other newcomers were ready to accept.
The introduction of immigration process provided significant shifts in the societal organization. In particular, in migrated societies the prevalent role was imposed on men who earned money whereas the roles of women were confined to household issues, meeting with friends, and engaging in church activities (Ethnic Conflict and Immigration Restriction 190).
As result of shaping such patterns, consumerism trends had been evolving due to the increased role of women as consumers. In fact, consumerism has become the part of American culture.
The period between World War I and World War II highlighted remarkable changes in attitudes to some ethnic groups of immigrants. This is of particular to Chinese minorities whose labor was exploited and regarded as a cheap source for receiving profits.
However, these circumstances did not provide Chinese with opportunities for professional promotion regardless of their willingness to receive education and apply for respectable job positions.
Unjust and unequal treatment of national minorities generated conflicts and contradictions between indigenous population and the newcomers. Further confrontations led to the rise of race discrimination and gender inequality among the population.
In conclusion, the history of the U.S. migration premises on challenges and negative experience that the newcomers had to face before fulfilling their hopes and expectations. The native population of the United States expressed resistance to the willingness of the newcomers to accomplish their goals.
Moreover, the hostile and prejudiced attitude prevented them from equal treatment of ethnic minorities. Existence of stereotypes provoked the migrated community to enter national, race, and gender conflicts to defend their rights and freedoms. Finally, lack of understanding between the indigenous population and the newcomers developed long-term confrontation in the twentieth century as well.
Works Cited
Dinnerstein, Leonard., and David Relmers. “A New Wave of Immigrants, 1890-1920s”. Ethnic Americans: A History of Immigration. Ed. Leonard Dinnerstein and David Relmers. US: Columbia University Press, 2009. 186-188. Print.
—. “Ethnic Conflict and Immigration Restriction”. Ethnic Americans: A History of Immigration. Ed. Leonard Dinnerstein and David Relmers. US: Columbia University Press, 2009. 188-195. Print.