Reggie Golfin
Lincoln 300
Dr. Combs
4/18/17
Immigration in America: History, Liberal and Conservative Views
Introduction
Immigration has both benefits and drawbacks to American society. Those who support immigrants (liberals) believe that they are not just individuals who stay in the US for free and thrive off of others excellence. They actually help with the economy. “They are entrepreneurs, job creators, tax payers, and consumers” (Nicholson, 2017). The only difference between immigrants and American born citizens would be the area in which immigrants have came from and the cultural standards of these immigrants. They are not here to take away the jobs of Americans. Immigrants seek the US because they see opportunity and hope for the betterment of the lives of their families.
Those who do not support immigration (conservatives) are concerned about the risk of their jobs due to competition. Conservatives “want native-born Americans to keep their jobs, and they don’t want them to face wage cuts.” (Sunstein, 2016) There is also the concern that there will be financial issues for the American citizens in funding the first generation immigrants. With this concern, there is the possibility of hostility towards these immigrant groups.
History
It all started with the Native Americans establishing themselves in America about 20,000 years ago. Around the year 1000, the Natives were met by the first immigrants, the Vikings. A majority of the meetings, varying on the places, were peaceful and in the others the different cultures clashed and this resorted to violence and disease. “Whole tribes were decimated by such newly introduced diseases as small pox, measles, and the plague.” (Immigration Timeline) By the 17th century Europeans began to settle in America. “The British in New England and Virginia, the Dutch in New York and New Jersey, and the Swedish.” (Immigration Timeline) But these European groups weren’t the only immigrants. They came with slaves from Africa and the Caribbean who thought they were going to America to be servants for four to seven years in exchange for a “one-way ticket to the colonies and the promise of land”. (Immigration Timeline) But they were forced to go regardless of this exchange.
With the establishment of the government in the early 1700s, Congress didn’t have a lot of power in regards to immigration because they gave that power to the states. Later on (1808), Congress received the authority to ban the slave trade and in return put the Naturalization Act in place. This act stating that “…any alien, being a free white person, may be admitted to become a citizen of the United States…”. (Immigration Timeline) This act slowed immigration significantly. After the War of 1812, peace was restored with Britain and immigration from Great Britain, Ireland and Western Europe continued. Many of these immigrants either arrived very ill or close to dying and this created the Steerage Act of 1819 by Congress, which helped create organization in the transportation of these immigrants. This act required captains to keep passenger records and create/provide better conditions for the immigrants.
With the industrial Revolution beginning, slave trade began to decrease. Advancements in technology and labor began to pave its way in America. People coming to America just to work and provide for their families and that’s when rapid population growth happened. You saw Irish immigrants coming to escape famine going on. You saw even more European groups and Chinese immigrants coming to the US. With the rapid rate of immigrants coming to the US, that is where you started to the hostility from the US citizens toward the immigrants in regards to jobs. These immigrants were willing to work for less and do more than the Americans, as anything was a benefit for these immigrants. But, there is the opinion that “Foreign immigration which in the past has added so much to the wealth, resources, and increase power to the nation…should be fostered and encouraged.”
With more advancements in technology, including steam power, made it a lot easier to travel to America. This is where you started to see more and more immigrants from all around the world. America provided refuge to those who needed to get away from their country because of violence or way of life. To this day, immigration is increasing exponentially but now the government is starting to place restrictions and limitations on those who came here illegally.
Conservative Beliefs
Conservatives only support legal immigration. They believe that those who enter the US illegally do not have the same rights as those who enter legally and they should be sent back to their country. They also believe that immigrants are the reason why millions of Americans can’t find jobs. The combination of the immigrant population and Americans make wages low which is why there is a high percentage of individuals in poverty. This observation also leads to the overpopulation in cities.
Liberal Beliefs
Support both legal and illegal immigration. They believe that it is “unfair to arrest millions of undocumented immigrants.” (Student News Daily, 2005) Liberals also believe that immigrants whether legal or illegal should have a right to all financial and institutional resources. These resources being education, financial aid, welfare, social security, and Medicaid.
Personal Opinion
Coming from what I think is morally right and not being influenced by Conservative or Liberal beliefs, I personally believe that immigrants, whether legal or illegal, should be allowed to stay in the US and have the same benefits. They came to the US for a reason and that was to better their lives. They see that there is opportunity and hope in this country and they want to take advantage of that opportunity by coming here. If the country were to turn away these individuals, would the US really be what they are documented as? “The land of the free”? No. So the US should do what is morally right and take in the individuals that would like to create a new life with hope. I see why each side is the way it is and they both provide great explanations on why they think the way they do.
Mediation
To reach for a means between the conservative and liberal beliefs is very important. We can accomplish these means by creating rules and foundations for immigrants. By not making it too complicated to achieve government papers of being a legal immigrant. It is not morally correct to just kick those out who want to seek a better life. Rather give them the opportunity to become legal. In regards to border security, they should not focus on illegal immigrants but rather focus on those smuggling drugs and any criminal activity going across the lines of the border.
Works Cited
Compiled by the Editors. “Conservative vs. Liberal Beliefs.” Student News Daily, 2005, www.studentnewsdaily.com/conservative-vs-liberal-beliefs/.
Bowman, Karlyn. “Reading The Polls: Welcome To America? What Americans Say About Immigration.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 16 Feb. 2017, www.forbes.com/sites/bowmanmarsico/2017/02/14/reading-the-polls-welcome-to-america-what-americans-say-about-immigration/#3913524b24e6.
“Immigration Timeline.” Immigration Timeline – The Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, www.libertyellisfoundation.org/immigration-timeline.
Nicholson, Michael D., and CAP Immigration Team. “The Facts on Immigration Today: 2017 Edition.” Center for American Progress, 20 Apr. 2017, www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/reports/2017/04/20/430736/facts-immigration-today-2017-edition/.
Plaats, Bob Vander. “Here's a New, Compassionate Idea for Dealing with Illegal Immigration.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 16 Feb. 2018, www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/02/16/solve-immigration-problem-starting-those-live-here-already-bob-vander-plaats-column/343360002/.
Sunstein, Cass R. “Cass Sunstein: Why so Many Americans Oppose Immigration.” The Salt Lake Tribune, Bloomberg View, 29 Sept. 2016, archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=4409632&itype=CMSID.