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Know-Nothing Party
Know- Nothing Party , also know as American Party, was established in the early 1850 ( 1854). Members in the party believes strongly in Nativism and opposed immigrants , followers of Catholics Church,who had flooded into the country during 1830s. They feared that the country would be overwhelmed by Irish Catholics immigrants. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
A Federal law passed in 1882, that prohibited all Chinese except students, teachers, merchants, tourists, and goverment officials from entering USA. Some reasons were because of cheap labors, competition for jobs, different language, cultures. The law suspended Chinese immigrants for ten years and declared Chinese immigrant ineligible for naturation as American citizens. The law was renewed in 1892 for another ten years. In 1902, Chinese immigrantion was pernamently banned. -
Ellis Island
Ellis Island was opened as an immigration center from 1892-1954. It was the most immigration station in America. That was its sole purpose: to record immigrants from another nations coming to America. People had to pass the checking process (physical examination by the doctors, clear document without felony) to immigrate in island or else they were going to be sent back home. Immigrants from Ireland were the primary group entering through Ellish Island. It was a gateway to America that time. -
Gentlemen's Agreement
The agreement by the government of Japan to limit Japanese emigration of its laborers to America and that the America would stop discrimination against Japanese living in US. It was ratified by the Congress and never become law. Japan would deny passport to any Japanese in America. Uncle Sam's end of the deal was to allow immigration of family members of Japanese American and avoid legislation discriminating against Japanese. The agreement was ended by Congress in 1924. -
Quota system 1921
The system established the maximum number of people who could enter America from each foreign country. The goal of this system was to reduce sharply the number of unskilled immigrants. Congress enacted this system in response to the Red Scare, or fear of communists in America. Because of this system, more Chinese had chance to come after the Chinese Exclusion Act. However, it favored cheap labor from Italians and Eastern Europeans. -
Second Ku Klux Klan
The second Ku Klux Klan was founded in 1915. It grew bigger in 1920~. The new Klan had a wider program. They favored native-born and anti-Catholicism, which was closely related Know-Nothing Party of middle 19 century. They started to destroy salons, oppose unions, drive Roman Catholics, Jews and foreign born out of the country because of working low wages, less unskilled jobs available and racist idea. -
The Immigration Act of 1965 (Hart-Celler)
Immigration Act of 1965, that had dramatically changed the method by which immigrants were admitted to America. Third world countries entered to US (including Asians, who had traditionally been forbidden from entering America). It abolished the nation-origin quotas that had been placed in the US since The Immigration Act of 1924. The significance of this bill was that future immigrants were to be welcome because of their skill/profession not by their nationalities. -
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA)
It was also known as Simpson-Mazzoli Act or ammesty bill. It prohibited employers from knowingly hiring, recruiting or referring for a fee any alien, who was unauthorized to work. Illegal immigrant would be granted legal status. 1986 bill didn't recognizen the demand for low-skilled immigrant labor. The bill specified a 50 percent increase in Border Patrol staffing along Mexican border. The bill somehow can't control illegal immigrants, which kept inceasing due to a lot of agricultural jobs. -
Proposition 187
California Proposition 187 ( also known as the Save Our State (SOS) initiative) was a bill that ended all education and non-emergency health benefits to illegal immigrants. It also created a state run citizenship screening system. It was ruled unconstitutional. Critics argued that the bill was xenophobic and discriminated against ethnic minorities. It inspired political participation among Hispanic voters, who saw themselves as targets -
Temporary Worker Program
President Bush has recently promoting his proposals for a large temporary worker program as a way to effectively enforce immigration law. The program would allow foreigners to work in the US for up to six years, after which they would be returned to their own country. Bush emphasized the qualities that immigrants brought to the country and how the United States was dependent upon them.The program in 2005 was not approved, it is speculated to be among the forefront of next immigrantion issues.
