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Eugenics, Citizenship, and Immigration. “ T here is an irreconcilable resistance to amalgamation and social equality that cannot be ignored. ” -Representative Clarence F. Lea, 1924. Immigration. Peaked during the Progressive Era (1890-1914) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Eugenics, Citizenship, and Immigration
“There is an irreconcilable resistance to amalgamation and social equality that cannot be ignored.”
-Representative Clarence F. Lea, 1924
Immigration
Peaked during the Progressive Era (1890-1914) Before 1890: immigration primarily from
Northwestern Europe (Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, Germany, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Holland)
1890-1914: South and Eastern Europe (Austria-Hungary, Italy, Russia, Greece, Romania, Turkey)
Majority were non-Protestant, spoke unfamiliar languages
Peaked during the Progressive Era (1890-1914) Before 1890: immigration primarily from
Northwestern Europe (Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, Germany, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Holland)
1890-1914: South and Eastern Europe (Austria-Hungary, Italy, Russia, Greece, Romania, Turkey)
Majority were non-Protestant, spoke unfamiliar languages
How Immigrants Were Viewed
Competition for jobs, housing, and public services
Threatened prosperous Americans by crowding the largest cities
Bred “crime and disease;” caused social problems instead of being the victims of them
Competition for jobs, housing, and public services
Threatened prosperous Americans by crowding the largest cities
Bred “crime and disease;” caused social problems instead of being the victims of them
Definition of Citizenship
After the Civil War, “whites” and “persons of African descent” were eligible for citizenship
In some cases, everyone not black was considered white, but Takao Ozawa, a Japanese immigrant, was
denied citizenship by the Supreme Court in 1922 because he was “white” but not “Caucasian”
The Supreme Court also denied citizenship from Singh Thind, a Hindu, because he was “Caucasian” but not “white”
After the Civil War, “whites” and “persons of African descent” were eligible for citizenship
In some cases, everyone not black was considered white, but Takao Ozawa, a Japanese immigrant, was
denied citizenship by the Supreme Court in 1922 because he was “white” but not “Caucasian”
The Supreme Court also denied citizenship from Singh Thind, a Hindu, because he was “Caucasian” but not “white”
Eugenicists’ Goals
Stop the decline of American intelligence “insure a…progressive upward evolution” Define citizenship based on race Stop the immigration of Eastern Europeans
and others “polluting” America Prevent the immigration of anyone who
“might prove costly to society”
Stop the decline of American intelligence “insure a…progressive upward evolution” Define citizenship based on race Stop the immigration of Eastern Europeans
and others “polluting” America Prevent the immigration of anyone who
“might prove costly to society”
Supporters of Immigration Restriction
Boston-based Immigration Restriction League; pushed for immigrants to pass a literacy test
President Calvin Coolidge; “Restricted immigration is not an offensive but purely a defensive action.” —1924
Boston-based Immigration Restriction League; pushed for immigrants to pass a literacy test
President Calvin Coolidge; “Restricted immigration is not an offensive but purely a defensive action.” —1924
Direct Causes of Restriction
“Outbreaks of smallpox, typhus and cholera in New York” increase scrutiny of immigrants
Fear of spies and the openness of borders creates anxiety during WWI
A statement by Leon Kamaiky that essentially said 3 million Polish Jews would come to America if given the means
“Outbreaks of smallpox, typhus and cholera in New York” increase scrutiny of immigrants
Fear of spies and the openness of borders creates anxiety during WWI
A statement by Leon Kamaiky that essentially said 3 million Polish Jews would come to America if given the means
Strategies of Eugenicists
Used “graphs, pedigree charts, and the results of hundreds of IQ tests” to provide shocking scientific evidence
Use graphics, such as pictures from Ellis Island Call immigrants degrading names, such as
“Carriers of the Germ Plasm of the Future American Population”
A Study of American Intelligence by Carl Brigham, which provided a “scientific rationale”
Used “graphs, pedigree charts, and the results of hundreds of IQ tests” to provide shocking scientific evidence
Use graphics, such as pictures from Ellis Island Call immigrants degrading names, such as
“Carriers of the Germ Plasm of the Future American Population”
A Study of American Intelligence by Carl Brigham, which provided a “scientific rationale”
Harry Laughlin
Used statistics, charts, graphics, etc. from the ERO to present the immigration problem to the House Committee on Immigration
Appointed Expert Eugenics Agent by the committee
Influenced Representatives to oppose immigration
Used statistics, charts, graphics, etc. from the ERO to present the immigration problem to the House Committee on Immigration
Appointed Expert Eugenics Agent by the committee
Influenced Representatives to oppose immigration
Challengers to the Eugenicists
Herbert Spencer Jennings Testified before Congress about Laughlin’s
flawed statistics; testimony cut short Ignored in favor of Laughlin’s “lurid findings”
Representative Adolph J. Sabath Argued for assimilation in a Congressional
debate Dr. Frederick Lam
Worked to convince officials that liver fluke, a common disease among Chinese immigrants, was noncommunicable
Herbert Spencer Jennings Testified before Congress about Laughlin’s
flawed statistics; testimony cut short Ignored in favor of Laughlin’s “lurid findings”
Representative Adolph J. Sabath Argued for assimilation in a Congressional
debate Dr. Frederick Lam
Worked to convince officials that liver fluke, a common disease among Chinese immigrants, was noncommunicable
Immigration Policies
Immigration Restriction Act of 1924 Scale the number of immigrants down by
allowing only 2% of each group’s population in the US according to the census of 1890
Reduced quota of Southern and Eastern Europeans from 45% to 15%
Coolidge rallied support with his slogan “America must remain American”
Deportation of foreigners with ailments, even non-communicable diseases
Immigration Restriction Act of 1924 Scale the number of immigrants down by
allowing only 2% of each group’s population in the US according to the census of 1890
Reduced quota of Southern and Eastern Europeans from 45% to 15%
Coolidge rallied support with his slogan “America must remain American”
Deportation of foreigners with ailments, even non-communicable diseases
Effects of These Policies
Immigration from Asia and Africa is essentially cut off
Source of immigrants returns to former areas
Ends the era of the most immigration in history
Immigration from Asia and Africa is essentially cut off
Source of immigrants returns to former areas
Ends the era of the most immigration in history
Modern Repercussions
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 replaces the racism of the 1924 act
New system “gives preferences to refugees…people with relatives in the United States, and workers with needed skills
Only 16% of foreign-born people now come from Europe
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 replaces the racism of the 1924 act
New system “gives preferences to refugees…people with relatives in the United States, and workers with needed skills
Only 16% of foreign-born people now come from Europe
Sources
“The Self Made Man” Harry Laughlin Pie Charts Immigrant Picture Social Origins of Eugenics Race and Membership in American
History: The Eugenics Movement
“The Self Made Man” Harry Laughlin Pie Charts Immigrant Picture Social Origins of Eugenics Race and Membership in American
History: The Eugenics Movement