Lesson 2.02 Coming to America

• Introduction
• Learn
• Try It
• Task

Central Questions: What factors contributed to the great wave of immigration to the U.S. during the late 1800s? Who were the nativists and how did they respond to immigration? 

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

In 1883, Jewish American poet Emma Lazarus wrote this line as part of a sonnet to support a fundraiser auction raising money for a pedestal to accompany the Statue of Liberty. Her poem, and this line in particular, captures the plight of the many immigrants who traveled to the United States in search of a better life for their family. During the late 1800s, millions of such immigrants came to America with few possessions and little money, but were equipped with a strong determination to take advantage of all the United States had to offer.

Look at the political cartoon below. At first glance, you may assume the cartoon is a nice picture of "Lady Liberty" mixing the melting pot of citizenship in America with the equal rights provided to every new immigrant. However, it hasn't necessarily always been as effortless as the idea presented by Emma Lazarus! Roll over the blue icons on the cartoon's characters and elements below.

Political Cartoon text version | Open Political Cartoon in a new tab

In fact, if you follow the news, you know that in our country's most recent presidential campaigns, immigration has been among the top five issues; however, this is not a new issue. Immigration has actually been a debated issue at various times throughout our nation's history. It specifically became a major issue in the late 1800s and early 1900s as immigration began to increase significantly in America.