History Document Analysis of New Immigrants by John Yang

Let’s Welcome the ‘New Immigrants’

John Yang

4979019

Monday, February 13th

HIST 1F96

Seminar 1: Tracey Stewart

Francis Amasa Walker, Jane Addams and Anzia Yezierska all have one thing in common, they each have their unique prospect on the ‘new immigration’ to the United States in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The aspect of immigration these three authors write about is their expressive ambition to provide insight on the ‘new immigration’. With a different mindset that each author had, the article/story/biography is a completely different perspective. Factors such as demography, economy, politics, environment, education and health heavily influence the judgment that the authors depict.

Both Francis Walker and Jane Addams wrote their piece from the perspective of an American. Even though they were both American, their angles upon ‘new immigration’ were on different spectrums; Walker came from an American economist, whereas Jane Addams had the attitude of a peace activist. “The first thing to be said respecting any serious proposition importantly to restrict immigration into the United States is, that such a proposition necessarily and properly encounters a high degree of incredulity, arising from the traditions of our country.” As an economist, Walker’s mentality was all about the art of economics, such as demographics due to the statistical importance of birth rates from immigrants. He argued for more limitations to be placed on ‘new immigrants’ out of concern due to the possibility of diminishing industries and the shortage of intellectual capacity that the immigrants may bring but he knew the immigrants were essential to maintain the stability of laborers and employers as he reveals his thoughts. “These two opinions were, first, that immigration constituted a net reinforcement of our population; secondly, that, in addition to this, or irrespective of this, immigration was necessary, in order to supply the laborers who should do...