Immigration in the 19th Century - Essay Example

Immigration in the 19th Century, Teddy Roosevelt, and Labor Unions Immigration in the 19th Century The beginning of the nineteenth century came with industrialization process in America. Thus, from this period, many people from vast cultures. Many people moved from far distances with two-core aims guiding the migration reasons. The immigrants focused on either finding employment, thus making wealth and return to their country. Others came to take asylum from their origin and inhabit in the territory of their dreams. The reasons thus ranged, from economic and political to religious factors (Alexander, 2007). Nonetheless, today, a good number of the American population constitutes immigrants of the nineteenth century. During the time of the great immigration, all the people needed were a boat ticket or in the least other means of transport to get to America. Thus, the shipbuilding industry facilitated the immigration significantly. During the agrarian revolution and the following years, several people came into America as slaves, to work in the factories and farms of the people. However, the immigration wave from the period 1820s to 1890s marked the observable immigration process. The immigrants in this period were mainly from Ireland and Germany, which brought about 5 million immigrants. The migration was because of includes famine and poverty in Ireland and political instability in Germany. Additionally, there were other immigrants, including from France, Canada and Sweden. Along these Europeans also came about 90000 Japanese and 300000 Chinese, whose chief reason was to make money for the Japanese and flee the opium war for the Chinese (Alexander, 2007). The industrial revolution further attracted more immigrants from the year 1890 to 1919. The immigrants into America this period constituted people from Italy, Austria, Hungary, Russia, Ireland and Great Britain. Conversely, with the arrival of the World War, the immigration declined. Nonetheless, over 9 million immigrants already settled in America (Alexander, 2007). The immigration into America took root from three reasons. Some were economic reasons, which featured search for wealth and employment, political reasons, which featured escape from the warring countries, and religious reasons, featuring trials and executions due to religious beliefs. The people as they migrated, due to the high numbers and inadequate housing, settled in groups in what grew into slum settlements. Additionally, due to the influx of people, unemployment rates increased as well as, the income of families (Alexander, 2007). The immigrants grew the American economy stronger. However, the natives were of a different view, resenting that the immigrants took their property and jobs from them. Such resentments led to the passing of segregating rules such the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. However, as president Theodore Roosevelt came into power, he advocated and succeeded in pushing for the reversion of this ruling among other such rulings. The impacts of the immigration are visible even today. It significantly shaped the future of America, as it built the country. It shaped the future of America both socially, economically and politically. The demographic impact is that more than 9 million people migrated into America, causing a significant growth in population. Additionally, the settlements of the immigrants later grew into towns, thus, shaping the settlement structures of America. The mix of people from different cultures affected the culture of the natives, leading to several cultural integrations as they exist today. Moreover, it also brought with it diseases to America (Alexander, 2007). Economically, the vast workforce facilitated industrial revolution as they build roads and rails among other service industries that grew. It made the economy of America stronger, and today, these immigrants still constitute a good share into the economy of America. Politically, the immigration caused the establishment of voting blocks as they united in an effort to support those who push for their rights. The democrat party gained support from the immigrants, dividing the country into voting blocks and constituting a significant political force. Teddy Roosevelt Presidency After few months in office, McKinley fell to the assault of an assassin bullet. This opened the opportunity for Theodore Roosevelt to get into the White House. As young president, he was enthusiastic as he envisioned himself as agent of change and progression to the country. Many people considered Roosevelt a ‘political accident’ at that time, a factor that he sought to dispel (Wade, 2010). Thus, from his working while in the presidency of America during his first term, he managed to get re-election in 1904, a factor that proved that he was no accident; and which encouraged him to continue pushing for the changes and developments he was introducing in the United States of America. Among the changes, he brought to America include, establishing restrictions for the government businesses so that they would not affect the corporate and public operations in America. He also reformed the working terms, such as pushing for the abolishment of segregating laws against the immigrants, and drafted and enacted several Acts (Wade, 2010). He established the Sooner Act, initiating the creation of the now Panama canal for shipping route. His rule oversaw about forty lawsuits against big trusts, and established the measures for conserving the national resources. On reelection, he initiated the Hepburn Act and Pure Food and Drug Act both of 1906, which strengthened the interstate commerce and secured food and drug administration for the people of America (Wade, 2010). During his term as president, he broadened the navy and other forces, building more battleships and other army developments. Thus, in view of these notable establishments among many other achievements, Roosevelt was a remarkably successful president. After leaving office, he remained active, overseeing some of the remaining projects he initiated while president. Thus, this shows his commitment to serving the people. Theodore Roosevelt earned the spot as the first modern president of United States. He initiated the stature and influence that the office of the presidency in America bears today (Wade, 2010). He employed executive action, believing that, as president, it was his right to use all powers given to deliver to the people. He proved a remarkably successful president due to his personality and beliefs such as having a unique relationship and responsibility to the people. He always challenged prevailing notions limiting the government and individualism maintaining that the government is an agent of reform for the citizens. He desired to make the society fair and equitable and to provide opportunities and possibilities for all people (Wade, 2010). Thus, he managed to achieve the successes he did as he won support of people through his articulation and implementation of plans for them. He introduced charisma and establishment of strong rapport with the public into politics. These factors made him win reelection as people voted for him from his influence on them and not as a bearer of the Republican Party post. Labor Unions The dawn of the industrial social order in the West came with the onset of the scientific revolution and various advances in the technological and political systems. Initially, workers concentrated on farm work until the factory setting came into place. This process of revolution and development brought several impacts, both positive and negative. Among the advents, include the rise of the labor movements, which later became the labor unions that workers take cover under for protection of their working rights today (Wachter, 2007). The verve of an industrial employee in America in the 19th century was remarkably difficult. The migration into the Americas in the same century worsened the state of the working conditions of the workers at the time. the immigrants, whose working objective was to gather and make a living while others wanted to make money and move back to their country of origin, flooded the unemployed population. Additionally, the factors of low wages and yet having to work for long hours, and hazardous working conditions made the conditions unbearable for the workers. The women and children also suffered as they made a good percentage of the workers yet they earned a lesser fraction of what the men earned (Wachter, 2007). Moreover, the periodical economic crisis in the nation and technological advancements caused a lot of retrenching and loss of jobs. These factors, coupled with other additional reasons caused the rise of the labor unions. The earliest unions of workers began with the skilled workers, including the iron molders, cigar makers and hat finishers before the Civil War. These were several and called Craft Unions as they involved only workers within specialized craft industries. These sub-unions later joined to form the National Labor Union in the year 1866. This move followed the case of Commonwealth versus Hunt in the supreme court of Massachusetts in 1842, when the court ruled that, it was all right and legal for workers to organize and compel the recognition of that union using strikes. The knights of labor followed through forming the first industrial union in 1869 incorporating both skilled and unskilled workers, women and all workers in America. Samuel Gompers fashioned The American Federation of Labor in 1886, incorporation skilled workers (Wachter, 2007). These unions declined with time. Later, after the Civil War, the employees in America joined and initiated a collective voice reviving the unions. Similarly, the employers also formed their counter unions to advocate for their rights. After the presidency of Roosevelt, the federal labor laws won important legal rights, making it easier to organize unions of workers. The formation of the labor unions incorporated the skilled craft men in the industrial fields, such as the steel industry, heavy machinery and other technical fields (Wachter, 2007). Thus, the unions sought to establish observance of rights of the workers. With respect to American industrialization, the labor unions speared the country towards significant developments. Many people continued working in the industries, speeding the industrialization process. However, before the acceptance of the unions, the strikes caused sluggish growth of the country as workers refused to work. The labor unions encouraged fair working terms and wages for the workers (Wachter, 2007). They improved the pay for the workers, secured employment for the skilled workers and developed safer conditions at the working stations. To the owners, strikes dented their efforts of production; thus, they lost significantly. Additionally, the union demands forced them to retaliate forming the employers unions to secure their businesses. Moreover, many employers sought to establish other means of addressing the issues with their employees, including changing the hierarchy of the administration and adopting interdisciplinary and self-directed working teams. Additionally, they also reduced the number of employees significantly. He also sought flexible employment policies and sought to establish long-term working relationships with employees. References Alexander, J. G. (2007). Daily life in immigrant America, 1870-1920. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. Wachter, M. (2007). The Rise and Decline of Unions. Regulation, 30(2), 23-29 Wade, M. D. (2010). Amazing president Theodore Roosevelt. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Elementary. Read More