History of U.S. Immigration Policy Japanese Migrants from 1868 to 1988 - Essay Example

History of U.S. Immigration Policy Japanese Migrants from 1868 to 1988 History of U.S. immigration policy Japanese migrants from 1868 to 1988 Introduction The history of immigration in America is rich and broad and the Japanese fall into the category of one ethnic group that define the American history of immigration in a more broad way. The migration of the Japanese to overseen nations particularly the America began as early as 18681. The fact that the international networks were breaking up and were experiencing a rapid social–economic change created a space where the majority thought of finding their ways to modernity. The rise of international network saw the rise of the modern invention such as the growth of labor, transport and capital. Through all these development majority of the Japanese were leaving their homeland country to America in the name of the search for peaceful life and one that was full of prosperity. The many that resorted to living were apparently experiencing unstable conditions in their homeland, and there was the need to endure the hard life as an immigrant and later return while in a position to support the family life better2. However, their arrival in America was not an easy task for many of them as they endured difficulties of different kinds. The environment made it difficult as they encountered harsh neighborhoods, severe and harsh working conditions and greater legislative attacks on them. These challenges became part of the Japanese immigrants and other immigrants who moved to America in early 18th century to the 20th century3. That is, acceptance that has been hard fought by not only them, but also other immigrants such as the Hispania’s and the black Americas has somehow seen them secure a place in the life of the American nation. The process has not been easy for them as they have for almost a century endured a period of difficulty that has been both physically and psychologically tormenting. The Opening Up Of Japan At the period around 1853, the then Mathew Perry of United States of America Navy sailed his way into the Tokyo harbor4. The tour led to a something termed as forcefully driven to make Japan open up for trade with the United States of America. The process opened up the Japan territory to an alien nation and a culture that was not familiar to theirs: modernity. In as early as 1639 Japan had decided to hibernate itself from the European countries together with the majority of its other colonies. At that period, immigration in Japan was carefully monitored, and the rate of movement from nation to nation was a difficult issue. However, after Mathew Perry’s visit the Japanese region underwent a rather different situation as they broke almost all its previous rules that governed free movement5. That period saw America become a role model for Japan in virtually all sectors of the economy be it the cultural difference that existed among the Americans, and importantly was the military development by the Americans which according to Japan was considered more developed than theirs. This played a significant role in opening up the Japan region to the outside world and development due to their involvement with America. However, it was after the Mejia Restoration in 1868 that Japan was able to feel the adverse effects of industrialization6. The great industrial explosion led to great impacts on social and a decline in agricultural production. The impact affected the farmers considerably forcing them to flee their farms. Many workers in the industrial centers were also left jobless due to the then rising foreign competition that saw the rise of many competing industries. The disruption led to many resorting to ways of finding a better life outside Japan7. Typically, the unsustainable economic situation that existed in the Japan economy was significantly unable to sustain the lives of the many Japanese inhabitants. On the contrary, the fact that America was becoming the talk of the nation it terms of growth and industrial revolution made many Japanese to find their way out of the unstable economy for better living in other stable economies such as the US8. Japanese Immigrants in the US The early immigrants to the United States who later became part of the American community were considered illegal. However, the United States of America in one way or another played a role in opening up the American economy to the Japanese. Then the laws pertaining emigration were so high, and the American borders were tightly protected for any unwarranted entries but still illegal entries to the country were still being recorded9. One major example was in Hawaii in 1868 where a Hawaiian consul conducted a secret hire of around 148 contracted laborers to Hawaii10. Even though it was later discovered and the workers deported back to their country is somehow signaled that America was having a shortage in it labor force particularly because growth was so intense and it required a considerable labor to sustainable manage and offered the services that were required. In years around 1880, the American laws on emigration were loosening up and what followed was a massive immigration of Japanese into America11. Since there were greater opportunities in the West, the Japanese government was very interested and greatly played a role in recruiting young interested applicants who were interested in leaving Japan for America. The many that got recruited underwent expensive processes all with an aim of being in the United States. However, the many who had been successfully recruited believed that going to America was a short route towards wealth and stability. They had in mind that their visit will only be short-lived because after all they will return home to stay and support their families after accumulating wealth in the states.The period around 1886 to 1911 showed a record of around 400000 Japanese emigrants leaves for America12. The population herein was not only comprised of young men but almost all representation of the population with women, men and children greatly being part of the movement. The United States, however, had then regulated its land and the closure of the Northern Frontier confirmed that America no longer had free land as the majority had been occupied by the locals and large parts set aside for government. This did not prevent further emigration from the Japanese communities as it is recorded that the community kept their emigration at a higher rate for another decade after 191113. At this particular period majority of the immigrants from Japan settled majorly in the archipelago of Hawaii, California, San Francisco and the America’s Pacific coast region. Policies and how it impacted the U.S.A: Both Growth and Resistance Evidently, from the above discussion, the immigration of Japanese began excessively slowly until it was evidently explosive at around 1886 to 191114. Their settlement especially the early Japanese’s who were able to find a settlement in various regions of America had a great impact on the Americans and even to date it still stands a major issue among the locals. Controversies have since arisen with many having brought theories on the issue of immigration and its effect in the United States. A larger part and population of the United States have their roots associated with immigrants. The Japanese were not the only community to have found their way into the American soil during the industrial era, in fact, many sub-groups from even the Europe and Indian nations have a great history related to immigration and the great roles that they played in the period of “immigration.” The fact that Japanese community began migration to the United States earlier they still did not have a great impact on the United States due to their few numbers. In as early as 1900, there were still few Japanese in the west in fact less than 2500015. The few who were then in America were widely scattered in regions such as California and San Francisco. In the major cities, they were already forming groups and somehow were getting involved in the primary economic activities such as leasing land and other trading activities. However, among the very first immigrants farming was the major fields of expertise. Some Japanese were easily spotted in lumber mills and mining sites16. The Japanese, who had settled in cities, had general stores, restaurants, and Farm labor was a common choice among the first immigrants, but they also could be found in lumber mills and mining camps, and sometimes established managed general stores, restaurants, and even small hotels. Influence of Japanese’s Community in California As earlier stated a greater number of Japanese cities found their way to the American community. During that period, there were more significant changes in were being reported including the rise of major institutions for the American-Japanese community. The fact that these new arrivals first found jobs in the many slots available in the growing America made them gain access and aggression in the American community17. In fact years later the Japanese were able to gain access and even contributed a lot towards the American economy. They opened restaurants, launched businesses of various kinds and even offered financial services to the community. In the farming sector, they were able to employ an extensive farming culture that made them acquire large tracks of land and later practiced extensive agricultural activities in the region, particularly in California.As early 1920 almost ten years after their arrival the Japanese community controlled up to 450000 acres of land in California. They were, therefore, able to contribute up to 10% to the economy and made a lot grow financially18. The Rebellion against Japanese Community Evidently, the highest period of immigration of Japanese into the American region still had little impact on the commonwealth. That is, their impact was still insignificant even at the peak time of their grand arrival. However, the American locals were greatly feeling the pressure, and there were rising campaigns particularly in 1905 where there was an article in the print media that was purposely structured to create pressure among American and leaders so that they can join forces in ending the so-called “intrusion.” The article particularly portrayed the Japanese population as the enemies of the American community and their corrupting nature was eating up the American society19. After the article had gone viral, the debate on immigrant mainly the Japanese was becoming heated. That year Samuel Gompers the head of American federal labor denounced the Asian membership and barred them from participating in some of the largest membership unions in America. On the same year, the legislative union and the mayors arrived at a consensus and initiated a bill that called for the Japanese exclusion in America to protect the US from what they termed as “the brown toilers of the Mikado’s realm.20” Events followed and an anti-Japanese legislation was brought on board in the year 1908.The rising rebellion brought about concern from both the Japanese and American governments, and an agreement was agreed that the Japanese government significantly limited the immigration of the Japanese into the United States. To the advantage of those Japanese already in the US they were allowed by the US to receive their wives, children, and other relatives to join them in America. Five years later, the Californian legislative council affected a major blow to the Asian community. The alien land law greatly affected the Japanese as it barred any alien habitat from possessing any piece of land in California even those that had been previously purchased. These laws by Californian legislative brought about ways under which the Japanese community resorted to survive. They used European American names or the US-born children to register their owned property such as land and other assets. At that period there had been stringent measures to restrict further emigration of Japanese nation; however, the females were freely on the move to join the Japanese men in the united states whom they had never had contact before21. Finally, the American community particularly was working on more serious measures of curbing immigration and in 1924 the Immigration Act was passed and it severely brought greater barriers to any future Japanese migration to the United States of America22. In essence, this act brought to an end any Japanese immigration for as long as the act was in place. Nonetheless, the law gave room to Japanese in the United States where they qualified automatically as US citizens. The Japanese community still encountered other greater challenges moments before the Second World War. However, what came after the second world war was a period of more significant problems and trumps and the fact that the immigration act that had been sealed earlier in 1924 became nullified brought a sense of hope and future to the Japanese community once again23. In general, the postwar period produced a greater improvement in the lives of the Japanese Americans as they gained acceptance in the society unlike previously. The process that was followed by massive policy changes such as the nullification of the previous anti-Japanese legislative directives. In addition, the Californian anti-alien law was controversial and was later abolished. Another successful integration within the post war period was the cancelation of the earlier Japanese American Evacuation plan by Truman and the historical move by McCarran-Walter to cancel the Immigration act that was initiated in 1924. Furthermore, there was a move to have the Japanese community to get compensation and were greatly accepted in the community. The Existence of the Nisei Community in Current America With the implementation of strict policies by legislator’s day in day out, a consensus was arrived at in 1924. It restricted the entry of new immigrants into the US. However, the restriction on new immigrants led to a substantial relationship and union among the remnants because after 1924 up to 1930 almost half of the Japanese community that had remained in America was then termed as Nisei24. Nisei typically meant a member of the United States born the second generation. In essence, the Nisei termed and identified the Japanese children as of two worlds, that is, of Japanese origin and that of the US culture that was imparted to them in their day to day dealing be it in schools or even work25. The Nisei are currently the born Japanese-American, who speaks English more than they would speak the Japanese language. They practice almost everything in the American culture and so to say, they are now part of the American community and a place they will forever call home and even though they found it difficult to mainstream the Japanese culture to the American culture they have made huge progress26. Their complex cultural heritage did not hinder them from acknowledging the America culture a thing that has currently shaped the American community. The existence of the Japanese community in the current American community has made the community a multi-ethnic community with a diverse cultural heritage. Currently, the Nisei identify themselves preferably as the Japanese Americans because they now understand more about America than their previous ancestral origin. Conclusion In conclusion, the Japanese communities have been of great benefit to the American community, and currently the Japanese community stands at around a million and found in various states of the United States of America. Japanese American is one group that has showed perseverance in the midst of rejection, cultural alienation and hardships in an entire scope of life since the first immigrant stepped foot on the American soil. The fact that the American community was greatly reluctant in accepting immigrants in their community saw the Japanese suffer right from the legislator power down to the ordinary man. Even so, the community stood firm probably because they purposely had the aim of visiting the America region for financial improvement and then find their way back to Japan: a thing that became a narrative as most became part of the American community. 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