Title: Why have Americans historically hated immigrants? Why have Americans historically hated immigrants? Does the U.S. treat immigrants fairly today? - eNotes.com
Headings: Why have Americans historically hated immigrants? Why have Americans historically hated immigrants? Does the U.S. treat immigrants fairly today?
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Why have Americans historically hated immigrants? Why have Americans historically hated immigrants? Does the U.S. treat immigrants fairly today?
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Content: litteacher8
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Americans have looked down on immigrants, even though they were often immigrants themselves. Most immigrants were considered inferior or frightening. It is easy to vilify someone you don't understand. The immigrants came without money, and in America, as elsewhere, money is really what matters. Approved by eNotes Editorial Team
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The pattern of discrimination and dislike of immigrants has repeated itself almost identically over the years. The main reason is cultural. That is, so called "natives" who were already living here for a generation or more, had their own culture based on Christianity (usually Protestants) and the English language. Large numbers of immigrants made them feel as though their culture and heritage were threatened. This was a myth as immigrants time and time again had assimilated by the second or third generations. Sometimes it has been for racial reasons, as immigrants from Asian countries especially were easy to discriminate against, while the Irish, for example, as Caucasians, blended into the population in both language and appearance in just one generation.