The Pros And Cons Of Immigration To The United States

At the turn of the 20th century, many people who lived outside of the United States viewed it as a country whose streets were paved with gold. The United States offered job opportunities and a chance at a brighter future for the next generation. Therefore, while the people of Ireland were experiencing famine and the Jews in Eastern Europe were facing constant persecution and Anti-Semitism, many people from around the world turned to the United States as a safe haven and a place filled with new beginnings. However, once immigrants came to the United States, they were not welcomed with the enthusiasm they expected. Employers took full advantage of the new found cheap labor immigrants provided for them. Additionally segregated, overcrowded, dangerous,

Sweatshops were the most common form of employment for immigrants. They were employed with around 30- 40 workers ranging from child to adult most coming from the same countries in order to help with the language barrier facing the employer. Shifts would start as early as six am. and end at eleven pm. with immigrants still only being paid a few pennies for each item produced by the worker that day. Employers knew they could take advantage of the needy immigrants and therefore paid them even less than usual and offered no job stability, constantly threatening to fire slow workers. Furthermore, conditions in factories were extremely dangerous, “In 1900, 35,000 workers were killed in industrial accidents, according to the ''Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History.'' That same year, 500,000 were maimed in factory accidents”. Additionally, workers were given very little breaks if any at all, strict time constraints to complete tasks, and were usually unable to talk during the hours long shifts. While adult immigrants were taken advantage of to a certain degree it was their children who face the greatest cruelty. Employers knew how necessary the money was to the immigrant families and therefore some children were even forced to live in factories. This allowed for them to be work 18 hour shifts daily and get paid around six dollars a week for

For example, many Mexicans and Irish immigrated to Chicago, because of its easy accessibility from the railroad, in search of jobs. Mexicans who came were given the jobs of men off fighting in world war one, however, not all were even lucky enough to find jobs and after going through the entire immigration process were forced to turn back and return to Mexico. Those who were fortunate enough to stay lived in cramped towns surrounding the factories they worked in which caused them to constantly inhale fumes and chemicals from the buildings around them. Chicago also saw an influx of Irish at this time. Irish women who came to America took jobs in houses sometimes becoming servants and domestic helpers, while the men went into more dangerous job fields like mining, building railroads, and building canals. Although when they first came the Irish were the most disgusted immigrant class constantly facing discrimination from the Klu klux klan and American Protective Association, politicians began helping out and offering new job opportunities for them for positions like teachers, policemen, and firemen. The Irish had a major advantage over other immigrants because of their ability to speak English and were therefore more accepted by the democrats in Chicago. They also played a major role in leading the Catholic Church of Chicago which helped keep the Irish