Mutual Aid Societies: something they had in southern Italy and brought to America when two families don’t despise each other (marriage might link them), they decide if one family loses everything for some reason the other family will help them out. Just these two families link to each other. These are called mutual aid societies because they are mutually aiding each other. Mafia is a mutual aid society myth. In America this is a little different because it’s all males that have immigrated to America (sorta like a frat), usually they first become roommates (maybe they met at work and got along), then you start taking care of each other (making dinner, etc), There are about 500 of these societies in NYC alone because the S.I. don’t trust each otherEllis Island: Numbers: Group is called “New immigrants”, people who don't speak English, no intention of assimilating, no religion – do magic…. numbers are too big. Come in way too fast, and go to NYC. WASPS are afraid they will lose power, like Irish who form voting blocks. Up until this point, we only know after they come in a census… We want to know how many people are coming. To count them, we form Ellis Island. Ellis Island: 192-1954: Immigrant Processing Center for New Immigrants. Must go there for counting, 12 million go through successfully; everyone that goes through Ellis island must come with a round trip ticket. We may not let you in and you have to return (still true); Ellis Island NY is the biggest processing center; most come through here because that's where the boats drop them off. Process here: At first was a counting center; When we pass immigration law in 1921, Ellis Island turns into a gate, like a police; Ellis Island police people take steerage class off first; we assume 2nd and 3rd tiers are fine and have money and can stay in cabins; steerage class has to stay outside in freezing cold; One the boat has been processed; 2nd and 3rd class passengers can float over and be fine. Leave steerage class sitting on island; process takes a long time- first step, they have to say who they are, where they are from, and how many travel with them. Don't speak English doe …… get impatient and write down whatever they want down. Officials change your name. To southern Italians, your name is important. Check for STD’s, women are forced to strip and have an exam by a doctor… they think they have been raped. Men get so upset. Raped woman means they cant ever get married. Horrified experience. Family split up and may never know what happens to child, mother, brother ect. Then they go through the intelligence test.. the IQ test… We don't want idiots in America, may even just be in a different language. Proves a stereotype for them. They then have to pay to get off the island, they usually sell they’re round trip ticket for moneyThe Laws: Past laws: 1) Alien and Sedition Acts 1798 2) Naturalization Act of 1870 3) Page Act of 1875 (undesirables and prostitutes) 4) Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 5) Chae Chan Ping V US 1889 (fed gov’t cant make any law they want about immigration)The Quota Acts – All about the immigrants origins, where do you come from1) Immigration Act of 1921 – limit our immigration to 357,000 people a year (the decade before this law was passed we let in 12 million)first come, first serve basis – we can pick what percentage of what countries can come in (based on who you are and where you’re from)2) Immigration Act of 1924 (National Origins Act) – limit even further to 164,000 per year (last until 1967)We start testing further for skills that would benefit America – skills ($ and white)Exceptions – our neighbors are exempt from this number, they have to apply to come in but are not counted in this number (Canadians, Mexicans, entire Caribbean, South America, Central America)End of the QuotasLyndon Baines Johnson overhauled Immigration in 1965Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 – puts all countries on equal footingfamily reunification is key policy – people who are citizens of the US can have their family immigrate over290,000 limit a year – no more than 20,000 per country ( still a first come first serve basis) this includes everyone, there are no exceptions anymorebefore as many Mexicans that wanted to come in could, now only 20,000 canQuestions of Illegals – does not necessarily start Mexican illegal immigration, it starts illegal immigration on a large scale. This was until 1995Definition of “Hispanic” : 1) Region – people from Mexico, Central America, South America, Caribbean2) Spanish Influence – from a country with Spanish influence3) Mixture of 3 Cultures – Spanish, Indigenous, African4) Religion – Roman Catholic5) Language – if you speak Spanish you are HispanicWhy we use this definition – we use the term Hispanic for xenophobia, if we lump these groups together wasps will pass laws to limit their immigrationSpanish colonization vs. English colonization the 1st group of Mexicans did not immigrate to America, we conquered their landSpanish Colonization – Spain colonizes Mexico in 1521Conquistadors come to Mexico and try to marry into the upper class of the native populations, after a few years there is a mixed cultureEthnic Hierarchy1) White – Spanish2) Mestizo – half Spanish, half native (always 2nd class citizens)3) Mulatto – Spanish mixed with African4) “Mexicans” – natives5) AfricansBorderlands: (today Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California)Move, and try to make the natives feel confortable with them in powerThe Mission and “the mission” – the Catholic church wants to Christianize the native.Mexican American War (1845 -1848): Mexican to “American”1821 – Mexico receives Independence from Spain1830s – America Expansion – we want the land that’s growing the boom crops –Territorial Aggressionwe give land grants1845 United States annexation of TexasMexican American War (1845 – 1848)Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848 – treaty that ends the war and says we get left side of Texas and the borderlands80,000 Mestizos live in this area, 2,000 leave to Mexicowe grant the other 78,000 citizenship Mexicans’ Opinion on American Expansion – We did not cross the line, the line crossed usMexicans in AmericaLand – Extra-legal organizations – all the Mestizos own the land but the deeds are in Spanish and signed by Mexico, Americans go buy the land and take it from the Mestizos, they’re now homeless and
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