Description

Glossary of Terms and Policies/Laws
Terms

1. Acculturation: Adapting to a new culture while retaining original elements.
2. Cultural Pluralism: Valuing diverse cultural identities within a society.
3. Discrimination: Unfair treatment based on race, religion, or ethnicity (e.g., “No Irish Need Apply”).
4. Enclave: Neighborhoods like Little Italy where immigrants preserve traditions.
5. Famine: Severe food shortage causing hunger, like the Irish Potato Famine (1845–1852).
6. Immigration: Moving permanently to a new country, often to the U.S. in the 19th century.
7. Industrialization: Growth in manufacturing creating urban job opportunities.
8. Nativism: Favoring native-born inhabitants over immigrants, opposing Irish Catholics.
9. Pull Factors: Conditions attracting immigrants, like jobs or freedom.
10. Push Factors: Conditions driving emigration, like famine or persecution.
11. Revolution of 1848: European uprisings for democratic reforms, prompting German emigration.

Policies and Laws

1. 1917 Immigration Law: Restricted illiterate immigrants from entering the U.S.
2. American Protective Association (1887): Anti-immigrant group opposing non-Protestants.
3. Angel Island (1910): West Coast station discouraging Asian immigration with long wait times.
4. Chinese Exclusion Act (1882): Barred Chinese laborers; the first ethnicity-based restriction.
5. Ellis Island (1892): East Coast center processing millions of European immigrants.
6. Great Potato Famine (1845–1852): Irish starvation driving 1.5 million to emigrate.
7. Homestead Act (1862): Offered free land to settlers, including immigrants, for farming.
8. Indian Removal Act (1830): Relocated Native tribes, leading to the Trail of Tears.
9. Know-Nothing Party (1855): Opposed immigration, especially Catholics.
10. Statue of Liberty (1886): Symbol of hope, inscribed with “Give me your tired, your poor…”
11. Trail of Tears (1838–1839): Forced Cherokee migration; 4,000 died from harsh conditions.
12. Voting Eligibility for Immigrants: Allowed voting after five years, seen as a Nativist threat.
13. Worcester v. Georgia (1832): Upheld Cherokee land rights; ignored by President Jackson.