Glossary of Terms and Policies/Laws
Terms
Acculturation: Adapting to a new culture while retaining original elements.
Cultural Pluralism: Valuing diverse cultural identities within a society.
Discrimination: Unfair treatment based on race, religion, or ethnicity (e.g., “No Irish Need Apply”).
Enclave: Neighborhoods like Little Italy where immigrants preserve traditions.
Famine: Severe food shortage causing hunger, like the Irish Potato Famine (1845–1852).
Immigration: Moving permanently to a new country, often to the U.S. in the 19th century.
Industrialization: Growth in manufacturing creating urban job opportunities.
Nativism: Favoring native-born inhabitants over immigrants, opposing Irish Catholics.
Pull Factors: Conditions attracting immigrants, like jobs or freedom.
Push Factors: Conditions driving emigration, like famine or persecution.
Revolution of 1848: European uprisings for democratic reforms, prompting German emigration.
1917 Immigration Law: Restricted illiterate immigrants from entering the U.S.
American Protective Association (1887): Anti-immigrant group opposing non-Protestants.
Angel Island (1910): West Coast station discouraging Asian immigration with long wait times.
Chinese Exclusion Act (1882): Barred Chinese laborers; the first ethnicity-based restriction.
Ellis Island (1892): East Coast center processing millions of European immigrants.
Great Potato Famine (1845–1852): Irish starvation driving 1.5 million to emigrate.
Homestead Act (1862): Offered free land to settlers, including immigrants, for farming.
Indian Removal Act (1830): Relocated Native tribes, leading to the Trail of Tears.
Know-Nothing Party (1855): Opposed immigration, especially Catholics.
Statue of Liberty (1886): Symbol of hope, inscribed with “Give me your tired, your poor…”
Trail of Tears (1838–1839): Forced Cherokee migration; 4,000 died from harsh conditions.
Voting Eligibility for Immigrants: Allowed voting after five years, seen as a Nativist threat.
Worcester v. Georgia (1832): Upheld Cherokee land rights; ignored by President Jackson.