Anti-Immigration Attitudes
In this lesson, students will analyze political cartoons about immigration from the late 1800's. This period saw one of the largest waves of immigration in US history, due in part to the advent of the new steam-powered ships, which made it cheaper and easier to immigrate to the US than ever before. Other factors included the famine in Ireland, which began in 1845, as well as surplus European labor due to farming improvements. During this peak of migration, over 25 million new immigrants came to America. Many American citizens felt that these immigrants were a threat to their jobs and to the stability of the nation. Some people created political groups dedicated to stopping or slowing immigration. Through these cartoons, students will understand the reaction of many American citizens toward this wave of immigration will see how different races and nationalities were depicted at the time.