Introduction

This exhibit focuses on how a wave of immigrants changed the way the United States handled Americanization efforts. Between 1880 and 1920, large numbers of “new” immigrants, those of Catholic and Jewish religions and non-English speakers, came to the United States. These immigrants influenced the Americanization efforts that were enacted in the United States. Through the U.S. Census Bureau, immigration numbers were tallied and then categorized into sections including information on if the immigrants could speak English or not. Massachusetts in particular implemented numerous classes for adults over the age of 21 who did not speak English. The classes gave them a chance to learn to read, write, and speak English. Instead of welcoming these new immigrants and their identies, the goal was to shape them into "Americans." This fits with the pattern of American education as being not for the promotion of a blend of different cultures but a discouragement of variety. (1) The resulting effort to "Americanize" immigrant newcomers was part of the Progressive movement's broader efforts to construct a modern and cohesive social order, and also part of a new purifying national effort to cultivate patriotism among all Americans. (2)

 

 

 

 

Footnotes:

  1. Carlson, Robert A. "The quest for conformity : Americanization through education." New York : Wiley, 1975.
  2. "U.S. Americanization - American National Identity And Ideologies Of Americanization"  "http://science.jrank.org/pages/8266/Americanization-U-S-American-National-Identity-Ideologies-Americanization.html" 
Introduction