Blog #166 – Final Exam – Immigration and Assimilation Theories
As more and more immigrants come to America, it’s worth looking at three different theories as to what immigrants are / were expected to do when they come here. The majority of this article comes from “Assimilation in America” by Milton M. Gordon, 1961.
The first wave of immigrants came between 1620 – 1775. This group is predominantly English, with some Scots-Irish, Germans, Swedes, and French and Dutch. About 20% of the American population was Africans who were forcibly brought here or descendants of enslaved Africans.
The second wave arrived between 1840s and 1850s and were predominantly Irish, German Catholics, Chinese, and Scandinavians. This group has been called the “old immigrants” when talking about 19th Century immigration.
The third wave of immigration hit American shores between 1870 – 1924. The earliest group comprised Chinese, French Canadians, Irish, German, Dutch and other northern and western European immigrants. However, after 1890, the newer arrivals came from southern and eastern Europe: Italians, Poles, Russians, Jews, and Slavs and on the West Coast, the Japanese. This group has been called the “new immigrants.” The wave was brought to an abrupt halt by the National Origins Act of 1924.
The latest wave started in the 1960s and hasn’t stopped. Initially, people came from Asia and Eastern Europe, but for the past twenty years or so, more Latin Americans have arrived. Unfortunately, like the previous two waves, there also been an uptick in nativist rhetoric, actions, laws, and sentiments in the past 15-20 years. And like in past waves, immigrants, legal and undocumented, have become scapegoats for the nation’s problems and used as a political tool against their oppponents. For instance, in this ad for the U.S. Senate, one Republican goes after another for not being tough enough on immigration: https://x.com/SandyPensler/status/1003758667806715905?s=20
Anglo-Conformity (Superiority?)
This theory concerns itself with the adoption of Anglo-American institutions like the English language, culture and customs. However, negative attitudes towards other ethnic groups have often come hand in hand with this theory, including the belief that Anglo-American ways are the only way to assimilate and are superior to other cultures. Ben Franklin and other founding fathers expressed “reservations about large-scale immigration from Europe” though they most likely could not have envisioned the role immigration would have on American history. During the second and third waves, nativist attitudes reared their ugly heads at the Irish and Germans (see cartoon) including a violent anti-Catholic campaign. Even the cranky John Quincy Adams basically said, “if they don’t like it here, they can go back where they came from.” When the third wave arrived, Social Darwinism arose as a way of asserting the older groups’ inherent genetic dominance over the eastern and southern European and Asian groups. They weren’t English, had strange religions and customs, and were very slow, if not reluctant, to adopt American ways. There was a pressure-cooker Americanization process undertaken during World War I which ended with hundreds being deported during the “Red Scare” of 1919-20 for un-American ideas like anarchism and socialism. Also near the end of the 3rd wave, the Klan came back like a dreaded disease and expanded its hatred of anyone not WASP (white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant), and promoted itself as the party of pure Americanism.
Melting Pot
We read about this melding of European people in America in the pre-Revolutionary era in Hector St. John Crevecouer’s Letters from an American Farmer when he said, “Who is this American? He is either an European, or the descendant of an European, hence that strange mixture of blood, which you will find in no other country.” The attitude concerning the new American society was “not a slightly modified English but rather a totally new blend… in which the stocks and folkways of Europe….were mixed in a pot of the emerging nation and fused by the fires of American influence and interaction…” Ralph Waldo Emerson talked about America in the 1840s as “an asylum for all nations” that would make a new type of individual. Frederick Jackson Turner broke with the Anglo-conformity mold when he wrote his historic essay in 1893, “The Significance of the Frontier in American History,” saying that American institutions and democracy were not an offshoot of Europe but something uniquely itself. In 1908, an English-Jewish writer named Israel Zangwill 
wrote a drama called (oddly enough) The Melting Pot in which a young Jewish immigrant / composer comes to America in order to complete a symphony about his amazing new country where all ethnic groups are united.
Cultural Pluralism
This theory recognizes the concept that when new immigrant groups come to the United States (or wherever, for that matter), the groups tend to clump together in similar groups based on language, culture, and region. For instance, in the 1840s, the Irish bonded together in Boston as American society initially rejected them. By the late 1800s, middle class reformers came to the city to help the new arrivals from eastern and southern Europe get acclimated to America. Women like Jane Addams respected an ethnic group’s language and culture but also taught them the English language. The children of the new immigrants, because of rapid Americanization, looked down upon their parents who couldn’t speak English and clung to the old ways, thereby alienating each generation from the other. But Jane Addams, reflected in her biography, Twenty Years in Hull House, that by creating a “Labor Museum” at her settlement house, she showed the younger generation of immigrants what the older group prized (like sewing and weaving). “The daughters…began to appreciate the fact that their mothers had their own culture too.”
In 1915, Horace Kallen wrote articles on immigration in The Nation which rejected both the melting pot and Anglo-conformity “as models of what was actually transpiring in American life.” He pointed out how the immigrants have participated in American society by learning English but while still preserving their culture and traditions. Kallen felt that by allowing immigrants to keep their culture and traditions, we were actually being more democratic than if we had imposed an Anglo-conformist attitude on them. Kallen came up with the term “cultural pluralism” in later essays in which he rejected the Klan, the Red Scare and other attempts at ultra-Americanization and stated that cultural pluralism was the “cure for these ills.”
As you’ve grown up, you’ve probably come to realize that America is a land of immigrants; you may be the first generation of your family born here in the United States. In this blog response, describe at least two examples of where you’ve seen or experienced at least two of these three immigration theories in action. Talk to your family and ask older relatives about what kinds of stories have been told about the history of your family. If applicable, please include your own family’s stories in your response.
My family has experienced the melting pot theory in multiple ways, specifically in my mom’s family, which immigrated from Ireland and Germany in the earlier 1800s. My family has combined specific Irish and German traditions into a unique set of Chiristmas routines, including putting a hidden pickle on the Christmas tree and celebrating Saint Nickolas day. Additionally, we have traditions from my dad’s Spanish and Sicilian family that we incorporate into the holidays as well, such as making cookies like jujulene and rosquillas. Another example of the melting pot theory is seen in the way that my family has shifted languages over time. My great great grandmothers on my dad’s side spoke both Spanish and Sicilian, however my great grandparents, grandma, and dad speak Spanish and English, and now, I speak English and know only a little Spanish since I rarely speak it at home. On the other hand, many aspects of the cultural pluralism theory have also been experienced by my family. For instance, western Pennsylvania, where my mom grew up, is a place where lots of Germans clumped together. Even more distinct than that is the Centro Asturiano de Tampa, which is a club that still exists today for people from Asturias, Spain. This group has historically provided benefits from birth to the grave, like hospitals and health insurance, but now has become mainly a social club. My grandmother’s family was from Asturias, and they joined this club when they immigrated to Tampa. After moving to Michigan, my parents have noticed examples of cultural pluralism in Dearborn, where they work, since the city has a large Arab community. While discussing with my mom which immigration theory she believes is most applicable to her life, she brought up the point that it really depends on when the family immigrated. My mom’s side of the family immigrated during the second wave and experienced more of the melting pot theory, while my dad’s side of the family immigrated during the third wave and experienced more of the cultural pluralism theory.
One thing I have experienced in my family is the effect of the Melting pot. To start, my moms, moms, mom (my great-grandmother) moved to the United States in the mid 1900’s from Latvia. She moved to Ohio and started a family. She was also Catholic. My moms dads dad (My great grandfather moved to the United states in the 1950’s from Scotland. He lived in Pennsylvania and was also catholic. My grandma in Ohio and my grandpa in Pennsylvania who were both first in their family to be born in Michigan would eventually meet and move to Michigan. On the other side of my family, My dads dads parents as well as my dads moms parents were Jews in Germany. They Moved to the United states in the 1930’s and eventually found their way to michigan. What makes this such a great example of the American Melting Pot is that my mom, a catholic and my dad, a jew ended up marrying and having kids. (Obviously). My family history shows that America truly is a Melting Pot where all ethnic groups are United.
Another example I am a part of is cultural pluralism. Where I live, in West Bloomfield, there are a much higher number of jewish people than in other places in the United States. For example, my cousins, who are Jewish, also live in West Bloomfield. My grandparents live close by in Farmington hills, as well as many other family friends that live within a 10 minute drive of me. In addition, there are many Jewish students at Groves who I know I live in close proximity to. I can think of at least 15 off the top of my head. All this leads me to believe that cultural pluralism is a real thing within ethnic groups in communities.
Though I don’t have any examples of the immigration theories that are relevant during immigration waves, I can apply the principles of the theories to things that I have seen or experienced.
An example of Anglo-Conformity that I have seen, heard, and been taught about is the different ways that different races handle interactions with American law enforcement. For African Americans, it is a common understanding that stereotypes play a very large role in said interactions. A role so influential that confronted African American may not emerge from the interaction unscathed. Unfortunately, this understanding gives African Americans the knowledge to protect themselves from enforcers that believe that white law enforcers are superior to the African Americans that they may confront about operating within the law. This superiority, on account of the color of their skin and the weapons in their utility belt, could also be what they use to justify using harsher actions and language towards those that they view as inferior.
The theory of cultural pluralism, when applicable to my daily life, could align with the concept of cliques and friends groups. When in large social spaces, it is very common for little social groups to form as a way to create a selective social space that one interacts with. When going about one’s day to day, or even troubling times, the people within their selective space are there for support or to provide a sense of belonging when one can find it nowhere else. The creation of ethnic neighborhoods during the 3rd wave of immigration is similar. When trying to find a space for themselves in a new country, many immigrants had no idea where to start. With the creation of ethnic groups, or pre-established selective groups, immigrants would have at the least, cultural and social support from those around them. Any additional support likely came from political machines, like Tammany Hall.
I am part of the 1.5th generation of immigrants in my family; my parents are first-generation immigrants. As immigrants, my parents lived most of their lives in South Korea. Their natural language is Korean and they are accustomed to all Korean cultures and customs. But as immigrants in America, Anglo-Conformity seems to be a common theme in many American’s treatment towards immigrants, especially those who aren’t completely fluent in English. My parents have faced countless experiences where American people’s respect significantly drops if they are unable to speak proper English. Employees working in stores often brush off my parents and don’t take them seriously because their grammar isn’t complete. One time, a worker at Starbucks cursed at my mother under her breath, but because of difficulty with communication, my mother didn’t realize it until a bystander told her. Some workers command my parents due to simple miscommunications and their incomplete English suddenly makes them feel somehow superior to my parents. Americans try to dominate or argue with my parents because my parents can’t properly retaliate. I know that American society is raising more awareness of these issues, but the phrase “Why can’t you just speak English?” is unfortunately still heard by those who haven’t adopted everything it takes to be an American.
And because I’m in an immigrant family, I’m familiar with the theory of Cultural Pluralism. Many Koreans, as soon as they come to America, look for other Koreans to be around. It gives us a sense of familiarity and being around other Koreans has made it easier to live in America. These clumps we form also help to preserve our culture as we adjust to America. Korean protestant churches are one good example of these types of clumps as many Koreans who come to America socialize through church. Most of the Korean people I know are people I’ve met through church and in places like Birmingham, where there is a small Asian population, going to Korean churches has been one of the few places where I’m able to find others like me. Immigrants also often make cultural societies or cultural centers to hold events related to their culture. I sometimes volunteer at the Korean Cultural Center of Michigan and the people there take great pride in our culture and work to preserve it in our society.
I think America is a mixture of cultural pluralism and a melting pot. An example of cultural pluralism that I have seen in my life is specific areas with a majority of people from the same places. Chinatown for example is very clearly Chinese-dominant or Mexicantown which is predominantly Mexican, with restaurants, shops, and more. In my experience, these places often become hot spots for tourism which can be considered both bad and good, some people see it as the boosting of the local economy and others see it as a quiet gentrification. Other times, these places are less obvious such as Humbolt Park, in Chicago, which has a very large Puerto Rican population and influence, but most people, unless you are Puerto Rican or lived in the area, would necessarily know that. I have seen this same thing with Devon Ave in Chicago which mainly had Indian food and shops but was not where very many non-Indians went to eat Indian food. When my mom was growing up in this area, Devon was one of the only places they could get spices, clothing, and puja stuff so they would drive to Chicago once or twice a year and stock up on the essentials.
I can also see how America can be considered a melting pot because although there are certain areas with higher populations of certain nationalities or religions, I think that being in the US causes everyone (whether they want to or not) to adopt certain parts of others cultures and in turn, lose some there own. This can be seen through cuisines, mannerisms, and language. In every place that I have been in America, there have always been at least 3 restaurants relatively close with food from 3 different countries. While this food may not be perfectly accurate or even good, this is not the case in many other places around the world where you can typically only find food from other countries in major cities, and even then it is a select few choices that I think is something we often take for granted in the US. There are also bad sides to this, as immigrants are forced into programs such as ESL for years and years to get rid of their accents and make sure that their English is “proper”. Overall, I think there is good and bad involved in all of this.
I am a second-generation Lebanese American. Both my parents were born in Lebanon, and I was born here. I speak both Arvbaiv and English and am deeply connected to and fond of my Lebanese culture. I have personally experienced the Cultural Plurasm theory. For the first 11 years of my life, I lived in Dearborn. Dearborn is as the theory describes, “groups that tend to clump together in similar groups based on language, culture, and region.” Dearborn is mostly comprised of Middle Eastern people, most speak Arabic, practice Islam, and have similar cultures related to the Middle East. My parents are immigrants, and when they came to America they chose to live in Dearborn, where they felt it was closest to home as they can get in a different country. So, me and my family clumped with other Middle Eastern people to grow the now widely Middle Eastern-comprised city of Dearborn.
I have seen the Anglo-Conformity Theory happening around me, most prominently in school and with my friends. In school, there is a phrase widely used, “whitewashed”. From what I believe it to mean and since there are many interpretations, they all come back to the idea of a certain person originally from a country outside of America being changed to act more “white”, or in other words that would be used in the past, Anglo-Saxon. This happened with one of my friends who lived in Dearborn with me. His name is Ahmed he is like me, from Lebanon and Muslim. We used to go to a school that was predominantly Arab. Still, for some reason, most people felt that if they conformed to Anglo-Saxon ideals they would be more accepted. So with him, he decided that instead of using Ahmad, his real name, he would be called Alex, and he would stop speaking Arabic and only English around people. From his actions, I could see that he was trying to fit into Anglo-Saxon ideals and move away from his family’s original culture, for the supposed idea of being superior or more effective in fitting into his environment than his original culture.
One example of a immigration and assimilation theories, the US melting pot, comes from my moms side of the family. On my moms mom side of the family, the furthest we can trace back our lineage is in the late 18th century, and were brought over as slaves, but we don’t know from where, all we know is when they were brought to, Georgia and got free in 1865, then settled in Savannah GA, and my grandma Janice moved to michigan when she was older. On my grandpa’s side, his dad migrated over in the early 20th century from France, who was black, and my grandpa’s mom migrated from the french colony, Martinique, around the same time, and they both settled in Michigan and started a family, and had five children, one of them being my grandpa, and when considering some of my background I think I am very fortunate to know all that we do. Through their journeys, my ancestors embodied the American ethos of resilience, adaptability, and the pursuit of a better future. All of their collective experiences contributed to the very large and vast thing that is defined as the American melting pot, where unity is forged amidst diversity, and the promise of a more inclusive society endures.
Another example of immigration and assimilation theories is cultural pluralism, from my fathers side of the family, who came from Ireland, illegally in the 19th century and settled in Boston. Now I don’t know a lot about my fathers side, but I do know half is Irish, and I assume that they did because of the high population of irish migrants there and in general it would be more comfortable for them as a whole. Later in the 20th century, they moved to Detroit for more industrialized jobs, to make more money.
In this blog response, describe at least two examples of where you’ve seen or experienced at least two of these three immigration theories in action.
I’ve encountered many examples of these immigration theories. One instance of an immigration theory I’ve seen is cultural pluralism. While in Dearborn, I noticed there was a plenitude of Middle Eastern restaurants and cuisine. This fits in with the immigration of cultural pluralism, which means that when immigrant groups come to the United States of America, they usually stick and clamp together based on the categories of language, culture, and region. The majority of people (54.5 in Dearborn) are Arab, demonstrating how some immigrant groups tend to clump together in groups as suggested by the immigration theory of cultural pluralism. Another theory I can personally see is the immigration theory of the melting pot. A theory surrounding the concept of assimilating into American society under one broad culture is “American.” My mother is a first-generation immigrant from Romania who immigrated during the 1990s, and she had to learn to conform and assimilate into American society. A great example of this is my mother’s adoption of English and American customs. As a result of assimilating into American culture, my mother’s Romanian was slightly less fluent, and as a result of this assimilation, my mother’s native language of Romanian had become less passed on to the next generation with every child. My oldest brother is by far the most well-versed in Romania compared to my other siblings, with my middle brother being subpar in it and me only knowing a few words of Romanian. This illustrates the continual assimilation of foreign cultures into American culture through generations, from my mother’s generation to my generation. Ultimately, I’ve seen a multitude of immigration theories, such as the cultural pluralism theory as demonstrated in Dearborn, Michigan, the melting pot theory of assimilation demonstrated by a mother’s assimilation in American society, and the continual assimilation in American society through generations.
While my family’s immigration history is limited because all of the family i have knowledge of was born here, and my family’s “immigration” was forcefully executed, I can share observations from everyday life regarding immigration theories. Take the melting pot, for instance. I had a friend who immigrated from Russia. Initially, her distinct Russian identity was evident in her accent, speech, and clothing. However, as such a short time passed, she underwent a significant transformation. Her manner of speaking, clothing style, and even her appearance changed—she dyed her hair and got piercings that I noticed weren’t even really heard of in russia. It demonstrated how someone can swiftly assimilate into their new surroundings, leaving behind any trace of their previous identity.
Another instance is the way in which people of other religions adopt and celebrate Christmas upon moving to the United States. Despite being a Christian holiday, it becomes a widely embraced cultural celebration here. It’s intriguing to note that Christmas is often labeled as a “US Holiday” on calendars because it is enthusiastically observed by people of various religions even though the holiday is for Christians. This showcases how cultural practices, like the celebration of Christmas, become a shared experience, blurring religious distinctions and contributing to the melting pot concept.
Cultural pluralism is evident all around us, reflecting the rich tapestry of human experiences and backgrounds. Take, for instance, the individuals I’ve encountered who, though born in the United States, have embraced their parents’ native languages and cultures. One such person, whose parents hail from Poland, converses fluently in Polish despite being born here. She values her heritage deeply, often communicating with her parents in Polish, a language they prefer despite being proficient in English.
Similarly, places like ChinaTown serve as vibrant hubs within American cities, where Chinese traditions and customs flourish, preserving a sense of cultural identity. This phenomenon extends to various other ethnic enclaves across the nation, such as Little Italy, Little Mogadishu, Chindianapolis, Little Saigon, Little Albania, Little Ethiopia, Little India, and Koreatown, each offering a glimpse into the diverse mosaic of American society. Through these examples, it becomes evident that cultural pluralism not only thrives but also contributes to the vibrant tapestry of American identity.
I am a blend of Native American and African. As I look at the anglo-Conformity (Superiority) and Melting Pot theories I try to reflect on events experienced and told by my past relatives and how they fit into one or both of these theories. From what I was told, many of my older relatives, some of whom I do not personally know, moved from the southern states and migrated to the North, Midwest and some Western states to flee from discrimination, violence, Jim Crow and inhumane treatment. Immigrants are noted as one who moves from one country to another. I recall reading that during the transatlantic slave trade hundred of thousand Africans were involuntarily enslaved. Since my heritage flows back to the slavery era, those who came to the United States on slave ships were considered enslaved persons. It is my understanding that enslaved people were not considered immigrants. Once my past relatives were forced to live as slaves in this country they had no opportunity to assimilate with the White anglo-saxons and become citizens of the United States. They were under the forced rule of the slave owners’ superiority. My Native American heritage reaches back to Black Foot and Cherokee Indian. Most of my history of those relatives is lost due to the deaths of many older relatives. This makes it difficult to express my views.
Since slavery, African-Americans have coexisted with many races within the United States, making the United States one of the largest cultural Melting pots. We as a country are experiencing a huge influx of immigrants from Europe and Latin America.
Probably, by the time I reach my mid twenties there will be no one dominant race. Unfortunately, I could not express many views on my personal experiences regarding the anglo-Conformity and Melting Pot theories, both of which are interesting viewpoints.
My family and I personally haven’t experienced in many generations because of as we know “the international slave trade”, where my ancestors were forcibly brought to America, so I’m not sure if any more of my family has experienced any of these immigration theories, but I have seen them with my own two eyes in my everyday life. As we know Cultural Pluralism “recognizes the concept that when new immigrant groups come to the United States (or wherever, for that matter), the groups tend to clump together in similar groups based on language, culture, and region”. One example of Cultural pluralism is language diversity. In my school or even just outside of school at a restaurant etc., I often see people who speak the same language hang out together, especially at school. Since English is the most spoken language at my school, those whose main language is different, as I’ve seen, tend to become friends or hang out with each other. I believe this is because they feel more at home and they’re more used to the language that they’re speaking to each other. Another example that I often see is festivals and celebrations such as Cinco de Mayo. In the United States, there are usually many events and festivals for Cinco de Mayo. Many people from different backgrounds come together to celebrate and they share different music, foods, dances, and more.
One example of the melting pot that I’ve seen is language evolution. I know many people who have immigrated to the United States and they originally came here not knowing any English or just not much but now that they have been living here for years they no longer know how to speak their original language. Another example is Popular culture since there are many different things that include food, music, movies, etc. Many different cultures around the United States follow.
As my ancestors came into this country in a wide variety of situations, the ways in which they were assimilated into being American were very different. There were 3 common ways in which immigrants were assimilated. Anglo-superiority refers to when immigrants changed their customs in order to fit the WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) mold. The Melting Pot refers to different cultures merging together to create fused communities with aspects of many different cultures. Cultural Pluralism refers to the separation of distinct cultures, in which people of certain cultures stay together. Firstly, an example of Anglo-Superiority from my family was when my great-grandpa’s family immigrated from Germany in the late 1930s. Seeing the signs of what was happening, along with being poor without much to lose, they fled to America. However, shortly after they migrated, as World War 2 broke out, a harsh anti-german sentiment rose, and they were forced to change their way of life completely in order to avoid discrimination. Before the war, they only spoke German between themselves, even in public. After it broke out, his father forbade any German being spoken, even privately in the home. Because of this, my great-grandfather completely forgot to speak any German. Also, their last name was changed, to be more American, along with changing the spelling of their first names to seem less German. Another example could be seen in their food, as many German recipes were ditched out of fear. Because of pressure from people around them, they completely lost their culture. Also, an example of cultural pluralism in my family can be seen in another one of my great-grandfathers. He was an Austrian jew, and his family moved to a Jewish community in Ohio. There, almost everyone was also Jewish, and as a result, his family was able to preserve much more of their culture today compared to my German great-grandfather.
I am a first generation American, meaning I am part of the first generation of my family to be born in America. The most accurate description of immigration is Cultural Pluralism, although my parents came to America in the 2000’s a lot was still the same. Both my parents had to learn English, my dad came to America went to MSU graduated with a masters AND law degree. From my mom she learned to be able to work and socialize. Although my parents had to learn English they never gave up their own language and culture. I love my culture and I’m grateful that my parents passed down my language and culture to me and my brothers. Although I don’t relate to resenting my parents for not speaking English I can understand where that resentment might come from. After Cultural Pluralism, Anglo-Conformity has had the most lasting effect on America and American culture. I know so many people personally who can’t speak their native language because it was “phased out”. For some families, their grandparents came here and were harassed for not speaking English and not following American customers so they never taught their children their native language and only taught small parts of their culture. In my opinion this affects the Latin community as well as the Arab community the most especially in recent years. Latin immigrants have been harassed for so long that many parents may refrain from teaching their kids their culture for safety, this also goes for Arab communities. A result of The idea of Anglo-Conformity, is also the idea of being “white washed” although this term is only used for immigrants, i do see a direct line of comparison. The idea of being “white washed” is basically doing thinks are saying this that we as a society have deemed as “white”. In modern times being “white washed” is usually an insult, but if we look at a lot of the things that have been brought by immigrants, “white washed” means changed to fit our standards. Although white is a race, it refers to American white culture. An example of this is food, look at the way we make and eat pasta compared to Italians or how we make and eat sushi compared to japan.