The differences between immigrants from the early and mid 1900s to today are astounding. There are the more obvious differences, such as how the immigrants came to America. (As indicated by the title, immigrants form the 1900s took cramped, weeks long boat rides to Ellis Island, whereas today immigrants can hop on a plane to JFK). Foner, however pointed out some more intricate details that differ between the immigrants of today versus those of the 1900s. Firstly, the intentions of the two immigrants groups coming to America are vastly different. One reason Foner points out for today’s immigrants is because they can immigrate to America. During the 1900s because of all the restrictive laws placed, it was very hard for immigrants, especially from certain countries, to come to this country. Now, immigrants take advantage of the freedom they have to come to America. Also, many immigrants today come over to either find work or because they already have a job which has location in America. (This was the case with my interviewee for the oral history report). However, regardless of whether the immigrants came in the 1900s or today they all came to America in the hopes of a better and new life.

They don’t aways get the life they are searching for. Foner points out that many of the immigrants today are not poor and uneducated which was the case with most immigrants from the 1900s. Many immigrants come from their countries educated, with degrees to be doctors and lawyers. They are not always offered the same types of jobs in America and thus have to take whatever job they can get which is such a sad waste of education and talent. I wonder how we can remedy such a situation.

Emma Park-Hazel