Assignment instructions:
From 1880 to 1930, some 27 million immigrants poured into the United States, many of them Catholic or Jewish immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe.
Immigrants of all backgrounds had traits considered by many to be “un-American”. Immigrant women in particular faced prejudice and paternalism/maternalism for the family dynamics brought from the “Old World.” Theodore Roosevelt, president of the United States from 1901 to 1909, articulated many of the nativist fears of era, which centered around gender and motherhood.
As you review the sources, consider all the questions below. Then choose ONE of the bullets below to address thoroughly in an initial post. You should use specific examples from at least two primary sources in your post.
How and why did immigrant women’s experiences with work, family, and migration differ from men?
How did native-born American women interact with immigrant women? Where did they discover commonalities? In what ways did they differ?
What does the fear of “race suicide” articulated by Theodore Roosevelt say about motherhood and women’s roles? Whose motherhood was privileged.
