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I'm always impressed by the way a simple turn of phrase can hide disproportionate impact on human lives. Specifically interesting in this context is that the t

I'm always impressed by the way a simple turn of phrase can hide disproportionate impact on human lives. Specifically interesting in this context is that the turn of the 20th century, and the 1920s in particular, is really the birth place of modern immigration policy. Of note is the fact that the requirement of visas for entry and quotas on point of origin appeared around this time- if you read newspaper op-eds for the immigration act of 1924 (or the earlier chinese exclusion act), these measures are specifically pointed out as a way to maintain the racial makeup of the country. Prior to that point, visitors could just turn up at Ellis island for entry. Afterwards, the island itself served more as an offshore detention center for what were then classified as radicals, anarchists, and those "likely to become a public charge"— awaiting deportation. Citizenship, too, could once be had for as little as the price of a dozen eggs-- check out this booklet published 1921: https://archive.org/details/howtotakeoutyour00metrrich/page/5 https://archive.org/details/howtotakeoutyour00metrrich/page/... "All it costs is $1, not a penny more. No witnesses, no examination, no pull required." -- 2 years of residence later, another set of papers (also on Archive.org) and a short literacy test (added in 1917) and you could be a citizen-- but this rapidly changed as additional quotas and restrictions were added. The history of immigration law is a fascinating topic, and there's a lot of interesting primary sources available.

teraflop 7y ago
That booklet is fascinating reading. It's a little bit wild to see these on opposite sides of the same sheet of paper: > The true American believes in Liberty, Equality, Justice, Humanity. [...] The true American believes that "All men are created free and equal." [...] The true American believes in his own ability, but holds that the other fellow is as good as he and should have the same chance to life and happiness. He believes in equality of opportunity. > Persons not belonging to the White or Black Race, Anarchists, Polygamists, Criminals, Insane, cannot become Citizens; they will not get First Papers.
- ido 7y ago
  And also that Africans were considered more desirable immigrants than Asians!
  - pnw_hazor 7y ago
    Some early immigration cases involved people trying to prove they were black to avoid removal.
ekianjo 7y ago
A literacy test in early 20th century would already exclude a lot of poor people by definition. not sure why you make it sound like it was a formality.
- ltbarcly3 7y ago
  The literacy test was to gain citizenship after you had already been granted permanent residency, so while they wouldn't be eligible to vote in federal elections, illiterate people would still enjoy almost the benefits and rights of any other US person. Almost anyone can learn to read, it's not that hard, almost every 5 year old learns to do it. If an adult in the early 1900's wanted to be a citizen, but were blocked by a basic literacy test and still didn't learn to read it's because they weren't interested in putting the effort into it (there are people with severe disabilities, that is a totally different situation and i'm not addressing that). Of course it's way easier to be born rich, but if you think someone who is poor but motivated can't learn to read you are insulting their intelligence.
  - lazyasciiart 7y ago
    The literacy test was a barrier to entering the country, not to citizenship. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/immigration-act https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/immigration-a... And while that one didn't have a very large effect, the one that did block people from voting managed to filter out black people very well: https://metro.co.uk/2017/09/20/could-you-pass-this-test-given-to-black-people-registering-to-vote-in-america-in-1964-6941338/ https://metro.co.uk/2017/09/20/could-you-pass-this-test-give...
  - jasongill 7y ago
    To say that "anyone can learn to read, it's not that hard" because a 5-year-old can do it is disingenuous. It's been well established that children learn language and reading skills exponentially easier than adults due to the "flexibility" of children's minds that is lost with age. It can be nearly impossible for some adults, especially ones with no reading experience when they were young, to ever learn to read.
- 7y ago
superflit 7y ago
Imagine that "booklet" is the same as the ADs you see when you browse the internet. And they are the equivalent of " You are the XXX visitor and Won this." Family story: My Gran Grandfather was from Trento Region in Italy (North), very poor. At these times, there were some organizations working with migrants. (take note) So he went to migrate from famine and poor. Once on this organization, they asked him his scholar level, and he was like 3rd grade. Not good enough for the US was sent to Brazil. (note 2) He paid his fees, jump on a shit boat, and three months later, he was in Brazil. Then arriving, the support he paid for previously was non-existent; all good land was already taken by the Germans, so they only one left were in the rocky mountains were because of the rocks that were very hard to work on the fields (note 3). What I mean is: what looks easy today was so hard as yesterday. And please people long ago were not better from today. I do think they were worse. Note 1: These organizations at that time earned a lot of money with "fees." Note 2: The people from the south with a more relaxed moral usually lied about this and were sent to the US. Note 3: It was later known for good wine and tourist places. (grapes love rocky soil and can grow there).

teraflop 7y ago

That booklet is fascinating reading. It's a little bit wild to see these on opposite sides of the same sheet of paper: > The true American believes in Liberty, Equality, Justice, Humanity. [...] The true American believes that "All men are created free and equal." [...] The true American believes in his own ability, but holds that the other fellow is as good as he and should have the same chance to life and happiness. He believes in equality of opportunity. > Persons not belonging to the White or Black Race, Anarchists, Polygamists, Criminals, Insane, cannot become Citizens; they will not get First Papers.

ido 7y ago
And also that Africans were considered more desirable immigrants than Asians!
- pnw_hazor 7y ago
  Some early immigration cases involved people trying to prove they were black to avoid removal.

ekianjo 7y ago

A literacy test in early 20th century would already exclude a lot of poor people by definition. not sure why you make it sound like it was a formality.

ltbarcly3 7y ago
The literacy test was to gain citizenship after you had already been granted permanent residency, so while they wouldn't be eligible to vote in federal elections, illiterate people would still enjoy almost the benefits and rights of any other US person. Almost anyone can learn to read, it's not that hard, almost every 5 year old learns to do it. If an adult in the early 1900's wanted to be a citizen, but were blocked by a basic literacy test and still didn't learn to read it's because they weren't interested in putting the effort into it (there are people with severe disabilities, that is a totally different situation and i'm not addressing that). Of course it's way easier to be born rich, but if you think someone who is poor but motivated can't learn to read you are insulting their intelligence.
- lazyasciiart 7y ago
  The literacy test was a barrier to entering the country, not to citizenship. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/immigration-act https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/immigration-a... And while that one didn't have a very large effect, the one that did block people from voting managed to filter out black people very well: https://metro.co.uk/2017/09/20/could-you-pass-this-test-given-to-black-people-registering-to-vote-in-america-in-1964-6941338/ https://metro.co.uk/2017/09/20/could-you-pass-this-test-give...
- jasongill 7y ago
  To say that "anyone can learn to read, it's not that hard" because a 5-year-old can do it is disingenuous. It's been well established that children learn language and reading skills exponentially easier than adults due to the "flexibility" of children's minds that is lost with age. It can be nearly impossible for some adults, especially ones with no reading experience when they were young, to ever learn to read.
7y ago

superflit 7y ago

Imagine that "booklet" is the same as the ADs you see when you browse the internet. And they are the equivalent of " You are the XXX visitor and Won this." Family story: My Gran Grandfather was from Trento Region in Italy (North), very poor. At these times, there were some organizations working with migrants. (take note) So he went to migrate from famine and poor. Once on this organization, they asked him his scholar level, and he was like 3rd grade. Not good enough for the US was sent to Brazil. (note 2) He paid his fees, jump on a shit boat, and three months later, he was in Brazil. Then arriving, the support he paid for previously was non-existent; all good land was already taken by the Germans, so they only one left were in the rocky mountains were because of the rocks that were very hard to work on the fields (note 3). What I mean is: what looks easy today was so hard as yesterday. And please people long ago were not better from today. I do think they were worse. Note 1: These organizations at that time earned a lot of money with "fees." Note 2: The people from the south with a more relaxed moral usually lied about this and were sent to the US. Note 3: It was later known for good wine and tourist places. (grapes love rocky soil and can grow there).