Immigrants and Whiteness in America

1. Irish

1.1. left Ireland to escape (Catholic) religious persecution, Penal Laws

1.2. were seen as a threat to the Americans in the workforce because they were taking the American's jobs and for a lower wage

1.3. were cornered into living in the black neighborhoods

2. Immigrant = a person who leaves his or her home country to live in a new country, often to escape persecution and pursue a better life

3. Whiteness = In America, a term socially constructed to label those with white skin, who belong to the middle to upper class, and have higher skills and intelligence and also have full constitutional and social rights

4. Mexicans

4.1. were considered white on record, but did not have white rights socially or culturally

4.2. were not as threatening to Americans since they were viewed as "Birds of Passage" who were only in the country temporarily

5. Jews

5.1. were not immediately accepted

5.2. gained acceptance upon proving their intelligence and skills

5.3. struggled to climb the social ladder, but succeeded, especially because of their white skin