Americanization in the United States, Essay Example

What is Americanization? Americanization is an immigrant that migrates to American that has to learn the American way of life. These immigrants assimilate to the American culture learning customs, beliefs system and American values. The process for Americanization started with the various government and public agencies that addressed whether the new immigrants were loyal to the United States. The term Americanization was developed in the United States to describe the process of assimilation to American value to ensure other cultures would be acclimated and sworn allegiance to the United States.  The newcomers were expected to learn English while accepting and adopting the U.S. culture, traditions, technology, and political beliefs. The United States outbreak of WWI led to the massive migration of over 1 million immigrants from all over the world. The country was concerned about foreigners entering the United States but suspecting they would still be loyal to their native country. This led to the implementation of the Americanization process that included U.S. government agencies ensuring the immigrants were loyal to the United States. One example is the Daughters of the American Revelation that support Americanization with the movement to help immigrant workers assimilate to Americans workplace culture.  The second example is the government agencies that ensure immigrants was acclimating to the United States customs such as Council of National Defense, Bureau Education, U.S. Department of Immigration, and U.S. Department of the Interior. The third example of a private agency called “The National Americanization Committee”, led by Frances Kellor a social activist was a private organization that led, directed and promoted Americanization acclimations.  The primary goal of the government and private agencies was set-up forums to ensure the immigrants were choosing the American political loyalists and not that of their native lands as traitors.  The “Americanization” was the government’s way to acclimate the immigrants during wartime both psychological, and politically.

The United States wanted first contact with immigrants in the United States, therefore they set-up mandatory licensing and port entry of requirements for immigrants. The government was involved with their social acclimation by controlling their immigration papers, U.S. identification, immigrant housing eligibility and immigrant labor camps.

The “Americanization was the governments reaction at the federal level to address the possibility of foreign synthesizers corrupting or betraying the United States during wartime. Another example of the United States government using Americanization to implement social controls is governmental controls of immigrants housing, labor, social programs, public healthcare and the political affiliations.

Woodrow Wilson, the 13^th President of the United States implemented a progressive government agenda to give the Presidents full power that would be unequalled by Congress. He was successful in changing character and nature of the United States. This power paradigm shift by President Wilson utilized the new found power to launch a public “Americanization” campaign. The primary intent by President Wilson was saturated the public with speeches, lectures, town halls and churches to sell the American people on war and the need for “Americanization” during WWI. In addition, the best example of Woodrow Wilson administration using federal law to promote Americanization is the Espionage and Sedition Act to promote “Americanization” by intimating and pressuring immigrants to be loyal to the United States.

In the United States today, Americanization is still in effect but has changed. The immigrants that enter the country to have to enter into English courses, green card visa, United States Citizenship classes after 7 years and prior to being sworn in as American Citizens. In addition, you must obtain a state license or identification which ask what is your political affiliation.  Americanization may be more immigrant friendly but the intent to ensure immigrants should become acclimated to the United States customs are still in place.