Nativism as Reaction to Threat on American Culture: History Essay

This essay examines Nativism as a historical response to perceived threats to American culture, primarily stemming from immigration and societal changes during the 19th century. The essay argues that Nativism, which gained prominence in the 1840s and 1850s, was a reaction to the cultural and economic impacts of increased immigration, particularly from Europe. It explores how immigrants, bringing diverse religions, customs, and languages, led to anxieties and racial tensions among native-born Americans. The essay discusses the formation of Nativist movements like the "Know-Nothings" and their aims to restrict immigrant influence in public life, highlighting the economic competition and cultural transformations that fueled these sentiments. Furthermore, it references the impact of the California Gold Rush, which attracted many immigrants, and discusses the nativists' attempts to preserve American culture against the changes brought about by urbanization and immigration. The essay also mentions the roles of German and Irish immigrants, and the economic crisis that occurred due to immigration.

Running head: NATIVISM AS A REACTION TO THE THREAT TO AMERICAN CULTURE
NATIVISM AS A REACTION TO THE THREAT TO AMERICAN CULTURE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

NATIVISM AS A REACTION TO THE THREAT TO AMERICAN CULTURE
I agree that Nativism was a justifiable reaction to the threat to traditional American culture from
modern ideas and foreigners for the following reasons.
Firstly, Nativism gained its name in 1840s and 1850s from the “Native American”
parties. Immigration had actually threatened American culture. Immigrants also has a significant
impact on the society. At the end of nineteenth century immigration had increased tremendously
in the United States. Along with bringing new cultures to then country, it also impacted the
economy. As most of the immigrants were from Europe the growing diversity of new religions,
customs and new languages increased anxiety and racial enmity. Nativism refers to political
sentiments which favours privileges and rights for native born Americans. Though globalizations
heavily influence cultural, scientific and technological innovations yet it poses threat to the
diversity of cultures. German and Irish immigrants also used to compete with the native workers
and therefore American men with families had to accept low wage jobs.
Source: Young, Julia G. "Making America 1920 again-Nativism and US Immigration, Past and
Present." J. on Migration & Hum. Sec. 5 (2017): 217.
Secondly, the pace of immigration from Europe, Berlin, Germany in the United States
increased in the 1850s. Immigration resulted in the cultural transformation of the nation. It also
resulted in high unemployment rate which resulted from the economic crisis which took place
due to immigration. Most of them were attracted by the cheap farmland available in America.
The California gold rush also attracted thousand of immigrants from Australia and Europe. A
large number of immigrants from different cultures during the 19th century started a number of
anti-immigration movements which restricted the entry of large number of immigrants and the

NATIVISM AS A REACTION TO THE THREAT TO AMERICAN CULTURE
largest of them was nativism. Though the nativists proclaimed to be native Americans but they
were actually descended from immigrants themselves. Therefore, Nativism was actually an anti -
immigration movement that only favoured descendants who were the inhabitants of the original
thirteen colonies. The “Order of the Star Spangled Banner” was a Nativist society founded by
Charles B Allen in New York City in 1850 where members came to be known as “Know-
Nothings”. Here the members of Know Nothings wanted to prevent the immigrants from holding
public office. Due to large number of immigration no ones job was safe. However immigrants
who came to United States also provided the population growth which was necessary for
boosting the economy of America in the 19th century.
Source: Kivisto, Peter. Religion and immigration: migrant faiths in North America and western
Europe. John Wiley & Sons, 2014.
Thirdly, though the name “Nativism” suggests native Americans, but the movement was
actually started by the descendants of white Protestants who were already in the United States of
America during the Revolution. Nativism in the United States states that the nation’s culture
should be preserved from the foreign influence. As there were large number of immigrants from
Ireland and Germany in the United States, rapid urbanization and Industrial Revolution also took
place during those years. As a result United States also experienced a brisk change in its cultural
composition which caused anxiety and distress among few Americans and therefore led some to
support nativist organizations. Ultimately nativism was an attempt to preserve the American
culture that growth of cities and the arrival of immigrants threatened to transform.
Source: Mauk, David, and John Oakland. American civilization: an introduction. Routledge,
2013.

NATIVISM AS A REACTION TO THE THREAT TO AMERICAN CULTURE
REFERENCE LIST:
Kivisto, Peter. Religion and immigration: migrant faiths in North America and western Europe.
John Wiley & Sons, 2014.
Mauk, David, and John Oakland. American civilization: an introduction. Routledge, 2013.
Young, Julia G. "Making America 1920 again-Nativism and US Immigration, Past and Present."
J. on Migration & Hum. Sec. 5 (2017): 217.