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Describe assimilation as it relates to 19th century immigrants

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Analyze, explain and describe what assimilation is and why it was important to the newly arrived immigrants.

Also explain and describe the factors that enabled immigrants to assimilate into American society.

Also discuss and explain where most immigrants came from during the 19th Century.

Finally, discuss, explain and describe what were/are trusts, corporations and holding companies that sprang up to employ a great number of these new immigrants during the period under discussion.

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The expert describes assimilation as it relates to the 19th century immigrants. Where most immigrants came from during the 19th century is determined.

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1. Analyze, explain and describe what assimilation is and why it was important to the newly arrived immigrants.

Assimilation is where a foreign ethnic group slowly adopts the culture and folkways of the dominant (usually majority) group. The melting pot notion is important because it actually takes many specific identities and creates a new one (not one identical to the majority). This was for a long time the American model in the 19th century. Yet, few will deny that the 19th century Anglo-Saxon model was dominant in terms of assimilation. It was important largely because the newly arrived immigrants wanted a better life. They needed to conform so as to eventually move up the social ladder and be accepted by local elites.

2. Also explain and describe the factors that enabled immigrants to assimilate into American society.

There are many theories on this. Robert Park is probably the most important in analyzing 19th and 20th century immigration experiences. Assimilation here goes from hostility to limited engagement. Because the US was slowly becoming industrial, people are judged not on their ethnicity, but on their ability to contribute economically. In addition, having a Constitution that guarantees equality under the law also moves assimilation forward.

Others, like Milton Gordon, detail a slightly different approach. First, acculturation is the initial step in assimilation, where ...

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