Nativism

The American Dictionary defines nativism as, “policy of favoring indigenous inhabitants: a policy, especially in the United States, of favoring the interests of the indigenous inhabitants of a country over those of immigrants”. Immigrant groups, were they European, Asian, Native American, or Mexican, all suffered various forms of Nativism, be it economic, political, or even cultural.
　
European immigrants
Economic nativism severely effected Irish Immigrants. The Irish were seen as disposable workers. They often were employed for hazardous jobs, because the death rate was so high that “Yankees” refused to do it. They were constantly exploited, and what is more, they were pit against other races. Nativism effected Irish immigrants in the form of politics, as white business owners pursued a strategy of divide-and-control between Irish and Chinese immigrants. For example, the Chinese were brought to work in competition with the Irish in the shoemaking industry. The two groups were set against one another in the interest of creating animosity and hatred between them. In addition, Irish Immigrants were set apart by their language and religion. Originally speaking Gaelic, they were set apart from whites as they had thick, and easily identifiable accents. Whites made the stereotype that thick accents was essentially equal to not maintaining the capacity for higher knowledge and learning. Furthermore, the religion of Irish immigrants, being primarily Catholicism, was used as a stigma to alienate the religion as barbarous, or savage, as it severely differs in principle from other branches of Christianity.
The second group of people that were influenced by nativism were the Jewish immigrants. Before their immigration to America, Jews had a long history of being set apart form European society, and being the target of social frustrations and brutal violence. Their persecution was continued in America. They were judged by their clother especially, which marked them as “greenhorns”. To dress as American people became a necessity to get a job. A political form of nativism came with colleges increasing their restrictions on Jewish enrollment, saying the “drove away the Gentiles”.
　
Mexican Immigrants
Nativism also effected Mexican Immigrants. Politically, they held the land of Texas, and regardless, white settlers came and began living there, while defying Mexican laws. Many settlers were slaveholders, and they were determined to defy the Mexican laws abolishing slavery. Settlers were encouraged to continue their efforts, in order to “Americanize” the territory, and gain the land underneath the United States. An anti vagrancy act was passed, with the basis being nativism, became known as, “The Greaser Act”. It defined vagrants as all persons who were commonly known as greasers, or the issue of Spanish or Indian blood, who were armed and not peaceable. It set apart Anglos from other ethnicities, as it specifically targeted those of Mexican descent. Culturally, Mexicans were unfamiliar with the English language, and because of this, fell prey to Anglo lawyers. This lead to their land claims being incredibly expensive, if indeed, they were verified, and lawyers then required that Mexicans pay up to a quarter of their land.
　
Chinese Immigrants
A political demonstration of nativism occurred with the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. Chinese workers became the targets of white labor resentment. This “ethnic antagonism” forced thousands of Chinese into self-employment. Nativism was used a tool to discriminate against the Chinese culturally. Political cartoons, featuring the Chinese style of dress, and the popular hairstyle of the Queue were used as reasons to mock the Chinese as uncivilized in the sense that they did not share the American sense of civilization.
Japanese Immigrants
Nativism influenced Japanese immigrants by the way of education. Even though Japanese Americans became very educated, they were rarely given opportunities for careers that had better pay, or required a large amount of education. An example of political nativism caem in the form of the Alien Land Law, which prohibited land ownership to “aliens ineligible for natural citizenship”.
Native Americans
Nativism was involved politically with the Native Americans, with the massacre at wounded knee. Native Americans were identified by their “ghost shirts“ , muslin clothes, decorated with religious symbols. Vastly different from their Caucasian counterparts, people assumed these ghost shirts were an act of rebellion, and of imminent violence. The ghost dancers were struck down because of their cultural dress and religion. Another example of political nativism came form the social engineering policies set up for the Native Americans. The government set up policies interfering with the managing of the welfare of their society. They strictly controlled the Indians, while giving more leniency with Caucasians.