Emma Lazarus Quotes
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.
Lazarus, Emma. "The New Colossus." The Poems of Emma Lazarus. Vol. 1, Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1889, p. 202.
At the time immigrants had to live in America 14 years before they were eligible for citizenship. The President urged a reduction in that waiting period which is what was done. This was one of the earliest statements of America as a haven to the oppressed of the world. Note that despite occasional squabbles over land use and theft, the general assessment of the President and the public was that the Indians although not as civilized had welcomed the whites with “hospitality.” The next years would produce the conflict for land and begin the massive usurpation of Indian land that would characterize American policy and practice until the latter half of the 20th century, buy which time there was little Indian land left.
Congress was debating the Naturalization Act of 1790. Page and many others (see {616324}) argued that there should be no qualification requirements on immigrants as every person coming to America added to the strength of the nation. Congress reached a compromise between those who favored unlimited naturalization and citizenship and those who wanted heavy restrictions. It required a 2 year residence, a certification of good character and an oath, modest by modern standards.
Most immigration reformers want to open immigration more widely. Ward wanted immigration restricted to certain ethnicities and limited.
For a similar application of the law to all see the Massachusetts Body of Liberties over a century earlier.
Moss and two other blacks had had the temerity to open a grocery store. White competitors attempted to have the city authorities close the store. When that failed, a mob took the three Black owners to the city limits and shot them all to death. Moss was a close friend of Ida B. Wells, and his lynching started her on her no famous anti-lynching expose and campaign. See {44393} for her initial response.
Emma Lazarus was an American author of poetry, prose, and translations, as well as an activist for Jewish causes.
