The Flux of the Puerto Rican/Cuban Immigrant

     Nowadays, we know Puerto Rico as part of the United States, while Cuba is one of our worst enemies; however, it did not start put this way. Decades ago, both islands were unto themselves and not bothered by the U.S.. They are located near the Greater Antilles, and in between Florida and Venezuela; both of their inhabitants contain Spanish origins. These islands intertwine with the history of the United States and had vastly different experiences with the challenges of 20th century migration from the islands to the mainland. \
      The first man of European descent to land on the islands was Christopher Columbus, an explorer who was endorsed by the King and Queen of Spain to discover more land to expand their territory. The were eventually colonized, used as military bases in the beginning and developed into gold mines and plantations; their resources were some of the first exploitation of natural resources, including the original inhabitants. The natives were killed off by diseases, horrible treatment bot physically and mentally, and overwork. Eventually, they were bumped off the number one use of laborers and replaced by Africans in the mines and fields. The islands were huge economic breakthroughs with the growing of sugar, coffee and tobacco plantations. However, eventually the Spanish and African inhabitants rebelled against the Spanish rule; Cuba and Puerto Rico were nearing their independence. The US then entered the Spanish American War, which resulted in the obtainment of Puerto Rico and Cuba; whereas Puerto Rico would become a commonwealth, Cuba would eventually become a near enemy.
       The island of Puerto Rico has been property of the US since its annexation, yet it has never been considered a state nor do Puerto Ricans have the citizen's right to vote for Congress. Legally, a Puerto Rican can move around the 50 states and live there as it is considered internal migration. On the other hand, the completely different cultures of both places made Puerto Ricans feel uncomfortable and many did not migrate; there was as little as 40,000 people moving in a time span of two decades. Eventually, at the end of WWII, immigration from Puerto Rico burst; in 1945, there were 13,000 Puerto Ricans in NYC and a decade later, there were almost 700,000. By the mid 1960's, there was more than 1 milllion. The reason for the immigration explosion? Affordable air fare.
        There were many cities with P.R. inhabitants, the including ones being Chicago, Philadelphia and Newark; many also moved to New England as well. In the 1930's, New York City was the capital of P.R., with Northeast Manhattan being the main center; it was also known as Spanish Harlem, and the place where much of the Puerto Ricans gained a political and cultural life. Migration to the U.S. slowed down due to urban recession; the poverty, unemployment and racial discrimination in the 50's and 60's played a big role. The second generation of Puerto Ricans were the ones to fight back and began to organize and protest against the unjust treatment. in 1951, a referendum for Puerto Rico lead it to becoming a commonwealth though many wanted it to be fully independent. Retaliation included an attempted assassination of the President and on the House of Representatives, showcasing the strong feelings that Puerto Ricans kept bottled inside. At the beginning of the 21st century, there were more established routes to the U.S. mainland and at the present day, there are Puerto Ricans who have even secured government jobs.
       In the late 19th century, Cubans were moving as the wanted between Florida and the island to participate in trade of sugar, tobacco, and coffee; evetually, cigar companies moved their plants to the U.S. mainland, meaning the workers did so as well. These companies were located in the main centers of Key West and Ybor City; Cubans crossed the strait in order to secure there jobs at these factories. The immigration of Cubans was 50,000 to 100,000 moving to an from Havana, Key West and Tampa annually. The U.S. began to take great interest in Cuba's enterprises and eventually interfered to secure their own involvement. In the 1950's, Fulgencio Bautista was leader of Cuba, and was overtaken by Fidel Castro in a rebellion against his tyranny. Eventually, Casto made himself dictator and severed alliance with the U.S.; many of the immigrants found themselves suffering from all the different international policies. Flights to Cuba were cancelled due to the hostility and in the brief time that flights from Mariel to the U.S. was available, over 125,000 left; these immigrants were known as the Marielitas. In the 1980's and 1990's, flotillas became a common occurrence and mode of transportation to the U.S. from Cuba; the U.S, agreed that any Cubans found on these would be returned to Cuba.
       The Cubans only expected to stay for a short while as their government was being fixed but soon realized that they would have to stay permanently; this lead to a new generation of Cubans in Florida. In the 1980's, the population was 580,000 in Miami, and people created communities to remind them of their homeland. Eventually, around 50% of hotels in Miami were run by Cuban Americans. They gained a successful reputation.
       Both Spanish Harlem and Miami and capitals for Puerto Rican Americans and Cuban Americans. They changed the dynamic of these locations in a white based America, bringing with them new dialect, languages, music, and overall cultures.

Ida Tarbell, Muckraker Extraordinaire

Ida M. Tarbell

  Muckraker: Reform journalists in the the 1900's who commonly wrote for magazines and were largely renowned for their investigative reporting, These individuals were knwon for digging for the truth, which many people were not informed of; scandals like the deaths of miners who were never reported dead fpr example, or the shady business dealings of big name companies back then. The great thing about them is they are gender blind. Now, in history, not many women are noted for their accomplishments or their assists in major findings; this woman, Ida Tarbell, was one of the majestic few who was.
    Ida Minerva Tarbell was a Pennsylvania native, born in November of 1857 in her mother's father's home. She grew up in Titsuville, where she eventually graduated as valedictorian from her high school; she went on to Allegheny College and became a graduate in 1880. It was in her early years that she first encountered the oil schemes that affected her father's small business and eventually guided her to her destiny. Her journey through magazines and written publications for individuals such as Napoleon Bonaparte and Abraham Lincoln led her to becoming a majorly known author. She began her research on the Standard Oil trust at the turn of the century and in 1902 began interviewing those closest to the company. She dug up dirt on John D. Rockefeller and his suspicious business practices, eventually uncovering a whole scheme behind this multi-millionaire. Her investigative report of Rockefeller and profile of him were one of the first, which gained her a title of pioneer in investigative journalism as well as recognition as one of the first female muckrakers, although she disliked the name.
    Tarbell lived until she was 86 years old, dying in 1944. She died of pneumonia in a Bridgeport hospital in Connecticut. Her legacy includes the Ida Tarbell House, a national landmark as well as an induction in the National Women's Hall of Fame; this was done at Seneca Falls.

An Account of the Battle of Little Bighorn

    As many of us know, the Battle of Little Bighorn was a battle between a group of rebellious Indians who refused to cooperate with the United States government and a group of military men led under the brave General Custer. Or was it?
   The Battle of Little Bighorn was fought between two main groups; the Sioux, the Cheyenne the Arapaho on one side and the United States Army on the other. The Native Americans and the U.S. originally had land treaties that stated the boundaries of each nation, and all was peaceful until the U.S began to break these promises while on the prowl for the newly discovered gold. There were many meetings between the Natives and The U.S.; winter of 1968, General George Armstrong Custer and his men attacked a camp on the Washita River, murdering their Chief. They were moved to a reservation, but moved and were attacked again in the winter of 1875. Not leaving anything else to chance, the Cheyenne moved in with the Sioux, where other tribes eventually joined them; they believed they were safer and stronger in numbers. They set up camp near Little Bighorn River, and General Custer lead his men against them, knowingly outnumbered. They were not victorious, which only led to a bigger problem with the Natives since this now became about revenge.

     All in all, the Battle of Little Bighorn was fought with two perspectives since there were two sides to the fight. Many debate on whether the battle started due to the discovery of gold on the land of the Natives or whether the Natives attacked unprovoked, but the fact of the matter is a battle was fought and one side won.

The Exclusion of the Chinamen

     The Chinese were one minority group of many others that immigrated to the United States in the 1800's.  The Chinese arrived in time for the California Gold Rush but quickly learned mining for gold in California in the late 1840's and early 1850's was a bust. They had been targets of hostility and found different work like working restaurants and laundry. The situation of the transcontinental railroad, which was predominately built by Chinese immigrants due to the fact that the original workers either refused or left for other work opportunities.Of course, they were not the ideal worker since they were so much smaller in stature and not seen as able to do much labor, they brought positive results at their new jobs. Soon, thousands were recruited to work on the railroad and it all spiraled from there. Although they were excellent in their works habits, the Chinamen were not seen as any more than a way to get more work done for less; this was especially true since they primarily worked the dangerous unskilled jobs that white men did not do.
     The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 resulted from the uselessness of the Chinese; the railroad was finished, a labor source was no longer needed and more unwelcome than ever. There was much violence against the Chinese from anti-Chinese supporters, mainly the other immigrants and/or white individuals. In document A, a play dubbed "The Chinese Must Go", the stereotypical associations to Chinese workers are exemplified through the dialogue exchanged between three main characters. What is also exemplified is the idea that the Chinese were "stealing" the jobs and money that "rightfully" belonged to the white man. This is supported by document C, a speech to the workingmen of San Francisco which was an anti-Chinese group as well. It states that the immigration of the Chinese pose a threat to the foundation of their community as well as the invasion of their jobs having to do with labor; these men take the situation personally, and shows how invested they are in getting rid of any competition that foreigners brought to earning money. In document D, an autobiography of a Chinese immigrant, the envy and disgust that other minorities felt towards the Chinese is clearly stated by one who experienced it. They were also targeted through the blatant prohibition of naturalization of Chinese in 1878 and interracial marriage in 1880, even though Chinamen were not even allowed to bring along their wives (many were suspected of being prostitutes due their high rates of importation which was against the law passed in 1870).
    Ultimately, the Exclusion Act was passed not only because the Chinese were no longer needed, but because they were seen as a threat to the American way of life. By the American way of life, I mean the part where the white men are given more and everyone else who is not white is given less; the overwhelming numbers of the Chinese jeopardized this idea, hence the outward attack at isolating these poor immigrants.

Journey Through Slavery part 4 - Judgement Day

William L. Garrison

The end of one era led to an entirely new one; it has now gone from thirteen states to twenty-four. Butler Island was as old as the nation itself; Pierce Butler was to inherit part of the richest family fortune around. His grandfather was a Major and signed the constitution himself; he also helped draft the Fugitive Slave Act. Butler's wife was an abolitionist, however, and urged him to slowly let go of slaves and grant them their freedom. Her name was Fanny Kemble, a famous actress at the time  lacks everywhere were affected by slavery, yet there were over 200,000 free slaves in both the North and South combined. William Lloyd Garrison, a white abolitionist, was blamed for the death of David Walker due to his anti-slavery newspaper; he was part of an immense trend of abolitionists that threatened the nation's way of life, it's foundation. Many whites knew that slavery was immoral, but many more thought that to get rid of slavery would cause greater entropy among all citizens and slaves of the nation. What completely rocked the world as they knew it was women and black abolitionists were brought onto and spoke fr the movement; they were given no mercy, however, and were stoned and burned to death. Racial supremacy for the whites was big in those days; employment, citizenship, etc. was valued and given to whites since they were better than everyone else. During the Jacksonian era, slavery was also increased due to the westward expansion; Native Americans were displaced and their land was taken. The more land, the more plantations, the more cotton, and the more slaves. In my opinion, slavery was a difficult issue as it tied into both the Northern industry and Southern tradition, two very vital parts of American life as they knew it.

http://www.ushistory.org/us/28a.asp

Journey Through Slavery part 3 - Brotherly Love

   The state of the situation that African Americans was inspiring due to their pushing and pushing of the promises made by white men in the Constitution, such as Thomas Jefferson's "all men are created equal", yet Jefferson himself owned slaves. There was no truth in his words, since he made excuses that blacks were naturally inferior to whites; the could not be seen as equal to the rest of the world. The saying "Practice what you preach" would not apply to him since he in fact could not turn away free labor; this free labor was also the source of he immense wealth that many southerners experienced. There was however, a small sliver of hope for the blacks when Richard Allen, a black man, gained his own freedom and started crusading for the equality of blacks.

   Allen was a Methodist preacher in 1786 and started the African Methodist Episcopal Church in the year 1794, the first denomination to be lead by blacks. At this church, there were many meetings held to discuss ways of gaining freedom for blacks; there were even spoken words by the ACS. The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney, however, slashed that sliver of hope; the South needed laborers to work the machines which highlighted the importance of slavery. The cotton gin, although important to the industrialization of our nation, was in my opinion a downfall to the abolition movement since slaves were used to it. The revenue made by the machine was a plus to the South's economy. On the first of January in 1808, the transportation, importation and trade of slaves was made illegal and no longer allowed in America; this did not loosen the hold the south had on slaves, but made it stronger and tighter. 

http://www.history.com/topics/cotton-gin-and-eli-whitney

The Battle of Antietam

    The Battle of Antietam, also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg happened on Sept. 17, 1862; it was mostly centered in the South. Attacks were made on Confederate General Robert Lee's troops by the troops of  Major General George McClellan and Major General Joseph Hooker around Antietam Creek in Maryland.  Major General Ambrose Burnside joined the fight against the confederates with Hooker and McClellan, however Confederate Major General A.P. Hill fought back Burnside, driving his forces back. Despite his small numbers, Lee sent all of his men to the line and was able to hold his own against McClellan's forces, although McClellan was able to keep Lee from invading Maryland, making this a strategic Union win. There was a total of 12,400 casualties, 2,100 being killed and 22,720 Confederate casualties, 3,650 being killed. It was a battle in the West, it being closer to the Mississippi River.
     This battle was important because the Union troops were able to push back the Confederate troops to behind the Potomac River; also, McClellan was able to keep Lee from invading Maryland. It also affected the confederacy as it kept them from gaining aid from Britain or France. General McClellan's military career was also effectively ended by President Lincoln, as he was disappointed in his lack of organization. The battle however, was considered a turning point in the war, as it ended Lee's invasion of the North.

Battle of Antietam

Abraham Lincoln and George McClellan