Summary of Similarities

● Immigrants were needed to expand the country’s economy and to perform certain jobs.

● At the same time, immigrants realized that their “American Dream” improved their lives compared to opportunities in their home countries.

● Additional smaller groups of immigrants were fleeing from persecution in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

● Different skin colors, religions, and languages of immigrants caused discomfort for residents who had settled earlier in Cincinnati.

● Immigrants often had different traditions and cultures that clashed with Cincinnatians who had come earlier.

● In most cases, immigrants made valuable contributions to the U. S. economy.

● Immigrants brought strong work ethics, optimism, devotion to their families, diverse religions, traditional foods, and love of music and arts.

● Immigrants arriving in the 19th century were farmers, junk haulers, day laborers, shop owners, carpenters, artisans, masons, builders, pork-packing workers, miners, firemen, policemen, machinists, brewers, and bakers.

● Highly skilled and educated foreign-born professionals have always helped the U. S. and Cincinnati’s economy.

● Immigrants created new jobs and in some cases took jobs that local residents did not want to do.

● New immigrants with different cultures, languages and religions were often viewed as a “threat” to Cincinnatians. Consequently, they were harassed and discriminated against while being absorbed into the city’s cultural heritage.

● The second and third generations of many immigrants had assimilated so well as Americans that they quickly became part of the established citizenry. Sometimes, they opposed the next wave of immigrants, forgetting the struggles of their parents and grandparents.

● Riots in the 1850s against Germans by the Know-Nothing Party killed dozens of immigrants.

● In the 19th and 20th centuries, opposition was often open and violent. Many immigrant groups were banned from social clubs. Signs such as, “No Irish need apply,” or “For service, speak English,” insult foreign-born immigrants. Later, opposition in the 21st century was more subtle and created legislation that targeted the newest immigrants.