The notable writer Charles Dickens once said, “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” This description seems to be immaculately carved to fit the late 19^th century. It was a period of great economic and political instability, particularly in the United States. Yet, it was also a period of great change, whether it changed for better or for worse, that remains to be seen, but the fact remains that America was never the same after the sun set on the nineteenth century. In order to explore these changes, it is necessary to recall the values on which the United States was founded. As so profoundly stated in The Star-Spangled Banner, which was published in 1814, America was meant to be, “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” However, was it always so? In 1940, Woody Guthrie published his song, This Land is Your Land; the last stanza of his song states, “In the shadow of the steeple, I saw my people; By the relief office, I seen my people; As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking, Was this land made for you and me?” This stanza serves but to reaffirm the fact that a change, a great change, has occurred between 1814 and 1940, a change that culminates in the last quarter of the 19^th century. We find that during this period of change, the actions of U.S. citizens seem to both contradict and reinforce the values on which our nation was established.

As American poet Emma Lazarus states in The Colossus, “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she (The Statue of Liberty); With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me.” We see that Lazarus is undoubtedly referring to the American principles of “freedom and justice for all.” Perhaps Lazarus wishes that American citizens would hold on to the beliefs of their fathers. Perhaps she wishes that the America she sees, the America she knows is true, would rise again from the deep, triumphant in all its prominence and glory. Perhaps she wishes to instill in all American citizens the nostalgic memory of the America that was and assure them that America could still be America. Lazarus’s true intentions will remain pieces that require the most intricate guesswork for centuries to come. Nevertheless, the fact remains that some Americans during the 19^th century wished to reinforce or reaffirm the values that make America a “melting pot” of so many different cultures, faiths, and traditions. For a short period of time, immigrants poured out of every chink in the world’s armor of countries. This endless sea of immigrants all sought one goal, to be free. Thus, they came to America. Thus, they built ethnic enclaves, and thus, they pursued their dreams in a foreign country. Nevertheless, this freedom only continued for a short period of time. America’s welcoming arms of freedom and victory were shortened, year after year, until they eventually became no more.

In 1882, the American government issued forth The Chinese Exclusion Act. This act was the first of its kind to formally restrict immigration to the United States. As stated in the Chinese Exclusion Act, “No Chinese person shall be permitted to enter the United States by land without producing the proper officer of customs the certificate in this act required of Chinese persons seeking to land from a vessel.” American citizens have claimed that they uphold justice as the bones of this nation, freedom the sinews, equality the blood, and generosity the skin. Where is the justice? Where is the freedom? Where is the equality? Where is the generosity if we deny people the right to live as free men on this soil? Such was the case in 1882. A few Americans sought to uphold the values the Founding Fathers set in the Constitution while others’ hearts were torn by the thorns of greed and selfishness, scalded by flames of distrust, blackened by the soot of undeserved pride. They are the latter portion of our society who wished to abolish all traces of freedom and justice from our nation. They are these who craved the eradication of the notion of a “melting pot” instead degrading the United States to a simple dish with no diversity, no textures, no flavors. Henceforth, we find that the United States was and remains divided. We are no longer so strong and undivided a nation as we once were. Alas, the act of 1882 was more than a mere law, it was a page torn and a page turned. It was a new start for a nation that was unprepared and unaware at the costs.

Finally, I conclude by stating that the late 19^th century was undeniably a highly significant period in American history. It was a time of conflicting opinions regarding the most critical issue possible, America itself. Therefore, we must try to unite once again to create the utopia our nation was always meant to be. Former President Barack Obama once said, “Since the founding of our nation, we‘ve weaved a tradition of welcoming immigrants into the very fabric of who we are. It’s what keeps us dynamic, entrepreneurial, and uniquely American.” Let us learn to look past our perceptions and personal prejudices. Let us learn the great history of the founding of our nation. Let us believe that there is hope for a better future. Most importantly, let us believe that as Americans, it is our duty to help make this world a better place for generations to come.

– Ayah Gouda