How can I (student) help solve immigration and xenophobia issues in the US looking at now and the 1800s (1800-1848)?

Question

This is for a school project where I'm (a student) required to come up with a way to solve immigration/xenophobia issues by looking at connections from today and the 1800s (1800-1848).

Answer 1

You'll find that the reasons for xenophobia in the 1800s were the same as they were today: fear that immigrants would take Americans' jobs, fear that providing welfare and education for immigrants would be expensive, and fear of otherness. The last, of course, stems from stereotypes and racism. Unfortunately, this seems to be human nature.

However, many immigrant groups from the past who were reviled: Irish, Jewish, Chinese ... are thriving now. They've contributed greatly to this country's success. It stands to reason that current immigrant groups, such as Mexicans and Syrians, will eventually reach this point as well.

As usual, the solution is education and mingling. When we get to know people from different backgrounds, and we understand where they're coming from, we realize they're just like us ... and perhaps their differences can teach us all something.

You'll have to do the research yourself, but generally this is an ongoing pattern.