#24 "The Taking Down and Rebuilding of Immigrant Populations"
- Podcast Teaser Trailer
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Episode Preview -- "The Taking Down and Rebuilding of Immigrant Populations"
- Link to Podcast
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Episode Recording -- "The Taking Down and Rebuilding of Immigrant Populations , Episode 1, April 24, 2025"
- Episode Number
- Students Podcasting History Episode #24
- Episode Title
- #24 "The Taking Down and Rebuilding of Immigrant Populations"
- Episode Date
- April 25, 2025
- Key Words
- Chinese Exclusion Act, Immigrants, General Immigration Act of 1891 & Executive Order 14165
- Episode Introduction
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I plan to talk about the exclusion of the immigrant population from 1880-1920 and then comparing that to current legislation. In that earlier time period there was a large movement of
Chinese immigrants to the United States, claiming to be economically corrupting American society. However, the immigrant population was also crucial to the economic and
industrialization of cities. This led to the introduction of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, discussing the exclusion of Chinese immigrants in conjunction with the recent signing of an
Executive Order 14165 by Donald Trump to effectively end all immigration of the U.S. southern border. I hope to broaden the understanding of the Chinese Exclusion Act and the General Immigration Act of 1891, along with the role of immigrants in America through primary source analysis, such as “Mary Tape Protest Chinese Segregation” and "Why The Chinese Should Be Excluded". The primary sources highlight how immigrants have historically faced ostracism rather than being given resources to rebuild the new country. I hope to prove the importance of immigrant populations and their contribution to society uplifting the culture and growth of America. - Hosted By
- Lillian Heitz
- Host Biography
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Lillian Heitz is a freshman at Sewanee: The University of the South, where she is pursuing a major in Politics and a minor in Spanish. Lillian is especially drawn to the intersections of political systems, language, and culture. She enjoys studying history,
finding inspiration in the way past events shape present realities and inform current events.
Lillian brings a thoughtful and inquisitive perspective to her academic work and podcasting about the comparison of past and current events, always seeking to better understand the events that influence society. - The Show
- Lillian Heitz explores the treatment of Chinese immigrants during the Gilded Age, highlighting how economic depression and job competition fueled racism and anti-Chinese sentiment, especially among labor unions. Influential figures like James D. Phelan, mayor of San Francisco, in his primary source document “Why the Chinese Should Be Excluded,” argued that Chinese immigrants threatened American civilization, leading to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882—the first U.S. immigration law to target a specific race. Politicians used racially charged language to justify exclusion, while laws like the General Immigration Act of 1891 reinforced these policies. Despite the hostility, advocates like Wong Ching Foo and Yan Phou Lee fought for Chinese rights, revealing the era's deeply rooted xenophobia. What does securing our borders really mean? Lillian Heitz draws connections between the Chinese Exclusion Act and modern immigration policy, noting that in January of 2025, the Trump administration signed an executive order to halt immigration. In an interview, Donald Trump made statements claiming immigrants are “poisoning the blood” of the country, highlighting ongoing prejudiced narratives. These views portray jobs as a limited resource reserved for U.S. citizens, contradicting the American ideal of equal opportunity for all, regardless of origin. It is very common for politicians to make claims against immigration without regard for the work that these immigrants do. Lillian Heitz emphasizes the importance of uplifting immigrant voices in American history. Mary Tape’s 1885 protest against Chinese segregation powerfully questioned discrimination, asking, “Is it a disgrace to be born Chinese?” Pioneers like Wong Ching Foo and Yan Phou Lee fought for Chinese American rights and political inclusion, founding organizations and testifying before Congress. These voices challenge the notion that America’s values belong only to white, native-born citizens and instead reflect the country’s ongoing struggle over who truly belongs. Inclusion should be based on shared values, not race or origin, and immigrant voices help realize the American ideals of liberty and justice for all.
- Source
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“Chapter 18 ” , Joseph L. Locke and Ben Wright, The American Yawp: A Massively
Collaborative Open U.S. History Textbook, Volume 2: Since 1877, (Stanford, California:
Stanford University Press, 2023)
“Chapter 19 ” , Joseph L. Locke and Ben Wright, The American Yawp: A Massively
Collaborative Open U.S. History Textbook, Volume 2: Since 1877, (Stanford, California:
Stanford University Press, 2023)Chinn, Stuart. 2017.
Dr. Andrew Maginn, “Week 2 Lecture,” History 202: History of the United States II, (Class
Lecture, Sewanee: The University of the South. Sewanee, Tennessee, January 22, 2025.
“Trump and Chinese Exclusion: Contemporary Parallels with Legislative
Debates over the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.” Tennessee Law Review 84 (3)
681–730. https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=88614190-7a00-32ee-b
35c-56c0cda916ec.
“Fury as Donald Trump says immigrants ‘poison blood’ of US” (The Telegraph) Oct 6 , 2023,
0-0:31, https://youtu.be/L-xm_9zjNwI?si=PuHBCiKR49Bx1GGH)
“James D. Phelan, Why The Chinese Should Be Excluded, 1901” The North American Review
173 , The American Yawp Reader.)
“Securing our Borders” Federal Register, Accessed February 12, 2025.
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/30/2025-02015/securing-our-border.
“Mary Tape Protests Chinese Segregation, April 16, 1885,” Mary Tape, Available online via
California Digital Newspaper Collection.
Zhang, Wenxian. “Standing Up Against Racial Discrimination: Progressive Americans and the
Chinese Exclusion Act in the Late Nineteenth Century.” Phylon (1960-) 56, no. 1 (2019):
8–32. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26743829 - Contact Information
- Heitzle0@sewanee.edu