Main hall

I am going to talk about the immigration in America. First we will see immigration at the beginning of nineteenth century and more particularly in Ellis Island. For that I choose a painting. After, we will immigration nowadays.

So first, this painting was painted by Mort Kunstler in 1986. Mort Kunstler was born in 1927 and he is an American artist. He mostly painted historical events.

The painting « main hall » represents Ellis Island’s main hall. It shows the immigration at the end of the nineteenth century, which was an overcrowded place, teeming of people. In this painting we can see that people have different origin, there are some adults and children. It gives a realistic feeling. That is why we can share the characters emotions. For Example the lady at the center who seems exhausted and depressive about her journey.

Moreover, they are a lot of symbolic elements as the blue in the background. It symbolizes dreams and hope for this immigrants. Then, the American flag shows the union, and also the Americanization of the world. Finally, the predominance of red may remind us of their torments. In fact, this painting shows immigrants after they fled their country from different causes like political, religious. I think the painter wanted to show how hard their life was.

I choose this painting because I went to New York and I visited Ellis Island museum. This place, for me represents a melting pot for the immigrants.

Nowadays, since the election of Donald Trump, the country and more particularly the president has become hostile. In fact, Donald Trump considers that there is to much immigrants in his country. For example, he cancelled the laws that prevented the expulsion of migrants. Moreover, he also wants to build a wall between Mexico and the United States in order to stop Mexican’s immigration. In January two thousand seventeen Donald Trump tried to pass a decree in which it was forbidden to the nationals of 7 Muslim countries to immigrate in USA. This decree was declined by the federal judiciary as it was considered as Muslim bam.

To conclude, immigration in America has evolved. In fact, at the end of the nineteen century and at the beginning twentieth century, there were 30 million European immigrants. It was a lot of Jews because of anti-Semitism. Today, twenty two percent of American have Germans origins. In 2016, the immigration represents thirteen percent of the American population. It is a lot of Mexicans.

for me United State is a meltingpolt because a lot of immigrants come to America in order to find a job or live the American Dream but there is also too much xenophobia.

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