试论20世纪初的美国化运动

On the Americanization Movement in Early Twentieth-Century America

19世纪末20世纪初,1800多万名移民涌入美国,其中大部分来自东欧和南欧。在他们之前,绝大多数移民来自西欧和北欧,两者之间形成了鲜明的对照。这种差异不仅表现在地域上面,而且表现在语言文化、宗教信仰和政治理念等方面。为了减少和消除这些差异,建立一个同质性强的社会,美国"老移民"掀起了一场为期20年的美国化运动,旨在把"新移民"同化进美国主流社会。

At the turn of the twentieth century, over 18 million immigrants poured into the United States,most of whom came from southern and eastern Europe. Prior to their arrival,the vast majority of immigrants hailed from western and northern Europe. There was a sharp contrast between the two waves of immigrants. Such difference was not merely limited to geography;it also involved differences in language,culture,religion,and political beliefs. In an attempt to reduce or eradicate all these differences,the 'old immigrants'launched the Americanization movement to help 'new immigrants'assimilate into the mainstream society.