JOURNAL #9

This reading had many connections with present day issues, mainly in politics. The first one I found was on page 7. It discusses how Congress had decided to pass the Compromise of 1877. This did many things but one big one was that it withdrew the troops from the South. This made me think of when President Barack Obama pulled the troops out of Iraq, though it has been a few years. The troops had been “deployed to ensure free elections and to protect black populations from attacks by whites who were determined to retain political power in the South…” (pg. 7) reminds me of how the troops in Iraq had not been taken out in order to protect the innocent people from groups seeking to hurt them, like al-Qaida.

Another connection I made is on page 17 discussing the anti-Chinese sentiments and immigration laws. During this time in the US, many Chinese immigrants had come into the state in order build railroads and provide for their family. In 1882 though, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act which “prevented people from china from entering the country unless they were joining relatives…” (pg. 17). This reminded me of the Arizona SB 170, which is the strictest and largest anti-illegal immigration act in the US. The law prevents illegals from entering into the United States. I think that this comparison of the introduction and the present day shows that history does repeat itself!