The American Dream is a concept pursued by many in the 1900s. Consisting of owning a home, having a family, and doing a good job, these formulated the ideal lifestyle. For many Japanese immigrants, the American Dream was a significant incentive to move to America because the idea of ​​owning land and being able to use it was particularly appealing. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay However, the Japanese immigrants were not welcomed kindly. Racism was prevalent and rampant throughout the country, and many neighborhoods desperately tried to keep Japanese people away from their neighborhoods, homes, and even schools. The book, The House on Lemon Street, explains the case of Jukichi and Ken Harada, a couple who moved to the United States and bought a house on Lemon Street. Almost immediately, the couple faced scrutiny and oppression from neighbors, and the issue eventually escalated into a Supreme Court case titled People of California v. California. Jukichi Harada. In the end, the Haradas won the case and the right to remain in their home. But others were not so lucky. A series of pieces of legislation and laws were passed that prevented Japanese immigrants from taking part in the American dream. For example, in the 1800s California officials attempted to control Japanese immigrants and tax them, but were unsuccessful due to the Passenger Cases of 1849 in which it was determined that Congress would handle immigration. One of the most important laws that took place was that of 1913 which stated that aliens entitled to citizenship were granted the same property rights as American citizens but, due to previous laws, Chinese and Japanese immigrants could not become naturalized citizens and they were therefore excluded from owning land. These laws were not created out of concern but out of racism. Racism was rampant during this time, and Japanese people were prohibited from a simple lifestyle simply because of their appearance. It is disgusting to note that racism did not just come from individuals but was supported by Congress, congressmen and the President. They bought into the hysteria and the hype and instead of doing what was good for the people, they did what they had to do to please the people. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Japanese Americans faced severe discrimination and the constant fear of suddenly becoming enemies. It is sad to note that while many of them immediately declared their fierce loyalty to the United States and demonstrated it by destroying many valuable objects from their homeland, they did not receive the same response. Instead, President Roosevelt signed his Executive Order 9066 which effectively placed Japanese immigrants in concentration camps. This broke my heart when I read it because it reminded me of the Holocaust. Sure, we didn't kill Japanese immigrants, but we treated them like animals and labeled them enemies with no evidence to walk away from. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers .Get a custom essay Immigration is still a hot topic today. Under President Obama, America has taken a more welcoming stance and sought to repair the damage we as a nation inflicted on so many people years ago. For President Obama, to succeed as a nation we must overcome and recognize our differences, but unite to continue to live and improve this country we all call home. On the other hand, President Trump has.”