As a "nation of immigrants," Americans have produced persuasive maps addressing the issues of immigration and nationality over most of the country's lifetime. The collection includes a number of these maps published since the 1840s. Some are welcoming, encouraging, and provide advice to immigrants. Some assert that the diversity of our nationalities is a source of strength for the country. And yet others attack immigrants in general, or specific ethnic or religious immigrant groups, particularly Asians, Catholics, and Jews. For the range of these maps, Search > "immigration.”
This poster supports the reelection of Senator James D. Phelan, a political and civic figure who was an important force in the anti-immigrant, Japanese exclusion movement. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1914, and his reelection campaign in 1920 was focused on preventing what this poster called the "Silent Invasion." It shows a claw-like Japanese hand (with the Imperial chrysanthemum emblem) grasping for California - and stopped by the hand of Uncle Sam from the East (presumably Washington). Phelan lost his reelection campaign, but continued to be active in the exclusion movement and played a role in the adoption of the federal Immigration Act of 1924, which prohibited Japanese immigration.
