When does Assimilationism Work? Lessons from the Americanization Movement

• In Event: Language Politics in State- and Nation-building

Abstract

When do attempts at cultural assimilation succeed? I answer this question in the context of the Americanization movement. In the early 20th century, a set of state and local policies, as well as organized efforts of non-state actors, such as labor unions or women’s associations, were put in place to culturally assimilate the large numbers of immigrants arriving to the US. Americanization policies and practices varied widely, from state-level educational laws to adult English classes to facilitated access to citizenship. The success of these measures was not uniform and in some cases, hindered, instead of promoting the adoption of an American identity. Drawing from historical sources and rich individual-level census data, this study provides a detailed causal evaluation of the effectiveness of Americanization policies for nation-building and for the short and long-term social, political and cultural integration of immigrants.

Author

• Vasiliki Fouka, Stanford University