Memorial against Non English Immigration

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Institution
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Question: Memorial against Non-English Immigration (1727)
Rachel Moloshok described the historical perspectives of Pennsylvania. The author explained that numerous English colonists expressed their disquiets over the rising number of settlers in Pennsylvania from various European nations. The immigrants were going to the region and were acquiring land. For instance, “people from Holland arrived in the Pennsylvania Province and acquired lands at a lower cost near the Susquehanna River” (Foner 58). Subsequently, they “requested many of their friends and relatives in the area”. Moreover, the immigrants were alleged to possess arms and had extensive war experience (Foner 58). The writer also suggested that more immigrants would be arriving to Pennsylvania in huge numbers. Another issue was religion, because most of the immigrants were associated with Papist (Catholic Church), but English settlers were not (Foner 58). Similarly, there was fear that these people would not be interested in Naturalization or assimilation into bigger cultures that were already in existence. Furthermore, the early English settlers had another concern because they thought these people would back the French in Canada in case a conflict emerged. Meanwhile, the author noted that the English settlers were upset because the immigrants were not paying the required taxes that the colonies needed (Foner 58).
Therefore, the English settlers recommended that the English government must intervene to control the immigration trend that was taking place at the time.

They prepared a petition to the government in London because of the growing diversity of the population in Pennsylvania was quite disturbing. In this regard, they argued that the government in London must “stop the trends towards intensification of their strength. They reasoned that such actions against the non-English immigrants were important”. Therefore, the “Memorial against Non-English Immigration (1727)” was intended to inform the English government the happenings in Pennsylvania particularly on immigration of other Europeans population (Foner 59).

Work cited
Foner, Eric. “Voices of Freedom: a Documentary History (Vol. 1).” New York and London: WW Norton & Company (2011).