Question

The first Arab immigrants came to this country in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were predominantly ________, and they came to escape persecution and to make a better life. These early immigrants and their descendants, who were more likely to think of themselves as Syrian or Lebanese than Arab, represent almost half of the Arab American population today (Myers 2007).

Answer 1

Answer:

They were predominantly Syrian, Lebanese, and Jordanian Christians.

Explanation:

There were some restrictive policies concerning immigration from the 1920s to 1965. These restrictions influenced all the aspects related to immigration. However, Arab immigration has remained steady since 1965. Most of the immigrants from this period were Muslim and they were usually highly educated. They were looking for better opportunities.

Helen Samhan who belongs to the Arab American Institute, considers that the   Arab-Israeli conflicts that took place in the 1970s have significantly helped to the establishment of anti-Arab sentiment in terms of culture and politics in the United States.