Final answer:
During Reconstruction, immigration was viewed through a lens of political tension, with anti-immigrant prejudices in the North and conspiracy theories in the South. The discussions around citizenship and equality influenced perceptions of immigrants, while racial violence and backlash in the South highlighted the era's tumultuous struggle with race relations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The context of Reconstruction had a significant impact on opinions about immigration during the Reconstruction era in the United States. With over 200,000 immigrants arriving each year in cities like New York City, anti-immigrant prejudices and scapegoating were prevalent, particularly in the East and Midwest.
The massive migrations were sometimes viewed conspiratorially, as Democrats argued that the migrations were part of a Republican plan to depopulate the South and shift political power to the North.
At the same time, the intense discussions about citizenship and equality during Reconstruction affected how Americans saw not only African Americans and their newly secured rights but also how they perceived immigrants and their place within the nation.
Within the South, distrust and resentment towards Federal authorities and their supposed partiality towards African Americans influenced public opinion. This culminated in racially motivated violence and backlash against any efforts to move towards a biracial democracy or equality for blacks.