Economy: In many places around the world, migration was frowned upon by receiving societies because it created job competition. In many situations foreigners would settle for less pay than local people, and as a result locals were forced out of work. This was seen throughout Europe in the early 1800's as peasants and local farmers complained about the prices of food dropping due to the large amount of crops slaves could produce on plantations. Local farmers were driven out of work and forced to migrate. This negative view often persisted in lower, commoner classes because these people's jobs were most likely to be replaced by emigrants. Despite the negative views displayed by many commoners, wealthy factory and plantation owners loved migration of foreign people because it allowed them to justify their lower wages by claiming food prices were much less expensive. They also hired foreigners more cheaply than locals allowing them to turn a much larger profit.
Culture: When it came to culture, the majority of societies in this time period disliked emigrants. Receiving societies disliked the new ideas and traditions foreigners brought to their country. These new ideas often led to change and sometimes in the most extreme scenarios, revolts. Such was seen in Japan and China in the 1800's. The United States forced Japan to trade with them, and as a result Japan's hundreds of years of seclusion flew out the door. New ideas from the west flowed into Japan. Some people liked it, but the majority of Japanese elites and nobles attempted to throw out western culture.
Sources:
Smith, Bonnie G., Marc van de Vieroop, Richard van Glahn, and Kris Lane.
Crossroads and Cultures: A History of the World's Peoples. United Sates of America: Bedford/
St. Martin's, 2012. Online.
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