A Nation of Immigrants Immigration 1870 1910 20

A Nation of Immigrants

Immigration 1870 -1910: 20 million immigrants entered the US l Added to the labor pool l Added to the demand for housing l Added to the demand for goods l

Eastern & Southern Europeans About 14 million immigrants from Italy, Greece, Poland, Russia, Slavic states l Many were Catholic, Orthodox, or Jewish l Came because of job and land availability, to escape religious persecution, to escape a fixed class system, and/or to live in a democracy l

Ellis Island l l l New York Harbor Used from 1892 to 1954 to process immigrants Immigrants were medically inspected Unhealthy quarantined or sent back to Europe (only about 2% were denied entry) Now part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument

Statue of Liberty (1886)

The Know-Nothings l l l The American Party (1849 -1860) Nativists Anti-Catholic Opposed immigration Played on prejudices and fears that immigrants would take jobs

American Protective Association l l l Founded in 1887 by Henry Bowers Opposed Catholicism because Catholics obeyed the Pope above all other powers, including the government Wanted to limit Catholic immigration, ban Catholics from teaching, holding public office Also wanted to make understanding English a requisite for citizenship Had faded out by 1900

Immigration Act of 1882 $. 50 tax on each immigrant entering US to help pay costs of regulating immigration l Denied entry to “convicts, lunatics, idiots, and persons likely to become public charges” l

Asian Immigrants Chinese: looking to escape famine, unemployment, and violent rebellions l Often excluded from regular American society, so developed their own in “Chinatowns” l Some limited Japanese immigration l

Angel Island l l In use 1910 – 1940 Processed over 1 million immigrants Located in San Francisco Bay 75% of immigrants were detained for at least 2 weeks, some for up to 2 years

Workingman’s Party of California l l 1870 s - 1900 Founded by Irish immigrant Denis Kearney Opposed Chinese immigration and use of Chinese labor to build railroads “The Chinese Must Go!”

Chinese Exclusion Acts l l l l Passed in 1882 Banned Chinese immigration for 10 years Chinese already here could not become citizens Renewed in 1892 Made permanent in 1902 Finally repealed in 1942 Led to a decline in Chinese population in US

Ethnic neighborhoods “Cultural pluralism” l Immigrants preferred to stick together, form neighborhoods where it was safe to speak native language, continue ethnic customs, practice their religion l These neighborhoods led to general distrust of immigrants by the native US population l

“Melting Pot” or “Tossed Salad”? Melting pot = assimilation of multiple cultures into a new, blended “American” culture l Tossed salad = many different cultures thrown together, but little blending – each culture stands out l