Immigrants and Urbanization Chapter 7 The New Immigrants

Immigrants and Urbanization Chapter 7 The New Immigrants 7. 1 Notes

Why Come to America? • Promise of better life • Escape difficult conditions • Famine, land shortages, religious/political persecution • “birds of passage” – temporary immigrants looking to earn money • US = Land of opportunity • Jobs “supposedly” plentiful

Europeans • 1870 -1920 – 20 million • Southern and Eastern Europe • Italy, Austria-Hungary, Russia • Religious persecution – Jews driven out of Russia • Rising population – Little farm land left, competition for industrial jobs • People escaping political reform – looking for independence

Chinese and Japanese • 1851 -1883 – 300, 000 Chinese • Looking to discover gold – CA gold rush • Build railroads • Then mined, farmed, domestic service • Hawaiian planters recruited Japanese workers • Migrated to US after rumor of higher wages

West Indies and Mexico • 1880 -1920 – 260, 000 from West Indies – East and Southeast • Jobs were scarce – looking for work • Mexicans fleeing political turmoil • 1902 national Reclamation Act – Encouraged irrigation of arid land – New farmland in Western states = more jobs – Drew Mexican farm workers North • 7% of Mexico’s population by 1930

What Was It Like to Immigrate? Difficult Journey – Traveled by steamship – Atlantic – 1 week / Pacific – 3 weeks – Steerage – cheapest accommodations in cargo holds – Could not go on deck – no fresh air – Slept in beds infected by lice / shared bathrooms – Disease spread quickly – Some died along the way

Ellis Island – East Coast • Had to pass inspection – 5 hour • • • process New York Harbor 20% detained for a day or more prior 2% denied entry Physical exam by doctor – Contagious diseases (TB) or serious health problems – sent home immediately Gov’t inspector – checked documents 17 million passed through

Requirements • Proper paperwork • Never convicted of a felony • Ability to work • Show some money – at least $25

Angel Island – West Coast • Primarily • • Asians 1910 -1940 – 50, 000 Chinese Harsh questioning Longer detaining period Buildings broken down and filthy