Immigration Ellis Island Copy words in RED 1880

Immigration Ellis Island Copy words in RED

1880 - 1930 *By the 1880's, steam power had shortened the journey to America dramatically. *Immigrants poured in from around the world: from the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Southern and Eastern Europe, and down from Canada.

Immigration • Pre-1880 s, most immigrants came from Europe (English, Scots, Irish, Germans, & Scandinavians) • The door was wide open for Europeans - In the 1880 s alone, 9% of the total population of Norway emigrated to America. • By late 1800 s, fewer northern Europeans came because they found jobs in factories and mills in Europe.

Steamships Cross the Ocean • In the 1860 s steamships had replaced sailing ships as the best way to travel across the Atlantic. • Steamships were made of iron and then steel • Steamships were strong, sturdy and safe • Steamships made it possible for men to come work for a few months, then return home.

Steamships cont. • Some people were put to work to pay their way on a steamship: “The young man took us to a big ship and got us work way down where the fires are. We had to carry coal to the place where it could be thrown on the fires. Francisco and I were very sick from the great heat at first and lay on the coal for a long time, but they threw water on us and made us get up. ” ~Rocco (young Italian immigrant)

Ellis Island: Gate to America • Beginning in 1886: the Statue of Liberty greeted immigrants • 1892: Ellis Island opened as the first stop for most immigrants crossing the Atlantic • Check-in Process: Medical checkup Asked Name, occupation, who paid your fare, can you read and write, how much money do you have, have you ever been in prison or in the poorhouse, where are you going, etc. Many received new names – “American” names • Most immigrants stayed – only 2% were sent home

Ellis Island • One immigrant recalled arriving at Ellis Island: "The boat anchored at mid-bay and then they tendered us on the ship to Ellis Island… We got off the boat…you got your bag in your hand went right into the building Ah, that day must have been about five to six thousand people. Jammed, I remember it was August. Hot as a pistol, and I'm wearing my long johns, and my heavy Irish tweed suit. "

Families • Families often immigrated together during this era, although young men frequently came first to find work. • Some of these then sent for their wives, children, and siblings; others returned to their families in Europe with their saved wages.

Asians • The experience for Asian immigrants in this period was quite different. In 1882 Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, Act severely restricting immigration from China. • Since earlier laws made it difficult for those Chinese immigrants who were already here to bring over their wives and families, most Chinese communities remained "bachelor societies. " societies

Asians • The 1907 "Gentlemen's Agreement" with Japan extended the government's hostility towards Asian workers and families. • For thousands, the Angel Island Immigration Station in San Francisco Bay would be as close as they would ever get to the American mainland. Angel Island

Where Immigrants Settled • Immigrants settled where they could find work • Work = mines, mills, factories • ½ of immigrants settled in four industrial states: Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois (cities: Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago) • If a relative helped pay for passage, immigrants usually lived with them • Led to ethnic neighborhoods with people sharing similar cultures & backgrounds

Jobs for Immigrants • If immigrants didn’t have family members or know anyone, they might be sent back home. • Sometimes they were rescued by a Padrone (labor boss) • Every nationality (group of people from the same nation) had its version of a padrone. • Padrones found jobs for immigrants and gave them shelter and food • Workers then gave the padrone a large part of their wages

Why they came to America • For Mexicans victimized by the Revolution, Europeans escaping religious persecution or famine, and Armenians escaping the massacres in Turkey, America provided refuge/safety. • Russian Jews were especially in danger. Jews had long been denied equal rights (limited jobs, no education, limited housing) • In 1881, Russian Czars encouraged pogroms – organized robberies and massacres of Jews.

Importance of Education • Another reason immigrants came was for children to receive an education • American school system was growing faster than some cities. • Schools taught citizenship, citizenship proper social behavior, and skills to earn a living • 1870: cities and states began passing laws requiring children to attend school until a certain age. • # of children attending school more than doubled

Importance of Education cont. • Teachers had difficulty educating children from different backgrounds and with different languages. • A system of grades organized students by age • Standards were set for each grade. • Marking system, courses, and textbooks used.

Immigrant Life • Many workers held jobs in unsafe sweatshops • Very dangerous! (ex: 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire) • 146 deaths • Caused NYC to establish rules to protect workers • Home conditions were bad too • Tenements: Tenements overcrowded and unhealthy apartment buildings • Slums: Slums any neighborhood in a city that had these unsafe conditions • Piecework: Pieceworking from home & getting paid by the # of objects made.

How many? • Between 1880 and 1930 over 27 million people entered the United States - about 20 million through Ellis Island. • But after outbreak of World War I in 1914, American attitudes toward immigration began to shift. • Nationalism and suspicion of foreigners were on the rise, and immigrants' loyalties were often called into question. • Through the early 20 s, a series of laws was passed to limit the flow of immigrants.

Ellis Island Pictures

Interesting Immigration Facts • More than 31 million persons enter the United States legally each year as visitors, students, and temporary workers. Over 500 million cross the Canadian & Mexican borders to conduct daily business and/or to visit close family members. • African immigrants have the highest high school completion rate: 95% • One immigrant arrives every 35 seconds • There are more than 20 million refugees in the world today; 80% of them are women & children