Immigration in America Immigration has been a central

Immigration in America

Immigration has been a central theme in American history. However when the immigrant population doubled in 1870 -1900 some feared that the newcomers would destroy American culture. This is their story

New Immigrants • Immigrants had always come to America for economic opportunity and religious freedom. Most had a skill or trade and were educated so they blended well into American society • Beginning in 1870 there was a wave of immigration, these immigrants were referred to as “new immigrants”

• • Description of a “new” immigrant: Unskilled poor Catholic or Jewish Likely to settle in cities

Push-Pull Factors • Push- reasons why the were being “pushed” out of their country – – Economic problems Wars and political revolutions Religious persecution Famines • Pull- things drawing them to America – – – Hope for opportunity Plentiful land Employment Family or friends Religious and political freedom

The Immigrant Experience Answer the following questions 1. Describe the Immigrant Experience coming to America 2. Do you think the screening process at Ellis Island was thorough? Why/Why not? 3. Describe the Immigrant Experience once in America http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=x 0 no. WDA R 2 B 0&feature=related

The Long Journey • Immigrants packed only what they could carry • Most immigrants traveled in steerage- the worst accommodations on the ship – No private cabins, crowded and dirty – Illness spread quickly • Most European immigrants arrived in New York Harbor and were processed at Ellis Island Chinese and other Asian immigrants arrived in San Francisco and were processed at Angel Island

Ellis vs. Angel • Steerage passengers were sent to Ellis Island where immigration officers conducted legal and medical inspections- only 2% were sent away • Designed to filter out Chinese Immigrants were held for weeks or even months in poor conditions

Opportunities and Challenges • Passing inspections was just the first test now immigrants had to: – Find a place to live – Find a place to work – Learn a new language • To help assimilate most immigrants lived in cities close to industrial jobs and lived in ethnic neighborhoods called ghettoes

Immigrants take over cities By 1890 many cities had huge immigrant populations. San Francisco and Chicago over 40% of population were immigrants. 4 out of 5 people in New York City were foreign born or their parents were foreign born. In many cities volunteer institutions known as settlement houses ran AMERICANIZATION programs helping newcomers learn English and adopt American dress and diet

. T O NG P TI L E ican es M r e a m g iti that A comin ional t be ea a d s n i a t e n w ica o th ll differe t r e s r m e A ref fa o m d r n e t ble a This s a re. yw t u t e l i u c so le c g n i s into a BUT NOT EVERYONE WAS OPEN TO THIS IDEA NATIVISM- Was a belief that native-born white Americans were superior to newcomers This prejudice was brought on by different beliefs, job competition, and different cultures clashing and it led to hostility towards immigrants.

Chinese Exclusion Act • In 1882 congress passed the Chinese exclusion act to prohibit immigration by Chinese laborers. • It also limited the civil rights of Chinese immigrants already in the United States – Forbid them from becoming citizens

How Did Immigrants Survive? • They moved to the same neighborhood with family and other people of the same nationality and became each other's support system!

Immigrants Change America • Despite opposition, immigrants transformed American society. They fueled industrial growth, acquired citizenship, elected politicians, and made their traditions part of American culture “We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams. ” Jimmy Carter