Immigration in the Gilded Age Mr Turner American

Immigration in the Gilded Age Mr. Turner American History II Unit 2: Industrial America

Old Immigrants vs New Immigrants ● Came from Northern and Western Europe (England, Ireland, and Germany. ● Were Protestant (though there were some Catholics) ● Literate and skilled ● Quickly assimilated ● Came from places with democracy ● Were not poor ● Came from Southern or Eastern Europe (Italy, Russia, Poland, and Greece). ● Were Catholic, Orthodox, and Jewish ● Illiterate and unskilled ● Were reluctant to assimilate ● Came from places with Socialism or Communism ● Were poor

Push and Pull Factors ● Push Factors - make people leave a certain country ○ ○ ○ Loss of farm jobs Wars and political revolutions in China and Eastern Europe Religious persecution ● Pull Factors - reason people come to a certain country ○ ○ ○ Economic opportunity American Ideals such as religious and political freedom Joining other family members

The Immigrant Experience ● The trip to America could be long and uncomfortable ● Immigrants arrived at processing stations where immigration officials decided if they could stay ● They were supposed to be healthy and have money, a skill or trade, or a sponsor in the US ● European Immigrants arrived at Ellis Island in New York Harbor ● Chinese and other Asian Immigrants crossed the Pacific Ocean and arrived in San Francisco Bay ● They were processed at Angel Island

Angel Island Ellis Island

Opportunities and Challenges in America ● Immigrants had to learn a new language and new customs ● City life was difficult ● Settlement houses ran Americanization programs ○ Taught immigrants English and American fashion and culture ● There was this idea that America was a melting pot - people all blended together to make a single culture

Nativism ● Nativism is the idea that native born white Americans were superior to immigrants ● Citizens were scared immigrants would take jobs, and housing from them ● Religious and cultural differences led to distrust and anger ● This also led to the passage of the Chinese Exclusion act of 1882 ○ ○ ○ Chinese laborers could not enter the US Limited the Civil Rights of Chinese Citizens Chinese immigrants could not be naturalized

Immigrants Change America ● Influenced elections ● Made up a large part of city populations and the work force ● Would become active in Unions and Politics