Immigration in the th 19 Century Early Immigration

Immigration in the th 19 Century

Early Immigration �Prior to 1871, most immigrants to America came from northern and western Europe (Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden) Sweden �From 1871 to 1921, most immigrants came from southern and eastern Europe (Italy, Greece, Poland, and Russia) Russia as well as from Asia (China and Japan) Japan �These immigrants came to America seeking better lives and futures for their families

Immigrant Workers �In the West, Chinese workers helped build the Transcontinental Railroad �All sorts of immigrants worked in the textile and steel mills �Slavs, Italians, and Poles worked in the coal mines in the East �Immigrants often worked for low pay and in dangerous working conditions, conditions but were vital to building the nation’s industrial strength

How Immigrants Entered the U. S. �Immigrants from Europe entered the United States through Ellis Island at New York harbor �Their first view of America was often the Statue of Liberty, which represented a symbol of hope and a new life “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

The Melting Pot �Immigrants brought forth a new type of culture known as the “melting pot” – bringing together different cultures and ideas to form a new society �Immigrants worked hard to learn English and assimilate into American culture, while also bringing in new ideas