Immigration

in the 1900s

“Old Immigration”When the 13

colonies were established, most

immigrants to America were

from England.

Before 1880, Most of the these people came from northern & western Europe. Majority were Protestants. They came to

escape religious & political persecution or economic opportunities

Ireland

England

France

“New Immigration”Between 1880-1924, most immigrants coming to the United States were from southern and eastern Europe

Italy

Poland

Greece

Russia

Mostly were Catholics & Jews. It also included people from Mexico; other nations in Latin American and Japan

Old vs New Immigrants

Spoke English Protestant Different

appearances and habits

They spoke little or no English

Catholic, Jewish, Orthodox Christian

Different appearances and habits

Extremely poor and uneducated

Onboard Ship

The Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor was the symbol of America to many immigrants looking for a new life

A Land of Hope

The millions of immigrants who sailed to America were greeted by the Statue of Liberty.

Immigrants coming into New York were stopped at Ellis Island

Ellis Island

Incoming immigrants were given a physical to check for

diseases and their criminal record was checked

With the huge numbers of immigrants, inspectors had just 2 minutes to complete the process and many immigrants had their last names changed by the inspectors because they didn’t have the time or patience to struggle with the foreign spellings

Stairs of Separation

As the immigrants walked up the staircase, U.S. Public Health Officials watched them for signs of a number of illnesses.

Inspection Line

Now began a series of tests that would determine their fate

Only 2 % were sent back 2% of 12 Million Would you like to have 2% of

$12 Million Dollars?

Medical Exam The Inspector

would take about 7 seconds to determine if the immigrant had any infectious diseases.

Medical Inspectors watched the people & marked them with chalk

The exam was frightening & embarrassing

Asked a Series of 29 Questions

The Same as Were Asked Before Leaving Europe

To See if Your Story Remained the Same

Immigrants that were detained for medical or other reasons stayed in these rooms, tightly packed with rows of bunk beds.

Making It Once All the Testing

Was Done, You Were Allowed to Leave the Island & Become an American

Or Become a “Bird of Passage” intended to immigrate temporarily to earn money; and then return to their homeland.

Ethnic Cities – Little Italy

Little Italy, New York City, circa 1901

By the late 1800s, immigrants made up a great portion of the country’s largest cities, including New York City, Chicago and Boston

Ethnic Cities - ChinatownImmigrants

lived in their own separate

neighborhoods – like Little

Italy or Chinatown –

and kept many of their former

traditions.

Chinatown, New York City

Asian ImmigrationDuring the late 1800s, the west coast (California) saw a boom in the amount of immigrants coming from Asia.

Most Chinese immigrants came to America because

over-crowding in China led to high unemployment, poverty

and famine.

Angel Island Asians immigrants arriving on the west

coast went through Angel Island in San Francisco.

The inspection process on Angel Island was more difficult than on Ellis Island.

Immigrants endured harsh questioning and a long detention in filthy ramshackle buildings

Adjusting to a New Land· Most immigrants settled in the cities of the NE & Midwest where they took unskilled jobs.

By 1900, lower Manhattan was the most crowded place in the world.

Gradually immigrants became “Americanized” assimilated into mainstream American society by learning its values and behaviors. Often it was the children of the immigrants who were first to become “Americanized”

The Rise of NativismThe flood of immigrants into

the U.S. worried many Americans who felt their way

of life could be changed.

Nativism is an extreme dislike for foreigners by native-born

people and a desire to limit immigration.

The Rise of Nativism

New immigrants were easy scapegoats for the fear of social change that many

experienced due to the rapid changes based on the

Industrial Revolution.

Workers blamed immigrants for low wages or shortages of employment. A resentment of foreigners crept into America’s attitudes.

· Chinese immigrants were frequently attacked, and occasionally killed, by racist mobs.

Anti-Asian Sentiment

· Many Americans feared they would lose their jobs to the Chinese. As a result; labor groups pressured politicians to restrict Asian immigration.

Asians were prohibited from buying land in California.

Seattle's anti-Chinese riot of February 8, 1886

Chinese Exclusion ActThe Chinese Exclusion Act

was the law passed by Congress that greatly reduced the amount of Asian immigrants coming to America in the late 1800s.

The law barred Chinese immigration for 10 years and

prevented the Chinese from becoming U.S. citizens.

The Gentlemen’s Agreement (1907)

Americans showed prejudice against Japanese immigrants as well.

In San Francisco; the local school board put all Chinese; Japanese; and Korean children in special Asian schools.

This led to anti-American riots in Japan.

Under the Gentlemen’s Agreement; Japan’s government agreed to limit immigration to the US in exchange for the repeal of the San Francisco segregation order.

Quota System (1924) This system established the

maximum number of people who could enter the United States from each foreign country.

The goal of the quota system was to cut sharply European immigration to the United States.

Favors “desirable” immigrants over others

The system achieved that goal!

Quota System

Intro to Immigrationhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRTHdC7k4uY

Coming To America - Neil Diamond