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American Immigration

Through the Golden Door Millions of immigrants entered the U.S. – Hope of better life – Escape from Famine Land shortages Religious persecution Political persecution Persecution = cruel and unfair treatment

New Immigrants After 1880 Southern and Eastern Europe – Czechoslovakia – Greece – Hungary, – Italy, – Poland, – Russia, – Slovakia Diverse cultures and religious backgrounds City jobs Where did they came from?

Mexico Miners in Utah and Nevada Railroads Farm workers in Southwest U.S. Asia – China Gold miners in California Farm workers in California Build transcontinental Railroad – Japan Sugar cane fields in Hawaii Farm workers in California Build railroads Meat packing plants – Philippines Sugar cane plantations in Hawaii Farm workers in California

Shifting Patterns of Immigration Where Immigrants Came From Where Immigrants Came From Northern and Western Europe Eastern and Southern Europe Mexico Asia All Other Areas

Journey to America Most traveled in the steerage or below the ships deck for a week or more. New arrivals went through processing centers Each immigrant was interviewed to determine whether they could enter the country. Some were detained for weeks or months while officials investigated their families. Some were denied access and had to return home.

East Coast Ellis Island in New York Harbor Opened in 1892 Less than 2% of arrivals were denied entrance into the country. West Coast Angel Island near San Francisco Opened in 1910 Entrance for many Chinese, Japanese, and Pilipino immigrants By law, only Chinese whose fathers were U.S. citizens were allowed into the country. South El Paso, Texas main processing center for immigrants from Mexico. Processing Centers

Discrimination Against Immigrants Anti-immigrant feelings grew with increases in immigration. – Some unions feared immigrants would take away jobs Americans called nativists held racial and ethnic prejudices. – Feared immigrants would not assimilate into American society. – Violence toward immigrants grew – Wanted laws limiting immigrants Congress Passed the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 – Banned Chinese immigration for 10 years “Gentlemen’s Agreement” in 1908 – Agreement between U.S. and Japan – Only children, wives, and parents of Japanese people already living in the U.S. were allowed to enter.

Changing Cities A result of immigration is urbanization Most immigrants moved to cities – Lots of unskilled jobs in factories. By 1900 – About 40% of Americans lived in urban areas. – Metropolitan cities such as New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Boston, and Baltimore all had populations over half a million. – 35+ cities had populations of more than 100,000. – As cities continued to grow they connected and formed a megalopolis – As cities grew, people moved out of the city and into to the suburbs this created urban sprawl.

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