Notes and Journal Entry on Immigration Between

Slide A Turn of the Century Immigration to the United States Percent of Immigrants by Region of Origin % Eastern and Southern Europe 24% Rest of World 49% Northwestern Europe 73% Eastern Europe and Southern Europe 16% Northwestern Europe 11% Rest Of World

Slide B

Reasons for Immigrating to America Escape religious and economic persecution Money/Jobs Free Land – Homestead Act Personal Freedoms “Land of opportunity” – streets are paved with gold

Slide C

Immigration from Europe The Journey Across the Atlantic Steamship Accommodations – ships held 1200 to 2000 people, journey took 8 – 14 days Steerage – under the ships deck in the back and front of the boat, limited toilet facilities, privacy and poor food

Slide D

Arrival in America Most immigrants will enter through Ellis Island or “Island of Tears” in New York Harbor – processing center for immigrants Statue of Liberty – first thing most immigrants will see America had an open door policy to immigrants until 1921

Slide E

Medical Inspections Weed out the sick and mentally ill Traumatic experience for most immigrants Inspected by doctors for contagious diseases, abnormalities

Slide F

Legal Inspections Waited for hours to be asked questions Only 2% were denied entrance One immigrant said, “Why should I fear the fires of hell? I have been through Ellis Island.”

Slide G

Ethnic Ghettos Immigrants moved to close knit ethnic communities or ghettos Two thirds of the immigrants settled in urban centers Ghettos provided immigrants with newspapers in their native language, grocery stores with familiar foods, churches and clothing from homeland Immigrants were treated with no respect – so create own communities

Slide H

Living Conditions Tenement Buildings – run down, low rent apartment buildings Little ventilation, light, or conveniences Fires, disease and death were common Poverty and slum conditions

Slide I

Working Conditions Immigrants – cheap and plentiful source of labor Most were unskilled or semi unskilled, so sought factory jobs Low wages, long hours, unsafe conditions Children were paid half of what adults made

Slide J

Nativism Favoring native-born Americans over Immigrants Fear of immigrants taking American jobs Racist against different groups, ex. Chinese Want immigration to stop or carefully monitored – dangerous people are entering country