Immigration 1865 - 1915

KNOW YOUR Europe! Russia Germany England Poland Portugal France Italy Spain

Turn of the Century Immigration to the United States 1910 1880 27% Eastern and Southern Europe 73% Eastern Europe and Southern Europe 49% Northwestern Europe NW: England, France, Spain, Ireland, Portugal E & SE: Italy, Greece, Russia 24% Rest of World 16% Northwestern Europe 11% Rest Of World Percent of Immigrants by Region of Origin NW: England, France, Ireland /// S & E: Italy, Greece, Russia

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

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

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

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

Legal Inspections Prospective immigrants were lined up through a maze of metal fences in the Great Hall at Ellis Island As many as 11,000 people each day would be checked For the majority of people, the procedure took between 3 to 5 hours. Only 2% were denied entry and sent back across the ocean at the steamship line's expense

The questions they were asked... What is your name? How old are you? Are you male or female? Are you married or single? What is your occupation? Are you able to read and write? What country are you from? What is your race? What is the name and address of a relative from your native country? What is your final destination in America? Who paid for your passage? How much money do you have with you? Have you been to America before? Are you meeting a relative here in America?  Who? Have you been in a prison, almshouse, or institution for care of the insane?

Are you a polygamist?  Are you an anarchist? Are you coming to America for a job?  Where will you work? What is the condition of your health? Are you deformed or crippled? How tall are you? What color are your eyes/hair? Do you have any identifying marks? (scars, birthmarks, tattoos) Where were you born? (list country and city) Who was the first President of America? What are the colors of our flag? How many stripes are on our flag?  How many stars? What is the 4th of July? What is the Constitution? What are the three branches in our government? Which President freed the slaves? Can you name the 13 original Colonies? Who signs bills into law? Who is the current President of the United States? What is America’s national anthem called?

Ethnic Ghettos Immigrants moved to close knit ethnic communities or ghettos 2/3 of the immigrants settled in urban areas Ghettos provided immigrants with newspapers in their native language, grocery stores with familiar foods, churches and clothing from homeland Since immigrants were treated with no respect they created their own communities

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

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

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

Cartoon shows native-born citizens trying to stop the immigrant coming ashore. The shadows behind them represent their fathers/grandfathers/ancestors who were once immigrants as well…. (how quickly we can forget!!)

Immigrants on the Pacific Coast Angel Island Immigrants on the Pacific Coast

Arrival in American along the Pacific Coast Angel Island is created for immigration on the west coast Japanese entered through Hawaii Chinese helped build the transcontinental railroad Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 – prohibited Chinese laborers from entering the country, was not repealed until 1943 1913 - California prohibited all alien Asians from owning land

Entering America from the West Coast Angel Island State Park today - beyond the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco Bay

Physical Examinations After being assigned a barrack and bunk, new arrivals underwent a medical examination shortly after reaching the island. Unfamiliar with the language, customs, and Western medical procedures, the examination was often characterized by newcomers as humiliating and barbaric.

Interviews and Interrogations Interrogations were conducted by two immigration inspectors and a stenographer. A government interpreter translated the questions and responses, which were typed into an applicant's file during the sessions.