Immigration
Immigration – Push and Pull 1800 population of America was 2 million. 1920 population of America was over 100 million Why did this increase? (movement of people into a country) Immigration
Immigration – Push and Pull There are 2 main factors which explain why people immigrated to America 1. reasons 2. reasons
Immigration – Push and Pull Reasons Anything that makes people want to escape their difficulties e.g. Famine Unemployment Starvation Persecution
Irish Potato Famine
Highland Clearances
Unemployment
Housing
Immigration – Push and Pull Reasons Anything that attracts people and makes them want to move e.g. Work Food Better housing Political freedom Money
Journey to America 1800s took 6 – 14 weeks to cross Atlantic Food consisted of bread, biscuits and potatoes Disease such as typhus and cholera were common
Journey to America By 1890s steam-powered ships cut crossing time to 2 weeks Steamships could hold up to 2000 passengers Still a lack ventilation "the atmosphere was so thick and dense with smoke and bodily odours that your head itched, and when you went to scratch your head . . . you got lice in your hands."
Arrival in US - The Statue of Liberty The base of the Statue reads The Statue of Liberty was the first thing immigrants saw as they entered New York Harbour ‘Give me your tired, 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’ What this means… ‘Give me your tired and poor people, the crowds of poor people who want a better life, the poor who live in your overcrowded cities. Send the homeless who have suffered from storms and war to me. I promise them a bright new future of freedom and wealth’.
Arrival in US – Ellis Island From 1892 immigrants were taken to Ellis Island in New York before being allowed entry to USA Immigrants were given a number and then ‘processed’
Arrival in US – Ellis Island Checked by a doctor for over 60 illnesses Series of questions asked After 1921 had to pass literacy test If they passed they were given a landing card Allowed them to enter the US