Immigration to America at the turn of the 20th Century

Migration = MOVING AROUND Immigrant = IN A person coming into a new country from somewhere else. Emigrant = EXIT A person leaving their country to go elsewhere. Migration = MOVING AROUND A migrant is a person who moves from place to place, such as from a rural area to an urban area.

Push and Pull Factors: Why did people come to America? Many came to escape famine in their own country. Push! Many left their country to escape the pogroms. A pogrom is an organized massacre of Jews, and they were common, especially in Eastern Europe and Russia. Many came looking for better jobs or a chance to own land. Pull! Many came for a better chance at education and a better future. American factories offered jobs, even for those who were unskilled.

The Immigrant’s Story

Who They Were Old Immigrants New Immigrants Before the late 1800s Mostly from Western Europe (England, Germany, etc.) Mostly literate, Protestants, familiar with representative government 1880s- 1920s Mostly from Southern & Eastern Europe (Italy, Greece, Poland, Russia) and Asia Mostly illiterate, non-Protestants, unfamiliar with representative government

Immigration PowerPoint Slides Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Immigration PowerPoint Slides How They Got Here Ellis Island in New York was a common port of entry for many European immigrants at the turn of the century. Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Immigration PowerPoint Slides How They Got Here Angel Island in San Francisco was a common port of entry for many Asian immigrants at the turn of the century. Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Immigration PowerPoint Slides How They Got Here Galveston was a major port of immigration for many Germans, Czechs, and Jews. Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Where They Lived Most immigrants settled in the cities, because that’s where the jobs were. The poorer areas of town were usually near the factories, and they were often dirty and disease-filled. Rapid growth of American cities  growth of tenements and ghettos. Tenements were run-down, often overcrowded apartment buildings. Multiple families would share one dwelling. Many immigrants lived in tenements because there was a lack of affordable housing in crowded cities.

Where They Lived Many immigrants wanted support from others from their own homeland, so they settled in ethnically divided neighborhoods known as ethnic enclaves. This way, they could be around people who spoke the same language and had the same culture.

Immigration PowerPoint Slides Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Immigration PowerPoint Slides                                                                                                                          Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Immigration PowerPoint Slides                                                                                                                          Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Immigration PowerPoint Slides Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Where They Worked: Factories Jobs in factories, sometimes known as sweatshops. Conditions there usually involved long hours in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. For many immigrant families, even the children had to work in order to make ends meet.

Where They Worked: Factories Immigrants often accepted lower pay than American-born workers just so that they could have a job. Because of this, many unions did not like immigrants. Immigrants (and women) were often not allowed to join unions.

Immigration PowerPoint Slides                                                                                                                          Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Immigration PowerPoint Slides                                                                                                                          Wednesday, September 7, 2005

The American Response

Nativism Those who favor natives of a country over immigrants anti-immigrant attitudes wanted to limit immigration. An example of nativism is the Know-Nothing movement of the 1840s-50s. This was a political movement that was trying to limit German and Irish Catholic immigration to the US. Sometimes violence broke out, but when questioned about their involvement, members of this movement would say that they “know nothing,” hence the name.

Immigration PowerPoint Slides Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Chinese Exclusion Act Passed in 1882 Suspended Chinese immigration for 10 years Restricted the rights of Chinese already in the country This law was passed because of the influence of Nativists.

Immigration PowerPoint Slides The Melting Pot Americans liked to describe the results of their educational system as a melting pot because they wanted people to give up much of their old culture for a new American one. What is the term for this giving up of one’s ways to become like the dominant society? Assimilation! Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Political Machines and Immigrants Political machines were corrupt, locally elected officials, led by the Party Boss. Political Machines usually targeted their “services” at the urban poor and immigrants who lived in the cities. They would: Deliver votes at election time Act as informal welfare agents Give jobs, contracts, and other political favors (Patronage) Assist in the social, political and economic assimilation of immigrants

Votes Political Machines Urban Poor & Immigrants Social Services

Tammany Hall & Boss Tweed The political machine that ran New York was called Tammany Hall. The leader of Tammany Hall was Boss Tweed. The "Brains“ The Boss. "Well, what are you going to do about it?“ by Thomas Nast Wood engraving published in Harper's Weekly October 21, 1871

Tammany Hall & Boss Tweed Accepted bribes from contractors for city works projects. Allowed “friends” to over-charge the city for work, and split the money. Stole millions of taxpayer money through graft. "Two Great Questions," Harper's Weekly, September 19, 1871 by Thomas Nast Who is taking responsibility for corruption in this cartoon?

Tweed and Immigrants Acted as “savior” to immigrants to secure their votes. Provided them with affordable housing, food, clothes, and jobs. "That's What's The Matter," Harper's Weekly, 1871 by Thomas Nast

The Fall of the Tweed Ring Cartoonist Thomas Nast took on Tweed and his corrupt network through a series of political cartoons in Harper’s Weekly. Tweed was not worried at first, thinking he was above the law. Eventually, however, he was convicted of fraud and died in jail. 'Tammany Waiting For The Storm to "Blow Over'," Harper's Weekly, September 23, 1871 by Thomas Nast

-Boss Tweed on Thomas Nast “I don't care so much what the papers write about me -- my constituents can't read, but … they can see pictures." -Boss Tweed on Thomas Nast Above: “The Tammany Tiger Loose.” Nast used the ferocious animal to represent the Tweed Ring Left: “The Rich Growing Richer, the Poor Growing Poorer” Nast was one of the first cartoonists to use caricature in his artwork

Social Gospel A Protestant Christian movement to fight social injustice, poverty, and inequality. Many middle-class, educated, white women were dedicated to the Social Gospel cause. They believed it was their Christian duty to serve the poor. They used their money and time to go into the poorer areas of town and help.

Settlement Houses Places set up in urban areas to serve as community centers. Designed to help the immigrants and urban poor. Run mostly by women who believed in the Social Gospel ideals. Those who lived at the settlement houses were the workers (volunteers).

Hull House A settlement house in Chicago started by Jane Addams. Designed to help the recently arrived immigrants who lived in the surrounding neighborhood. There were classes and entertainment for children and adults.

(Nothing!) Urban Poor & Immigrants Settlement House Movement Social Services