Immigration “The American Dream”

Immigration Articles

The Century: America’s Time - play until 22 minutes

What does this mean/represent to you?

Respond to the following poems Dreams by Langston Hughes Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow. From “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" Respond to the following poems

What are the foundations of the American Dream? Write down your personal definition of the American Dream in your notes. Share with a partner

Where did they come from Europe Initially from western Europe (Germany, England, Ireland) Later from southern and eastern Europe (Italy, Austria-Hungary, Russia) China and Japan Chinese worked the gold rush, then the railroads Japanese followed later

24 million (56%) came to the United States The U.S. had a policy called “open door”. No quotas, no restrictions, nothing to stop them from coming.

Why did they come? Push Factors: problems that cause people to move Pull Factors: attractions that draw people to another place.

Population growth – resulted in crowded cities, fewer jobs. Push Factors Population growth – resulted in crowded cities, fewer jobs.

Push Factors 2. Hunger- more people = less food, shortage due to famine: Irish Potato famine

Push Factors 3. Scarcity of Land – mechanization of agriculture = less land for peasants.

Push Factors 4. Religious Persecution – Russian and Polish Jews/ Armenian Catholics persecuted by Muslim Turks

Pull Factors Idea of life in a free, democratic society Opportunity to achieve dreams, acquire wealth Farmland, natural resources Jobs – booming industry offered jobs to unskilled workers America Letters – letters back home to family

Easier Access to America Switch from sail ships to steam ships made travel to America faster Sail ship = 3 months Steam ship = 2 weeks Steerage ticket rates were affordable Disease spread quickly

Immigration Candidates Handout Partner-up Read the directions Determine who is allowed to enter?

The new Immigrants

Ellis Island The center in New York where mostly Europeans (English, Irish, Italians) entered the U.S. All immigrants had to pass inspections. Physicals, documents, fit to work, literacy, at least $25

ELLIS ISLAND http://www.history.com/topics/ellis-island

Angel island The check station in the San Francisco Bay where most Chinese and Japanese immigrants entered the United States. Filthy conditions, harsh treatment

Assimilation The act of combining previous cultural practices with those found in the United States. “A melting pot”

nativism Favoritism towards native-born Americans Led to distrust of immigrants Roman Catholics and Jews

gentlemen’s agreement San Francisco withdrew segregation in return for Japan limiting the number immigrants they allowed out of the country.

Chinese exclusion act Forbid the immigration of any Chinese person except students, teachers, merchants, tourists, and government officials

ELLis Island Video assignment https://www. youtube. com/watch

Extension Assignment: “Immigration swells the workforce” Get your history textbook Read pages 274-279 Answer all questions on the handout