Warm up 2/10 Go ahead and start working on the “Where did it come from?” quiz on your desk.

The Immigrant Experience American Immigration 1865-1920

Coming to America In the 5+ decades following the Civil War, (1865-1920), a flood of immigrants came to America. U.S. population in 1860- 31.5 million From 1865-1920, approx. 30 million additional people entered the country

1st Wave 2nd Wave 3rd Wave 4th Wave Waves of Immigration The United States experienced 4 major waves of immigration 1st Wave Began in 1600’s with first colonists. Majority of immigrants from England 2nd Wave 1820’s-1870’s Irish, German and Chinese Approx. 40% of 2nd wave were Irish. 3rd Wave 1881-1920 Approx. 23 million immigrants Mostly from Eastern and Southern Europe 4th Wave Begins in 1965 Built upon new Immigration law reform

2nd Wave “Old Immigration” Time Period—1820-1880 Nationalities– Northern & Western Europe, British Isles (Great Britain and Ireland), Germany, & Scandinavia Characteristics—mainly Protestant, English speaking, high literacy level, and high level of occupational skills

3rd wave “New Immigration” Time Period—1881-1920 Nationalities—Southern & Eastern Europe. Italians, Greeks, Croat, Slovaks, Poles, and Russian Characteristic—poor, illiterate peasants, not accustomed to democracy, largely Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, and Jewish

Push Factors: Conditions that help push a person out of a location Why Did They Come? Push Factors: Conditions that help push a person out of a location Wars Famine Religious Persecution Overpopulation Pull Factors: Conditions that help draw a person to a location Jobs Freedom

Push/Pull Factors for 2nd Wave Potato Famine in Ireland from 1845-1852 Population of Ireland decreased by 20-25% German people escaping political persecution- German revolution1848 1840-1880: Largest group of Immigrants to the U.S. California Gold Rush (1848) and Transcontinental Railroad (1862) Lured thousands of Chinese in search of fortune/work

Push/Pull Factors for 3rd Wave Religious Persecution Jewish persecution in Eastern Europe/Russia Easier transoceanic transportation Steamships: cut travel across the Atlantic down from 3 months to 2 weeks. Overcrowding/Scarcity of farmland in Europe.

activity Read The Rush of Immigrants and answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper: What are some characteristics of the groups that immigrated to the U.S. before 1880? How were New Immigrants different from Old Immigrants? Why did immigrants come to the U.S.? Why did some Americans not want immigrants to come to the U.S.? What was typical of the children of immigrants? Honors: America claims that it is the “melting pot”. Do you agree? How has Americans acted in support and in defiance of this characterization?

Warm up 2/13 Use your textbook to work on the handout on your desk. This will contain a majority of the notes needed for today’s slides, as well as some review information from Friday.

Most immigrants to America were poor How Did They Get Here? Most immigrants to America were poor Passage often cost a life’s savings Families would save enough money to send one or two family members to America Hoped those family members could earn enough to bring over the rest of the family

The steerage deck was usually overcrowded How Did They Get Here? The steerage deck was usually overcrowded Below deck was crowded, dark, and damp Lack of air Low food rations Contagious disease

By 1910, six million immigrants had come through Ellis Island In 1892, Congress designated a 3 acre island in New York Bay as an immigration station to “screen” immigrants as they arrived. By 1910, six million immigrants had come through Ellis Island

Ellis Island Medical Exam Survey- Name, Occupation, Financial Standing Extensive process to become citizens: Medical Exam Survey- Name, Occupation, Financial Standing Average money on hand: $18-$25

Processed at “Angel Island” Asian Immigrants U.S. signed Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882; barred all Chinese laborers from entering the U.S. Act only allowed entrance to merchants, clergy, diplomats, teachers, and students. Processed at “Angel Island” Located in California Very slow process

Ethnic Cities Majority of immigrants settled in cities where factory jobs were available Many immigrants lived in areas with people of similar ethnic backgrounds Example: Little Italy, New York City

The Rise of Large Cities Growth of Industrial Cities Urbanization: city building and the movement of people to cities - Populations in cities doubled or tripled in size

The Rise of Large Cities Living Conditions No plans No building codes No sanitary codes

Living Conditions Lacked adequate amount of housing. Little opportunity for education Very little police protection Most of the unpaved streets had no drains, collected heaps of garbage

Nativism Increased waves of immigration led to increased feelings of nativism An extreme dislike for immigrants by native-born people and a desire to limit immigration Anti-immigration Societies American Protective Association: Despised Catholics and foreigners Workingman’s Party of California: Goal was to fight Chinese immigration

Impact of Anti-Immigrant Movement Gentlemen’s Agreement of 1907 Informal agreement between the U.S. and Japan in which U.S. would not impose restrictions on Japanese immigration, and Japan would not allow further emigration to the U.S. 1882- Chinese Exclusion Act- barred Chinese laborers - Chinese already in country denied citizenship

Activity: Short answer Read the Workingmen of San Francisco and Autobiography of a Chinese Immigrant Documents. Please use them to answer the following in 2-3 sentences (each): 1. (Before reading) What is your hypothesis (initial guess) on why the Chinese Exclusion Act was introduced? 2. Why do the Workingmen feel the need for the Chinese Exclusion Act? 3. What is stated as a real reason for the introduction of anti-Chinese prejudice? 4. How are the Chinese productive members of society?