IMMIGRATION

Leaving troubles behind PUSH FACTORS Economic troubles due to overcrowding and poverty •Farmers needed more land to grow crops •New machines such as looms put craft workers out of business •Escape discrimination or unfair laws

Seeking Opportunity Pull Factors Immigrants saw the United States as a land of jobs, plentiful and affordable land, and opportunities for a better life

Decade/Continents Percentage of Immigrants COMING TO aMERICA 1901-10 South America 0.2 North America 3.9 Europe 91.6 Asia 3.7 Africa 0.1 1911-20 South America 0.7 North America 19.2 Europe 75.3 Asia 4.3 Africa 0.1 1981-90 South America 6.3 North America 43 Europe 10.4 Asia 37.3 Africa 2.4 1991-98 South America 5.8 North America 43.8 Europe 14.9 Asia 30.9 Africa 3.7

The Journey to America Immigrants often had a difficult journey to America •Some people traveled hundreds of miles on foot or on horseback and through foreign countries to get to the port cities, to board a ship •Traveled over 12 days across the Atlantic Ocean and for several weeks across the Pacific Ocean •Many traveled in Steerage

The Statue of Liberty seemed to promise hope for a better life After 1886 the magnificent sight of the statue of liberty greeted the immigrants as they sailed into America

Entering America Before entering the "Golden Door" to America, they had to register at government reception centers In the East immigrants were processed at Ellis Island

On the West coast immigrants went through the processing AT Angel Island

AT The IMMIGRATION STATION Examiners at the centers recorded the emmigrant’s personal information •emmigrants’ names (Sometimes shortening or simplifying a name) •Where they came from •Occupation •Relatives in the United States

AT The IMMIGRATION STATION The examiners also gave health examinations. emigrants with contagious illnesses could be refused permission to enter the United States.

Finding Work Where Would they Go? How Would They Live? *Hard Labor *Sweat Shops *Big Industries Hired emigrant Workers

Adjusting to America •Immigrants tried to preserve their own cultures •Many immigrants wanted to assimilate •The English language caused conflict at home between family members •New life styles conflicted with traditional ways and sometimes caused family friction

Building Communities Immigrants recreated some of the life they left behind People of the same ethnic group naturally tended to form communities Communities revolved around traditional institutions Churches and Synagogues •Priest and Rabbis were community leaders •Immigrants published newspapers in their native language •Opened stores and theatres •Organized social clubs

Nativist Movement Tensions grew between Americans that had been born here and Immigrants Americans feared that they were taking all the jobs and driving down their wages The Nativist Movement opposed immigration since the 1830s

Nativist Called for restrictions The Chinese Exclusion Act prohibited Chinese workers from entering the U.S. for 10 years Immigration Act 0f 1877 required immigrants to be able to read and write