Immigration

Introduction Foreign-born pop. nearly doubled between 1870-1900 Came for economic opportunities and freedoms Many feared they would destroy American culture, instead, Americans adapted parts of immigrant culture Immigrants impacted the economic and political landscape

Who and Where From? Up to 1870s-Protestants from N. & W. Europe 1840s and 1850s-German & Irish Catholics 1870s-S. & E. Europe (new immigrants) New immigrants-in contrast to “old”, were often unskilled, poor, Catholic or Jewish and more likely to live in cities

Why leave home? Push factors-those that compel people to leave their homes ex. Wars, political revolutions, religious persecution Pull factors-those that draw people to a new place ex. Economic opportunity, employment, land, religious and political freedom Tough decision to leave home and family, hard and costly journey with an uncertain end, difficulties of learning a new language and adjusting to a foreign culture

First Stop Ships had to port at processing stations where immigrant officials decided who could stay 1st and 2nd class passengers could enter immediately w/o a processing station Most arrived in New York Harbor and were processed at Ellis Island: 3rd class passengers (steerage) were sent there, where legal, intelligence and medical inspections were conducted Approx. 3-5 hr process if all in order Only about 2% were denied entry 1892-1954: over 12 million immigrants entered through Ellis Island First to enter: Annie More (15 yr old Irish girl)-Any more? Other ports: Boston, Philly, Baltimore, Savannah, Miami, New Orleans, San Fran (Asian)-Angel Island

Opportunities Americanization programs-volunteer institutions known as settlement houses that ran programs, helping newcomers learn English, adopt American dress and diet, job training, etc. Settle in cities, near factories/work Ethnic communities-maintain customs

Competition for jobs=resentment Challenges Nativism-belief that native-born white Americans were superior to these newcomers (discrimination) Competition for jobs=resentment Religious and cultural differences=suspicions Prejudices tried to link physical characteristics to criminal tendencies or lower intellect (Chinese) Extreme hostility toward Chinese laborers led to Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)-prohibited immigration by Chinese laborers, limited civil rights of those already in the U.S., and forbade naturalization of Chinese residents already in the U.S.

Changing the Face of America Fuel industrial growth “When I arrived as an immigrant, I thought the streets were paved with gold, but they weren’t, they weren’t paved at all, I was expected to pave them.” Participate in politics Traditions become a part of American culture Dev. effective ranching techniques for SW Build the railroads (Chinese and European labor- Transcontinental RR) Become active in labor unions