Immigration: Push and Pull Factors

New Immigrants New Immigrants= Southern and Eastern Europeans during 1870s until WWI. Came from Ireland, Germany, Italy, Greece, Poland, Hungary and Russia. Often unskilled, poor, Catholic or Jewish, and planning to save some money to take back home. Old Immigrants- Northern and Western Europeans in early 1800s until 1870s After 1900, New Immigrants made up 70% of all immigrants. American natives felt threatened by the new immigrants

Immigrants from Europe Old New New New

Old v. New Protestant Catholic and Jewish RELIGION BIRTHPLACE REASONS DESTINATION OCCUPATION Protestant Catholic and Jewish North/Western Southern/Eastern Europe Both escaping poverty, religious and political persecution Moved to farms (Midwest) Moved to cities (Northeast) Became farmers Unskilled workers

Push Factors Drought or famine Political revolutions or wars Push Factors= Things that force/“push” people out of a place or land. Drought or famine Political revolutions or wars Religious persecution Economic struggles

Push Factors 1880s- Farmers had a difficult time in Mexico, Poland, and China. 1840s- many wars and political revolutions in China and Eastern Europe which caused economic troubles. Russian and Eastern European Jews faced religious persecution and fled to the U.S. for safety.

Pull Factors Plentiful Land Employment Religious Freedom Pull Factors= Things that attract people to a place or land. Plentiful Land Employment Religious Freedom Political Freedom New Life

Pull Factors 1862 Homestead Act and aid from railroad companies made western farmland inexpensive. Workers were recruited from homelands to build railroads, dig mines, or work in factories. Many wanted to find gold. Chain immigrants= come to be with family or friends who had gone before to start new lives.

Journey to America Many immigrants could barely afford a ticket to come to the U.S. They could only pack what they could carry. (Clothes, photograph, tools for their trade) Many would wait in line for hours to try to get on a ship and in many cases it was very dangerous to do this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPDEUztSr6c

Journey to America Steerage= Where most immigrants traveled on the ship. Steerage was located on the lowest decks of the ship with no private cabins, and was dirty and crowded. Seasickness was an issue in rough weather and illnesses spread quickly in the lower decks.

“Steerage” travel for refugees today