Objectives Identify the reasons immigration to the United States increased in the late 1800s. Describe the difficulties immigrants faced adjusting to their new lives. Discuss how immigrants assimilated and contributed to American life. Describe efforts to limit immigration.

Terms and People steerage – large ship compartment that usually held cattle assimilation – process of becoming part of another culture anarchist – person who opposes all forms of government

How were the experiences of immigrants both positive and negative? As the nation changed during the late 1800s and early 1900s, so, too, did its population. Immigrants faced many challenges in their new home, but they also contributed greatly to the economy and culture of America.

Twenty-five million immigrants entered the United States between 1865 and 1915.

Some factors pushed immigrants from their homelands. Shrinking farmland Religious persecution Political revolution Immigrants

Other factors pulled immigrants toward the United States. New jobs Cheap land Democracy and liberty Immigrants

For many different reasons, immigrants from around the world poured into the country. Most came from Europe, especially southern and eastern Europe. Few spoke English and many had never known democracy.

For most immigrants, the long ocean crossing was difficult and dangerous. Ships were overcrowded, and people were jammed into cramped steerage compartments below deck. Disease and rough seas made many sick.

Immigrants arriving from Asia entered through Angel Island near San Francisco. Europeans entered through Ellis Island, near New York City.

Once admitted to the United States, most immigrants settled in cities. Ethnic neighborhoods flourished, helping immigrants assimilate. Immigrants also shared their culture. Foods like bagels and spaghetti became mainstream.

Many immigrants valued education, hoping that the next generation would be better off.

Immigrants came to America looking for jobs—and they found them. Construction workers Garment workers Steelworkers Jobs Miners Meatpackers Railroad workers

Immigrants soon became essential to the growing economy. Andrew Carnegie Scottish Steel industry Alexander Graham Bell Telephone industry Samuel Goldwyn Jewish Motion picture industry Louis Mayer Arturo Toscanini Italian Orchestra conductor Leo Baekeland Belgian Plastics industry

Despite such success stories, however, increased immigration led to a wave of nativism. Immigrants can’t assimilate. Immigrants take away jobs. Immigrants promote violence and anarchy. Nativist arguments

Act excluding those who cannot read Such feelings led to new laws limiting immigration. This Act excluded Chinese people solely based on their race. 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act 1917 Act excluding those who cannot read their own language This act kept most of the world’s poor from immigrating.

Section Review QuickTake Quiz Know It, Show It Quiz 16