Multicultural History

Millions of immigrants entered the U.S. in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries Causes Famine Land shortages Religious and political persecution Some were “birds of passage,” intending to immigrate only temporarily to earn money and return home Immigration today reflects many of the same causes… Sudan (Darfur) Middle East Africa Mexico Europe

Arrived at Ellis Island (New York) Approximately 20 million immigrants flooded the U.S. Before 1890 most came from western and northern Europe Ireland, England, Scandinavia, etc. After 1890 most came from southern and eastern Europe Italy, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Balkans, Poland, etc. Causes: Rising population in Europe million Land and farm scarcity Job scarcity Religious persecution

Arrived at Angel Island (San Francisco) Approximately 300,000 immigrants Gold Rush of Chinese came to make their fortunes Helped build the transcontinental railroad-connected the east and west After completion of the railroad most turned to farming, mining, and domestic services 1884 Approximately 200,000 immigrants Hawaiian planters were allowed to recruit Japanese workers United States annexation of Hawaii in 1898 led to an increased number of Japanese immigrants to America

Approximately 260,000 immigrants Arrived in eastern and southeast U.S. Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and other islands Came to the U.S. because jobs were scarce and the U.S. was in the middle of an industrial boom Early 1900s 700,000 immigrants (7% Mexico’s entire population) Mexicans arrived to work on newly created farmland and political/social upheavals in Mexico

Faced many adjustments to culture Trip from Europe took 1 week Trip from Asia took nearly 3 weeks Many traveled in steerage, the cheapest accommodations Crammed into small areas with many other travelers Rarely allowed on deck Louse-infested beds Shared toilets with many others Disease spread quickly and many died

1. Find a place to live 2. Get a job 3. Get along in daily life without understanding the language and culture 4. Search out those who shared common culture, religion, language and values 5. Pool money with those people and build churches or synagogues and create social clubs 6. Publish newspaper in native language 7. Deal with hatred and prejudice from natives

Many natives (born in America) viewed the country as a melting pot, where the old language and customs are abandoned to blend with American culture new immigrants did not wish to abandon their native customs, enraging the natives Nativism-overt favoritism toward American-born citizens

Native-born workers feared Chinese immigrants would take jobs, accepting lower wages

Multicultural History

Technological/industrial boom of the 19 th century led to rapid growth of the cities Immigrants settled in cities Cheap and convenient places to live Offered unskilled laborers steady jobs By 1910 immigrants made up more than half the total population of 18 major American cities Americanization Movement Designed to assimilate people of wide-ranging cultures into the dominant culture (AMERICAN) Schools and volunteers taught immigrants skills needed for citizenship

Housing Tenements (multi-family urban dwellings) were often over crowded and unsanitary Transportation Transportation meant to move large numbers of people along fixed routes Water Little to no access to safe water Sanitation Horse manure Sewage fowl smoke into the air trash Crime Pickpockets and thieves Fire

Settlement House Movement Settlement Houses Community centers that provided assistance to people Educational, cultural, and social services Social Gospel Salvation through service to the poor and unable Jane Addams One of the lead reformers at Chicago’s Hull House