Flashback: What does this image say about the Age of Industrialism in America? Bell ringer: Considering the realities of the Age of Industrialism, why would people (including adults and children) continue to take these jobs?

Innovation, resources, and government policies encouraged industrialism. “Giants” of industry created the “Gilded Age.” Industrialism had positive and negative effects. Workers responded to industrial conditions by creating unions. Despite efforts by unions, workers had to continue fighting bad workplace conditions. One event finally drew attention to the problem of workplace safety.

A “new” wave of immigrants came to the United States at the beginning of the 20 th century, pulled by economic opportunity and freedom. What factors pulled new immigrants to the U.S.? What events pushed the immigrants from their homelands to America? What was the journey life for the immigrants? What contributions were made by these new immigrants? “Old” immigrants differed from “new” immigrants in regards to their home countries, cultures, and experiences. How were new immigrants different from the old ones? What patterns of immigration can bee seen from 1880 to 1920? What conflicts arose for the new immigrants?

Where had most Americans come from? What were the “Old” immigrants like? Why had they come to America?

Between 1880 and 1920, over 23 million immigrants came into the United States Most were coming from Eastern (Poland, Russia) and Southern Europe (Italy, Greece), unlike those before them who were from Northern and Western Europe (Great Britain, France) Asian immigrants continued to come into the West coast looking for new opportunities Mexican immigrants drifted north to work in the West as it continued to grow

Fewer new immigrants spoke English Many were poor and had little education Included large numbers of persecuted groups, such as the Jews Many of the groups brought new religions into America, including Judaism, Catholicism, Russian Orthodox Christianity, Buddhism, and Confucianism All came looking for opportunity and brought with then the desire and willingness to work

Push Factors Poverty Overpopulation Political persecution Religious persecution Environmental disasters Hope for better life Work in growing industries Opportunities for land in West Tales of immediate riches Tales of acceptance Pull Factors

To European Ports Families or individuals say goodbyes to home Travel by train, cart, or foot to European ports Aboard the Ship Ocean voyage takes up to 14 days Steerage section packed with people, disease, danger Arrival at the Statue of Liberty Symbol of hope and opportunity Can take days to get off the ship for processing

Role Card Reading: Luciano, Italian immigrant

Role Card Reading: Bertha, Irish Immigrant

Day 1 Long waits begin Physical exam Eye test Capability tests Disease checks Verbal exam Battery of questions Interpreters ask fast with immigrants fearing failure Legal checks Names are often changed in Economic check Jobs secured Family for support Passage to mainland Stays in infirmary for illness or to be sent back Additional Days

Role Card Reading: Albert, Armenian immigrant

Most immigrants settle in larger cities where they can find housing and work New York Boston Philadelphia Baltimore Cincinnati Cities become overcrowded and are extremely busy New transportation methods in the streets Stores or street vendors or corner salesmen Neighborhoods made up of common cultures Tenement housing with deplorable conditions Children play in streets, but must avoid rising gangs

Role Card Reading: Slovenian immigrant boy

Role Card Reading: Louise, Polish Immigrant

Role card reading: An immigrant boy

Education Immigrants understood that education was the way to better lives Children juggled schooling between jobs to help families Educated children took on adult roles to help families Night classes offered some adults opportunities

Role Card Reading: Immigrant boy

The growth of factories and offices created new jobs More of everything (roads, transportation, housing) was needed for the new population which created more jobs Immigrants were discriminated against and paid less if not “preferred” workers Long hours Low pay Child labor Unsafe working environment No worker benefits

Role Card Reading: Emma, Textile factory worker

Many sought jobs outside the cities in mines, logging, or construction Work was often dangerous and always physically demanding Most of these workers left their families to work on jobs, sometimes not returning for months

Role Card Reading: Edgar, Coal miner

The lives and opportunities of the immigrants differed based on many things… How hard they worked Their education and skill levels The places they went The obstacles they faced While many immigrants faced obstacles along the way, they still struggled to become the ideal American and made many contributions

1. Read the information on your immigrants 2. Record the information about their push or pull factors 3. Describe their travels to America 4. Discuss the obstacles (discriminations) they faced 5. List the contributions they made 6. Be prepared to share! 7. Jigsaw sharing.

ItalianJewishChineseMexican Push/Pull Factors Travels to America Obstacles Faced Contributions in America

List 5 push or pull factors faced by immigrants between 1880 and How do those factors compare to the reasons people come to America today?