Immigration A History of the United States

The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door. (inscription on the base of the Statue of Liberty) (inscription on the base of the Statue of Liberty)

The Melting Pot Theory Belief that individual immigrants were blended together to create one uniform “American” Belief that individual immigrants were blended together to create one uniform “American” Assimilation required! Assimilation required!

The Mosaic Theory Belief that the individual immigrants retained their unique characteristics as they adjusted to life in the U.S. Belief that the individual immigrants retained their unique characteristics as they adjusted to life in the U.S.

The Salad Bowl Theory Belief that individual characteristics of immigrant past can still be identified within the United States society Belief that individual characteristics of immigrant past can still be identified within the United States society (US is a salad with recognizable individual ingredients) (US is a salad with recognizable individual ingredients)

Push – Pull Theory Immigration to the United States is affected by conditions that “pushed” people out of their home country and “pulled” them to the United States Immigration to the United States is affected by conditions that “pushed” people out of their home country and “pulled” them to the United States

Ellis Island Processing center for immigrants entering the east coast Processing center for immigrants entering the east coast More than 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island seeking a new life in the United States More than 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island seeking a new life in the United States Ellis Island - FREE Port of New York Passenger Records Search.mht Ellis Island - FREE Port of New York Passenger Records Search.mht Ellis Island - FREE Port of New York Passenger Records Search.mht Ellis Island - FREE Port of New York Passenger Records Search.mht

Angel Island was the processing center on the West Coast

Old Immigration Before 1860 Before 1860 Most immigrants came from Northern & Western Europe Most immigrants came from Northern & Western Europe They were farmers who found land in US that was cheap or free; readily adapted to US They were farmers who found land in US that was cheap or free; readily adapted to US They were generally welcomed by the people of the US because the country needed workers and consumers They were generally welcomed by the people of the US because the country needed workers and consumers

Exceptions to the Norm Irish immigrants Irish immigrants Came in greater numbers Came in greater numbers Settled in cities (not enough money to move inland) Settled in cities (not enough money to move inland) Took jobs as unskilled laborers (RR’s, canals) Took jobs as unskilled laborers (RR’s, canals) Faced discrimination because they were predominately Catholic; more difficult to blend into the American society Faced discrimination because they were predominately Catholic; more difficult to blend into the American society

Old Immigration

New Immigrants Between 1860 & 1920 Between 1860 & 1920 Most came from Southern and Eastern Europe Most came from Southern and Eastern Europe They were unskilled laborers who settled in ethnic neighborhoods within the big cities They were unskilled laborers who settled in ethnic neighborhoods within the big cities They faced discrimination because their religion (Catholic, Jewish, or Greek Orthodox), their languages, & customs were very different from Native-born Americans They faced discrimination because their religion (Catholic, Jewish, or Greek Orthodox), their languages, & customs were very different from Native-born Americans

New Immigration

Immigration (1821 – 1990)

Nativism Belief that “native-born” Americans are better than immigrants Belief that “native-born” Americans are better than immigrants Nativism was evident in everything from ethnic “jokes” to discriminating policies (No Irish Need Apply) to laws passed by the state and national governments Nativism was evident in everything from ethnic “jokes” to discriminating policies (No Irish Need Apply) to laws passed by the state and national governments

Americanization Process Discrimination Discrimination Lived in ethnic neighborhoods (Little Italy) Lived in ethnic neighborhoods (Little Italy) Spoke “broken English” Spoke “broken English” Usually married within own ethnic and religious group Usually married within own ethnic and religious group

Acculturation Acculturation Conscious effort to adjust to life in US Conscious effort to adjust to life in US Learned English but spoke with an accent; often were bi-lingual Learned English but spoke with an accent; often were bi-lingual Became citizens through the naturalization process Became citizens through the naturalization process Often moved out of ethnic neighborhood Often moved out of ethnic neighborhood Usually married within same religious group but may marry someone of different ethnicity Usually married within same religious group but may marry someone of different ethnicity

Assimilation Assimilation Difficult to tell an immigrant from a native- born American Difficult to tell an immigrant from a native- born American Regional accent Regional accent Changed names to lose ethnic identity Changed names to lose ethnic identity May marry someone of a different religious group May marry someone of a different religious group

Factors Aiding Americanization Schools – “the great equalizer” Schools – “the great equalizer” Children learned American customs & government, took lessons home to parents Children learned American customs & government, took lessons home to parents Anna Kleibor Boston Road, NYC mht Anna Kleibor Boston Road, NYC mht Anna Kleibor Boston Road, NYC mht Anna Kleibor Boston Road, NYC mht Immigrant press Immigrant press Current news presented in languages of various nations Current news presented in languages of various nations Immigrant organizations Immigrant organizations Social organizations where immigrants helped each other (“Sons of Italy”) Social organizations where immigrants helped each other (“Sons of Italy”) Naturalization process Naturalization process Must learn about American government, civics, culture Must learn about American government, civics, culture