The New Immigrants

Where did the immigrants come from? Old Immigration & New Immigration 1.Between 1820 and 1920, about 33 million people immigrated to the United States. 2.Members of the “Old” group came to the US between Most of the these people came from northern & western Europe. Majority were Protestants. Several thousand Chinese also came. 3.New Immigration grew rapidly after Many came from southern & eastern Europe. Mostly were Catholics & Jews. It also included people from Mexico; other nations in Latin American and Japan. 4.New Immigrants were even different from Old Immigrants in their clothing; religion; and languages.

Why did they come? Push factors or Pull factors Push factors (negative): 1.Injustice 2.Poverty 3.Religious or political persecution Pull factors (positive): 1.Democracy 2.Freedom of religion 3.Economic opportunity

Life in the New Land Most immigrants boarded a ship at a European port and were then directed to the ship's steerage. The majority of people could not afford first class or cabin passage. Most immigrants boarded a ship at a European port and were then directed to the ship's steerage. The majority of people could not afford first class or cabin passage. In 1910 a steerage ticket cost between $10.00 to $ Steerage was near the bottom of the boat, very cramped, offering little light, ventilation or privacy. At worse, it condemned individuals to days of total misery.

Onboard Ship

Lady Liberty The millions of immigrants who sailed to America were greeted by the Statue of Liberty. The statue was a gift from France in Frederic Bartholdi designed and sculpted the statue. He decided to make the statue a symbol of liberty. The millions of immigrants who sailed to America were greeted by the Statue of Liberty. The statue was a gift from France in Frederic Bartholdi designed and sculpted the statue. He decided to make the statue a symbol of liberty. Lady Liberty would face the ocean with a greeting and a promise. The seven spikes in the statue's crown stand for seven liberties: civil, moral, national, natural, personal, political, and religious.

Ellis Island Ellis Island served as the portal for a majority of new immigrants from 1892 till it closed in More than 12 million immigrants were processed here.

Baggage Room The arriving immigrants checked most of their heaviest baggage in the first-floor baggage room before heading to the great hall for processing by U.S. Immigrations Inspectors.

The Great Hall

The Great Hall cont. Also known as the Registry Room, this is where millions of immigrants were processed for admission to the United States. After waiting in line for hours, an interview with the inspector would determine the applicants future.

With the huge numbers of immigrants, inspectors had just 2 minutes to complete the process and many immigrants had their last names changed by the inspectors because they didn’t have the time or patience to struggle with the foreign spellings.

Stairs of Separation As the immigrants walked up the staircase, U.S. Public Health Officials watched them for signs of a number of illnesses.

The Inspection Line

The Waiting Is Over Now began a series of tests that would determine your fate Only 2 % were sent back 2% of 12 Million Would you like to have 2% of $12 Million Dollars?

Medical Exams The Inspector would take about 7 seconds to determine if the immigrant had any infectious diseases. Some would be sent back and some detained in quarantine. Only two percent of the arriving immigrants were excluded from entry.

The Medical Exam Medical Inspectors watched the people & marked them with chalk The exam was frightening & embarrassing Many varied ailments could send you home

Chalk Marks Used at Ellis Island X – Suspected Mental Defect Circled X- Definite Signs of Mental Defects B – Black C- Conjunctivitis CT – Trachoma E- Eyes F- Face Ft- Feet G- Goiter H- Heart K- Hernia N- Neck L- Lameness P- Physical & Lungs PG- Pregnancy SC- Scalp S- Senility SI- Special Inquiry

The Questions Asked a Series of 29 Questions The Same as Were Asked Before Leaving Europe To See if Your Story Remained the Same

Dormitories Immigrants that were detained for medical or other reasons stayed in these rooms, tightly packed with rows of bunk beds.

Making it Once All the Testing Was Done, You Were Allowed to Leave the Island & Become an American Or Become a “Bird of Passage” intended to immigrate temporarily to earn money; and then return to their homeland.

The Kissing Post After immigrants were approved for admission, they would walk down the stairs to meet their loved ones. This area became known as the kissing post.

Angel Island Asians immigrants arriving on the west coast went through Angel Island in San Francisco. The inspection process on Angel Island was more difficult than on Ellis Island. Immigrants endured harsh questioning and a long detention in filthy ramshackle buildings

· Immigrants adjusted by settling in communities with people of their own ethnic group. This made them feel more at home. Little Italy, New York City A Jewish vendor in Lower East Side, New York City

Adjusting to a New Land · Most immigrants stayed in the cities where they landed. · By 1900, lower Manhattan was the most crowded place in the world. Hester Street, ca. 1900

Americans’ Reaction to Immigration 1. They did not like the idea of so many immigrants living in their country. 2. The arrival of so many immigrants led to the growth of nativism & xenophobia. 3. Nativism is the preference for native-born Americans. Xenophobia is the fear or aversion of foreigners. 4. It gave rise to anti-immigrant groups. 5. It also led to a demand for immigration restriction.

Immigration Restriction By the turn of the century; some observers called America a melting pot. The blending of many different cultures and races in the United States. Many new immigrants refused to give up their culture to become part of American society.

· Chinese immigrants were frequently attacked, and occasionally killed, by racist mobs. Anti-Asian Sentiment · Many Americans feared they would lose their jobs to the Chinese. As a result; labor groups pressured politicians to restrict Asian immigration. Asians were prohibited from buying land in California. Seattle's anti-Chinese riot of February 8, 1886

- It was renewed several times by Congress before being repealed in 1943 by the Supreme Court. Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act - In 1882; it closed the door on Chinese immigration for 10 years. Only students; teachers; merchants; tourists and government officials.

The Gentlemen’s Agreement (1907) Americans showed prejudice against Japanese immigrants as well. In San Francisco; the local school board put all Chinese; Japanese; and Korean children in special Asian schools. This led to anti-American riots in Japan. Under the Gentlemen’s Agreement; Japan’s government agreed to limit immigration to the US in exchange for the repeal of the San Francisco segregation order.

Quota System (1924) This system established the maximum number of people who could enter the United States from each foreign country. The goal of the quota system was to cut sharply European immigration to the United States. Favors “desirable” immigrants over others The system achieved that goal!

The End