Why did they come? For Europeans -fleeing religious persecution Jews of Eastern Europe For the Chinese and Mexicans -political unrest - Job opportunities Boxer Rebellion, China 1900 Mexican Rebellion, rising population (doubled in a century) -scarce land and few jobs

Most came by steamship - in steerage Cheap Crowded Unsanitary

On the East coast they went through… Ellis Island

Inside… The Registry Room In the day… 17,000,000 people Mostly from Europe, especially Eastern and Southern Europe Ellis Island

After registration…Inspection Medical Examination for contagious or debilitating diseases Examination of legal documents check met legal requirements : no felony, can work, some savings

Total processing time: 5-6 hours 17,000,000 pass through 20% detained for a day+ 2% rejected (250,000) leaving Ellis island

On the west coast they went through… Angel Island 1910 Immigration Station barracks Why?

In California nativist political parties fear competition from Chinese workers Chinese Exclusion Act 1882 banned the entry of all Chinese except students, teachers, merchants, tourists, and government officials

Angel Island served more to prevent illegal immigrants Quarantined if there was any suspicion of contagious disease They were questioned harshly and held for extended periods, sometimes as long as two years

Rise of Nativism - favoring native-born (WASPs) Americans Immigration Restriction League, 1894 want to restrict the “ wrong ” kind of immigrants influence Congress to require literacy tests for immigrants American Protective Association, 1887 strongly anti-Catholic

Gentlemen ’ s Agreement of 1907 Japan discourages emigration of unskilled workers San Francisco repeals the segregation order of schools

Urban Growth: What caused this rapid urbanization?

Americanization Movement What? Assimilation of New Immigrants Causes? Some xenophobia others desire to help and reform How? Schools and voluntary associations teaching English and “ social etiquette ” Impact? Little Italy in NYC

In 1915…the re-birth of the KKK Membership limited to white, native-born, Protestant men Highly anti- Catholic, anti- Semitic, and anti-black

Urban problems led to … reformers Social Gospel movement: Christian-based movement that taught salvation came through service to the poor led to establishment of “ settlement houses ” - community centers in slum neighborhoods

Settlement Houses Provided educational services: English, college extension courses cultural services: painting, music social services: health services (like nurse visits) Usually staffed by middle-class, college-educated women, often living at the settlement house

Jane Addams ( ) One of the most important figures of the settlement house movement Founded Hull House in Chicago 1889

Hull House Jane Addams and Hull House children Dance at Hull House

“Dumbell “ Tenement

Jacob Riis: How the Other Half Lives (1890)

Tenement Slum Living

Lodgers Huddled Together