The New Colossus Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "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-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!“ -Emma Lazarus

Immigration Overview “I came to America because I heard the streets were paved with gold...” “I came to America because I heard the streets were paved with gold...”

Europeans : 20 million Europeans came to the U.S : 20 million Europeans came to the U.S. Before 1890: Most were from northern & western Europe Before 1890: Most were from northern & western Europe After 1890: Most were from southern & eastern Europe After 1890: Most were from southern & eastern Europe

Reasons for Leaving Europe To escape religious persecution To escape religious persecution Pogroms – organized attacks encouraged by authorities Pogroms – organized attacks encouraged by authorities Scarcity of land for farming Scarcity of land for farming Too few industrial jobs Too few industrial jobs Oppressive political movements Oppressive political movements

Reasons for Coming to America Jobs were plentiful Jobs were plentiful Spirit of reform & revolt Spirit of reform & revolt Sought independent lives Sought independent lives Relatives or friends already there Relatives or friends already there

West Indians & Mexicans : 200,000 West Indians came to southeastern U.S : 200,000 West Indians came to southeastern U.S. Homeland jobs were scarce while U.S. jobs were promising Homeland jobs were scarce while U.S. jobs were promising : 700,000 Mexicans came to the U.S : 700,000 Mexicans came to the U.S. Left due to political & social upheavals Left due to political & social upheavals Come to find jobs, mostly as farm workers Come to find jobs, mostly as farm workers

The Journey By 1870s: Most immigrants arrived on steamships. By 1870s: Most immigrants arrived on steamships. They traveled in steerage – accommodations in the cargo hold. They traveled in steerage – accommodations in the cargo hold. Conditions: They were usually kept below decks in crowded, vermin-infested, diseased quarters. Conditions: They were usually kept below decks in crowded, vermin-infested, diseased quarters.

Angel Island Located in San Francisco Bay Located in San Francisco Bay Point of entry for Asians Point of entry for Asians Japanese and others moved through quickly Japanese and others moved through quickly Harsh questioning & long detentions for Chinese Harsh questioning & long detentions for Chinese Chinese were isolated as if in prison Chinese were isolated as if in prison Many poems inscribed on walls by detainees Many poems inscribed on walls by detainees

Chinese Poem Detained in this wooden house for several tens of days, It is all because of the Mexican exclusion law which implicates me. It's a pity heroes have no way of exercising their prowess. I can only await the word so that I can snap Zu's whip. From now on, I am departing far from this building All of my fellow villagers are rejoicing with me. Don't say that everything within is Western styled. Even if it is built of jade, it has turned into a cage. Detained in this wooden house for several tens of days, It is all because of the Mexican exclusion law which implicates me. It's a pity heroes have no way of exercising their prowess. I can only await the word so that I can snap Zu's whip. From now on, I am departing far from this building All of my fellow villagers are rejoicing with me. Don't say that everything within is Western styled. Even if it is built of jade, it has turned into a cage. -- From the walls of Angel Island Immigration Station, author unknown, Poem 69 from Island, p From the walls of Angel Island Immigration Station, author unknown, Poem 69 from Island, p

Leaving China China was extremely poor. China was extremely poor. There wasn’t enough food. There wasn’t enough food. Floods & drought ravaged the land. Floods & drought ravaged the land. Disease was rampant. Disease was rampant. A Chinese civil war occurred between A Chinese civil war occurred between

Coming to America Rumors of “Gum Shan” (gold mountain) Rumors of “Gum Shan” (gold mountain) Many Chinese became miners. Many Chinese became miners. Took service jobs nobody else wanted Took service jobs nobody else wanted Many worked in agriculture. Many worked in agriculture. Chinese men helped build the railroads. Chinese men helped build the railroads. Chinatowns formed in all big cities. Chinatowns formed in all big cities.

Chinese Restriction : 300,000 Chinese came to America : 300,000 Chinese came to America 1882: Chinese Exclusion Act restricts Chinese laborer immigration for 10 years 1882: Chinese Exclusion Act restricts Chinese laborer immigration for 10 years 1892: Chinese Exclusion Act renewed for another 10 years 1892: Chinese Exclusion Act renewed for another 10 years 1904: Chinese Exclusion Act made permanent 1904: Chinese Exclusion Act made permanent

Japanese Came to Hawaii before statehood Came to Hawaii before statehood Worked in agriculture Worked in agriculture 1906: San Francisco put Japanese students in separate schools 1906: San Francisco put Japanese students in separate schools : Gentleman’s Agreement – Japan agreed to limit emigration of unskilled laborers in exchange for canceling segregation : Gentleman’s Agreement – Japan agreed to limit emigration of unskilled laborers in exchange for canceling segregation By 1920: 200,000 Japanese lived on the West Coast By 1920: 200,000 Japanese lived on the West Coast