The Immigrant Experience

Immigrants from Europe Some immigrants came from Asia, Mexico & Canada, but most came from Europe 1840s-1890s, Europeans came from northern & western Europe  Irish, British, German, Scandinavian Late 1800s-1900s, more Europeans began coming from southern & eastern Europe  Italians, Greeks, Hungarians, Poles, Russians

Why Europeans Emigrated Push Factors  Difficulties in Europe  Population Growth  Lack of Jobs  Crop Failures  Lack of Arable Land (suitable for growing crops)

Why Europeans Emigrated  Hunger  Pogroms – organized persecution or extermination of an ethnic group  Russian & Polish Jews

Why Europeans Emigrated Pull Factors  Opportunities in the U.S.  Life in a Free & Democratic Society  Achieve their Dreams  Natural Resources  Farmland, Minerals, Forests  Jobs  “America Letters” – letters from family members who had already emigrated

Improvement in Transportation After the Civil War, the steamship replaced the sailing ship  2 weeks versus 3 months Some passengers could afford cabins, but most had to settle for steerage

Improvement in Transportation  Steerage – area below the main deck  Seasickness, spoiled food, filthy conditions  During the day, huddled on the deck for fresh air

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-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" Emma Lazarus, New York City, 1883

Ellis Island Immigration Station, 1892 Registration Medical Inspections – “Six-second Exam”  Physical & Eye Exam  Some pulled aside for a closer inspection  L – Lameness  H – Heart Condition  X – Mental Problem  E – Eye Condition  Detained or Deported

Life in the Cities Some immigrants found their way to farm country of the Midwest Most found jobs in the cities Urban populations exploded Ghettos formed – immigrants generally settled among others from their home country

Life in the Cities Most worked in low-wage, dangerous factory jobs Sources of Aid  Relatives & Friends  Settlement House – community center that provided a variety of services to the poor, especially to immigrants  Political Bosses – powerful leaders who ran local politics

Assimilation of Immigrants = Americanization Older immigrants held onto customs & language Children of immigrants found assimilation into American society easier than their parents did  Studied American history & civics  Learned English

Rejection of Immigrants Many Americans disliked recent immigrants because of religious & cultural differences Dislike & fear provoked demands to limit immigration Nativism – policy of favoring the interests of native-born Americans over those of immigrants

Rejection of Immigrants Know-Nothings Political Party  “I don’t know.” 1894, Immigration Restriction League  Literacy Tests  Wanted federal law, but President Vetoed Immigration Quotas – restricted the flow of European immigrants into the U.S.