New Immigrants “Early 1900’s”
Why Come To America? Immigrants Reasons: 1. Lured by promise of better life 2. Escape difficult conditions at home a. Famine b. Land Shortages 3. Escape religious/political persecution 4. Jobs supposedly plentiful in America 5. Come to earn money then go back (Bird of Passage)
From Where Did Come? - Europe: Northwest: English, Irish, German, Scandinavian Southeast: Italian, Russian, and Polish - Asia: Chinese and Japanese - Mexico and Caribbean: Mexican, Jamaican, Cuban, and Puerto Rican
How was the Journey? Traveled by steamship to America - trip across Atlantic took 1 week - trip across Pacific took 3 weeks Traveled in “steerage” (cheapest accommodations in a ship’s cargo hold)
As for conditions below decks, an agent for the United States Immigration Commission described them as follows: “During the twelve days in the steerage I lived in…surroundings that offended every sense. Only a fresh breeze from the sea overcame the sickening odors. Everything was dirty, sticky, and disagreeable to the touch. In such conditions, disease and even death were not uncommon.”
Where did enter the U.S.? Ellis Island: Atlantic side immigration station in New York Harbor - decided whether to admit or reject immigrants - 17 million immigrants passed through - Had to pass a physical health exam - Had to pass a govt. inspector’s test a. able to work? b. have some money? c. never been convicted of a felony?
Where did enter the U.S.? Angel Island: Pacific side immigration station in the San Francisco Bay - decided whether to admit or reject immigrants - 50,000 Chinese enter U.S. (1910-1940) - Had to pass a physical health exam - Had to pass a govt. inspector’s test (much more harsh and longer decision time)
physical health exam govt. inspector’s test
So you are IN! Now What? Immigrants Faced Challenges: 1. find a place to live 2. find a job 3. understand the language 4. understand the culture How to Cope? 1. create ethnic communities
- Multi-family dwelling in urban areas Where to live? Tenement buildings - Multi-family dwelling in urban areas - Families shared living space - Lighting & fresh air were scarce
- Uncomfortable, Crowed, and Dirty What conditions like? - Uncomfortable, Crowed, and Dirty - In New York, 1,231 people lived in only 120 rooms in one part of the city - In Chicago in one year, over 60% of newborns never reached their first birthdays - Many had no home and slept in “5 cents a spot rooms” where people paid for a small space to spend the night
An immigrant himself, Jacob Riis was well known for his photographs documenting the lives of immigrants & the urban poor in his book How the Other Half Lives
How did Americans react? Americans saw country as a “Melting Pot” Problem: Many immigrants do not give up “old” culture
Outcome: immigrants numbers increased = anti-immigrant feelings emerge Nativism: favoritism toward native-born Americans 1. anti-immigration groups begin to form - Immigration Restriction League - American Protective Association 2. demand for immigration restrictions
1882 Chinese Exclusion Act: law passed by Congress which banned Chinese immigrants for a period of 10 years (few exceptions) 1897 Congress pass law requiring literacy test for immigrants (President Cleveland veto's) 1906 San Fransico Board of Ed. Segregate Japanese school children Outcome: Gentleman’s Agreement: Japan will limit immigration if segregation repealed