B C Macionis Chapter 6 Southern, Central And Eastern Europeans

B C Sociohistorical Perspective 1870s saw an increase in immigration from Southeastern Europe Clear physical and cultural differences Arrived in large numbers Able to preserve old-country cultures and social boundaries Increased prejudice and discrimination See Figure 6.1, p. 184

B C Push – Pull Factors Push factors: encourage immigration –Persecution, … repression, … hard economic times, … Pull factors: positive inducements –Family and friends already here, … freedom, … opportunity, … better living standards, … Peasant life was harsh in Europe –Political and economic unrest –Pressures of over population

B C Push – Pull Factors Cont. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants –Italians, Portuguese, Greeks, Turks, Armenians, Hungarians, Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Austrians, Swiss, Byelorussians, Ukrainians, Ruthenians, and others

B C Structural Conditions Structural conditions in the U. S. Frontier was rapidly disappearing Industrialization and Urbanization were changing the U. S. Immigrants mostly illiterate, unskilled, rural peasants –Had virtually no resources Settled in oldest sections of cities Established their own social institutions

B C Societal Reaction 2 Racism –This time the reaction to immigrants had a racist element –Nativist reaction (See quote on p. 187) –See the cartoon on p. 190 Americanization –Designed to deliberately assimilate SE Europeans –A national program at a number or levels

B C Societal Reaction Cont. 3 Xenophobia, an example of –The Haymarket Affair, Chicago, May, 1886 –General Strike for and 8 hr. work day –Police approached a peaceful gathering –Someone threw a bomb killing a policeman and wounding 70 people –Bomb thrower was never identified but 6 immigrants and one U. S. citizen were sentenced to death –Newspapers promoted a negative response

B C Legislative Action 1907, Pressure to investigate the immigration situation The Dillingham Commission report, –Somewhat negative, (p. 193) –Solution: literacy test, or restrictions National Origins Quota Act of 1921 –Adopted the proposals of the Dillingham Commission (See Fig. 6.3, p. 195)

B C Major Immigration Acts 1875: barring criminals, prostitutes and “Collie” labor 1882, 1902: Chinese Exclusion Acts 1891: Bureau of Immigration established 1921: Limited immigration to 3% of foreign born in the U.S. in : Banned Japanese immigration; set immigration to 2% of foreign born persons of each nationality

B C South Eastern Europeans The Poles Third largest group of “new” immigrants –One million between 1899 to 1914 –Child labor (Picture, p.199) Culture Shock: Thomas and Znaniecki, The Polish Peasant Community Organization Polonia Today –90 Million,… NE and MW states,… Chicago

B C SE Europeans Cont. The Italians Some important early explorers 5.4 Million immigrated, 80% from 1880 to 1920 Most peasants from rural areas Societal Hostility Social Patterns: “Little Italys” –Extended Italian family life extended to U.S. –Marginality, [Cavello, N.Y.]

B C The Portuguese Settled in New England, … as Whalers –Jews erected the first Synagogue in New Port RI, in 1763 Some settled in California, others in Hawaii –Those in Hawaii assimilated whereas those in California encountered conflict –Concentrated in MA, RI, CA, and NJ