Immigration History

Define Emigrate : Emigrate : Leave one's own country in order to settle permanently in another Immigrate: Immigrate: coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence

First Wave of Immigration 1830s / 1850s – Northwestern Europeans flee starvation, feudal governments & social upheaval from the Industrial Revolution. They came here from: 1830s / 1850s – Northwestern Europeans flee starvation, feudal governments & social upheaval from the Industrial Revolution. They came here from: Ireland Ireland Germany Germany Scandinavia Scandinavia As well as China As well as China

Second Wave of Immigration A “Flood-Tide” from Eastern & Southern Europe A “Flood-Tide” from Eastern & Southern Europe Fleeing burdens of high taxes, poverty & overpopulation, oppression & religious persecution Fleeing burdens of high taxes, poverty & overpopulation, oppression & religious persecution Ellis Island Wave Ellis Island Wave

Ellis Island From Europe to “The Golden Door”

100 Million Americans Can Trace Ancestry to Ellis Island 12 Million pass through from 1892 – Million pass through from 1892 – 1954 Peak years from 1892 – 1924 Peak years from 1892 – ,747 processed on one day ,747 processed on one day 1907 Quotas begin to restrict immigrants 1924 Quotas begin to restrict immigrants 1924 A quota is a certain number of immigrants allowed from certain countries. A quota is a certain number of immigrants allowed from certain countries. Used as detention center for enemy aliens 1943 Used as detention center for enemy aliens 1943 Closes doors 1954 Closes doors 1954

The Ship’s Manifest Before Boarding Ship, Each Passenger was Subjected to De-Lousing & Questioning Before Boarding Ship, Each Passenger was Subjected to De-Lousing & Questioning A Series of 29 Questions were Asked A Series of 29 Questions were Asked Answers were Written on the Ship’s Manifest Answers were Written on the Ship’s Manifest In English In English Documenting Information for Genealogists Today Documenting Information for Genealogists Today

The Ship’s Manifest

Leaving Europe for America $12.00 Ticket $12.00 Ticket Day Journey Day Journey 3 rd Class Steerage 3 rd Class Steerage Crude Conditions Crude Conditions

Onboard Ship

End of the Journey “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor. Your Huddled Masses Yearning to Breathe Free, The Wretched Refuse of Your Teeming Shore… “ “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor. Your Huddled Masses Yearning to Breathe Free, The Wretched Refuse of Your Teeming Shore… “

Arrival At Ellis Island Transferred from Ship to the Island via Ferry Transferred from Ship to the Island via Ferry Sometimes Waiting for Hours to be Moved Sometimes Waiting for Hours to be Moved And Reach the Golden Door to America And Reach the Golden Door to America

Welcome to America!

The Waiting Room

The Great Hall

The Waiting Is Over Now began a series of tests that would determine your fate Now began a series of tests that would determine your fate Only 2 % were sent back Only 2 % were sent back 2% of 12 Million 2% of 12 Million Would you like to have 2% of $12 Million Dollars? Would you like to have 2% of $12 Million Dollars?

The Inspection Line

The Medical Exam Medical Inspectors watched the people & marked them with chalk Medical Inspectors watched the people & marked them with chalk The exam was frightening & embarrassing The exam was frightening & embarrassing Many varied ailments could send you home Many varied ailments could send you home

Chalk Marks Used at Ellis Island X – Suspected Mental Defect X – Suspected Mental Defect Circled X- Definite Signs of Mental Defects Circled X- Definite Signs of Mental Defects B – Black B – Black C- Conjunctivitis C- Conjunctivitis CT – Trachoma CT – Trachoma E- Eyes E- Eyes F- Face F- Face Ft- Feet Ft- Feet G- Goiter G- Goiter H- Heart H- Heart K- Hernia K- Hernia N- Neck N- Neck L- Lameness L- Lameness P- Physical & Lungs P- Physical & Lungs PG- Pregnancy PG- Pregnancy SC- Scalp SC- Scalp S- Senility S- Senility SI- Special Inquiry SI- Special Inquiry

The Questions Asked a Series of 29 Questions Asked a Series of 29 Questions The Same as Were Asked Before Leaving Europe The Same as Were Asked Before Leaving Europe To See if Your Story Remained the Same To See if Your Story Remained the Same

The Mental Exam Immigrants who Looked “Out of the Ordinary” Were Given Mental Exams Immigrants who Looked “Out of the Ordinary” Were Given Mental Exams If You Failed the Exams (3 Chances), You Were Deported If You Failed the Exams (3 Chances), You Were Deported Or Sent to DC to Become a Congressman Or Sent to DC to Become a Congressman

Making it Once All the Testing Was Done, You Were Allowed to Leave the Island & Become an American Once All the Testing Was Done, You Were Allowed to Leave the Island & Become an American Support for immigrants was sparse Support for immigrants was sparse No government assistance to speak of Political parties in large cities played a role (political machines) Local ethnic groups formed aid societies Immigrants for the most part lived in segregated communities

The Streets Are Paved with Gold “I came here believing the streets were paved with gold. I found out the streets weren’t paved at all, And I was expected to pave them!” “I came here believing the streets were paved with gold. I found out the streets weren’t paved at all, And I was expected to pave them!”

Nativist Resistance

Too Many Undesirables The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 effectively ends Chinese immigration The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 effectively ends Chinese immigration A growing Nativist movement grips the nation A growing Nativist movement grips the nation Sacco and Vanzetti Sacco and Vanzetti

Third Wave of Immigration 1970s-present– 1970s-present– Asian Refugees (post Vietnam) Asian Refugees (post Vietnam) Mexico=Largest Number Mexico=Largest Number Cuba Cuba Central America Central America India India Lead to both a debate over illegal immigration and legal immigration centered on “needs based” professions and reuniting families Lead to both a debate over illegal immigration and legal immigration centered on “needs based” professions and reuniting families

Limiting Immigration Quota system instituted in 1922 Quota system instituted in 1922 Limits immigrants to a percentage of ethnic group already in the U.S. Limits immigrants to a percentage of ethnic group already in the U.S. Favors “desirable” immigrants over others Favors “desirable” immigrants over others

America, The Melting Pot Our Unique Blend of Ethnicity has Resulted in a New & Distinct Culture Amongst the Nations of the World Our Unique Blend of Ethnicity has Resulted in a New & Distinct Culture Amongst the Nations of the World Are We Really a Melting Pot? Are We Really a Melting Pot? Or More Like A Salad Bowl Or More Like A Salad Bowl

Cultural Blending Elements of Cultural Blending here? Elements of Cultural Blending here?

Laws Governing Immigration The Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1952 (McCarran- Walter Act) establishes the basics of immigration laws and creates a national immigration agency. The Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1952 (McCarran- Walter Act) establishes the basics of immigration laws and creates a national immigration agency. The Immigration Act of 1965 (Hart-Cellar Act) changed the criteria for admitting immigrants from concentrating on their nationality to focusing on their skills and profession. The Immigration Act of 1965 (Hart-Cellar Act) changed the criteria for admitting immigrants from concentrating on their nationality to focusing on their skills and profession. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 granted amnesty to illegal aliens who had been in the U.S. before 1982 and made it a crime to hire an illegal alien. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 granted amnesty to illegal aliens who had been in the U.S. before 1982 and made it a crime to hire an illegal alien. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 adopted stronger penalties against illegal immigration and streamlined the deportation process. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 adopted stronger penalties against illegal immigration and streamlined the deportation process.