Immigration: Era of Restriction

Immigration 1890s—“new immigration”—eastern and southern Europe (Italy, Russia, Ottoman Turks, DARKER COMPLEXION) “old immigration” --- northern and western Europe. (England, Ireland, Scandinavia, ANGLO- SAXONS)

Crossing: the journey

Push factors _ poverty and the restrictions of social class in Europe − to avoid forced military service − high food prices − oppressive taxes − religious persecution

Pull Factors Plenty of land and plenty of work Higher standard of living Democratic Political system Opportunity for social advancement

The Journey The voyage to the United States was often very difficult. −Most immigrants booked passage in steerage = compartment where the ships steering equipment used to be located. steerage −cargo holds without windows and only 2 ventilators. Crammed as many as 2,000 in these compartments unfit for human habitation

The Journey

Emma Lazarus’ Famous Poem. The New Colossus 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!"

The Reception Examined and questioned: Physically fit, morally sound, & mentally able. To merit passage thru the “golden door”

The Reception: Americanization of names Perplexed inspectors often changed the hard to pronounce foreign names By shortening, changing spelling or pronunciation, immigrants heritage was forever altered many families still bear these “Ellis Island” names.

“Schyon Vergessen” a German Jew so flustered by the bombardment of questions, When asked for his name, replied “Schyon Vergessen” yiddish for “I forget” The official responded: “Welcome to America, Mr. Shawn Fergussen”

Housing and Employment The rapid increase in industrialization since the civil war created a demand for cheap, unskilled labor. Immigrants could quickly find employment in industrial cities in the Northeast

2 images of Immigrant workers 1. Creative, ambitious, and optimistic individuals eager to take advantage of opportunities in America. “Rags to riches” 2. Faceless mass of unskilled labor, exploited by robber baron industrialist. “Humiliation and hardships”

Housing Immigrants lived in Tenements. Over crowded apartment buildings. To save cost they would rent out space compounding the problem.

Asian Immigration Gold rush 1949 Railroad Work Taiping Rebellion (takes 20 million Chinese lives) Japan immigration increases in 1910 Angel island

Chinese Exclusion Act Barred Chinese immigration Renewed 3 times Not repealed until 1943 Unfair: Only race banned from immigrating

Nativism Nativism is a preference for native born people. Originally opposed Irish immigrants. Now focused on Asians, Jews, and Eastern Europeans.

Immigration restriction Nativist argued that “undesirable” foreigners could be weeded out by administering a literacy test

Restriction cont… In 1921 eventually a quota system was established only allowing 3% of a nationality already living in the US in.

Too late. By 1921 over 23 million immigrants had Entered the country and would inevitably change The nature and culture of American society. How has immigration “changed” America? For good? For bad?