7.1 Immigration

Immigration Biggest group from 1890 to 1920: Southern and Eastern Europeans – Escaping poverty and persecution (esp. for Jews) Chinese  West Coast, Japanese  Hawaii – Hawaii became a U.S territory in 1898 Caribbean islands and Mexico  the South – 1902 Reclamation Act turned much of the desert into farmable land (jobs for Mexican immigrants)

Immigration Most immigrants on East Coast came through Ellis Island in NY City – Small % who had diseases or were considered dangerous would be detained, possibly sent back Angel Island in San Francisco was much harsher to Chinese immigrants

Immigration

Fitting In/Standing Out New immigrants often moved into neighborhoods that spoke their language – Little Italy and Slavic Village in Cleveland Many “native-born” Americans wanted immigrants to give up their culture – Assimilate into America’s “melting pot”

Fitting In/Standing Out Some believed new immigrants were genetically inferior  ________________________ Nativists especially hated Catholics, Jews, and Chinese – Some tried to pass literacy test requirements for immigrants Fearing losing their jobs to the Chinese, workers in the West convinced Congress to pass the Chinese-Exclusion Act