THE HUDDLED MASSES The New Immigrants:

Where From? South. & East. Europe – East CoastSouth. & East. Europe – East Coast –New York (Ellis Island) –17 mil: 1892 – 1924 –1 mil: 1907 China & Japan – West CoastChina & Japan – West Coast –San Francisco (Angel Island) –300,000 Chin: 1851 – 1883 –200,000 Jap. by 1920 West Indies (Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico) – South/So.East West Indies (Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico) – South/So.East –260,000: 1880 – 1920 Mexico – So.West/West Mexico – So.West/West –700,000 by 1922

Why Leave? Economic opport. = own land; jobsEconomic opport. = own land; jobs –U.S. advertised itself Religious freedomReligious freedom Political libertyPolitical liberty Youth IndependenceYouth Independence

Difficult Journey By steamship –C–Cargo area = cheapest –S–Spent most of time in cargo-hold due to weather 1 week from Europe; 3 weeks from Asia

Horrible Conditions CrowdedCrowded DirtyDirty Shared toiletsShared toilets Louse-infested bedsLouse-infested beds Diseases spread; some diedDiseases spread; some died SeasickSeasick Poor weatherPoor weather

Immigration Depots Ellis IslandEllis Island –Very efficient –Looks like a Euro. palace –Moved thousands of people thru in a day About 5+ hours to get thruAbout 5+ hours to get thru Angel Island –H–Harsh questioning –L–Longer detentions (days) –F–Filthy facilities

Inspection Stations Medical exams: physical & mentalMedical exams: physical & mental Legal requirementsLegal requirements –Never convicted of a crime –Had some $$ –Proper docs. (passports, etc.) Name registerName register –The spelling of many names got changed here; registrar spelled it like it sounded

Through the “Golden Door” ChallengesChallenges –Housing; Jobs –Understand English lang. & culture Formed ethnic communities Formed ethnic communities –Comforting in a foreign land = common lang., religions, & cult. Values –Built churches, social clubs, printed own newspapers in native lang.

As more immigrants came, neg. feelings emerged from native-born Ams.As more immigrants came, neg. feelings emerged from native-born Ams. Nativists disliked immigrants who wanted to keep their own cultureNativists disliked immigrants who wanted to keep their own culture –Disliked “wrong” immigrants from East Euro., Latin Am., & Asia –Believed Anglo-Saxon Protestants were superior Anti-Immigrant Feelings

Discrimination Literacy test for new immigrants Literacy test for new immigrants –Must read 40 words in English Labor (jobs) = mostly in WestLabor (jobs) = mostly in West –1870s - Feared Chinese workers would take jobs ‘cuz they would accept lower wages Chinese Exclusion Act – 1882; extended in 1892; repealed in 1943Chinese Exclusion Act – 1882; extended in 1892; repealed in 1943

Urban Boom Most immigrants lived in new cities of the I.R.Most immigrants lived in new cities of the I.R. –Cheap & close to jobs Rural peeps moved into cities tooRural peeps moved into cities too –New farming tech. = less farm labor needed –Moved to find new jobs A.A. moved to N.E. citiesA.A. moved to N.E. cities –Escaped racial violence & political oppression of South –Still found segregation & discrimination in N.E. Quickly became overcrowded = slumsQuickly became overcrowded = slums Tensions increased between all groupsTensions increased between all groups

Summarize Your Notes Write 5-6 sentences highlighting the key points about the tidal wave of immigration at the turn of the century you learned. C Create 2 level 3