1. Section 4 – pg 499 The New Immigrants
Chapter 14
Section 4 – pg 499
The New Immigrants

2. Pg 499
A Fresh Start
Between 1865 and 1915, 25 million immigrants entered the US
This is more than the entire population of the US in 1850

3. Reasons for Migration There were many reasons for the vast migration
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Reasons for Migration
There were many reasons for the vast migration
In Europe, farmland was shrinking as populations increased
Machines replaced farmhands, putting ppl out of jobs
Others sought religious freedom
In the 1880s, Jews in Russia became targets of gov’t sponsored pogroms (violent attacks against Jews)
Armenian Christians faced persecution in Turkey
Political unrest
1910: a revolution in Mexico caused 10 thousands of refugees across the Rio Grande

4. Jobs pulled immigrants to the US
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Jobs pulled immigrants to the US
Steamships and railroads benefited from immigration so they sent agents to Asia and Europe to advertise cheap land and plentiful jobs
The promise of freedom also seemed appealing to those who came from countries w/o traditions of democracy and liberty

5. Pg 500
The New Immigrants
In the early 1800s, most immigrants were Protestant, spoke English, and had experience with democracy
The new immigrants in the late 1800s, were mostly Catholic or Jewish, few spoke English or had experience democracy or living in cities

6. Starting a New Life: Coming to America
Passage to the US by boat was miserable
Immigrants were crammed below decks in steerage (large compartments that usually held cattle)
Breeding grounds for disease
Most ppl arriving from Europe landed in NY
After 1892, went to receiving center on Ellis Island
Asian immigrants entered through Angel Island in SF Bay
New arrivals faced a rigorous physical exam
Those who were disabled or seriously ill might be sent home Pg

7. Immigrant Neighborhoods
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Immigrant Neighborhoods
Once admitted to the US, 2/3 of the immigrants settled in cities near other ppl from the same country
Ethnic neighborhoods helped ppl feel less isolated in their new homes
Celebrated the same holidays, spoke the same language, and cooked the same foods
Italians joined social groups such as
the Sons of Italy
Greeks read newspapers in Greek
Storefronts were turned into Jewish
synagogues or Buddhist temples

8. Pg 501
Becoming American
Organizations called immigration aid societies helped new arrivals with clothing, housing, and language classes

9. Pg 501
Assimilation
Newcomers often felt caught between the old world and new
Most clung to traditions in worship, family life, and community relations
Worked hard to assimilate (the process of becoming part of another culture)
Was easier for children b/c were around English speakers in school and on the streets
Dressed and played like
native children
It was hard for some parents
to see their children change

10. Contributions of Immigrants
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Contributions of Immigrants
The labor of immigrants was essential to the US economy
Immigrants were desperate for jobs and would take whatever they could get
Steel mills, meatpacking plants, mines, garment sweatshops, railroads, skyscrapers
Some immigrants started their own stores to serve the community, but their business might expand beyond this
Ethic foods such as spaghetti, chow mein, and bagels became a part of American life

11. Individual immigrants made major contributions
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Individual immigrants made major contributions
Andrew Carnegie and Alexander Graham Bell were from Scotland
Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe like Samuel Goldwyn and Louis Mayer established the motion picture industry in CA
Italian Arturo Toscanini: world’s most famous orchestra conductor
Belgian Leo Baekeland invented the first plastic

12. A New Wave of Nativism Increased immigration led to a wave of nativism
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A New Wave of Nativism
Increased immigration led to a wave of nativism
Nativists sought to preserve the US for native-born citizens
Argued that the new immigrants would not assimilate b/c their languages, religions, and customs were too different
Said immigrants took jobs away from Americans
Associated immigrants with violence, crime, and anarchy
Anarchist: a person who opposes all forms of gov’t

13. In 1882, Congress passes a law to exclude Chinese laborers from the US
On the West Coast, nativist mobs drove Chinese from mining camps and cities, and sometimes killed them
In 1882, Congress passes a law to exclude Chinese laborers from the US
Chinese Exclusion Act was the first law limiting immigration based on a race
Repealed in 1943
1917: Congress passed a law that denied entry to immigrants who could not read their own language
Education at this time was usually limited to the wealthy, meaning that this limited most from immigrating
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