1. Immigration

2. What is immigration? Push Factors Pull Factors
People moving from one country to another
Why?
Population growth
Hunger
New start
Religion
Job opportunities
Better life for their family
Get rich quick (some intended to go back home)
Push Factors
Pull Factors

3. How did they get here? Steamship From Europe – 1 week
From Asia – 3 weeks
Most in ship’s cargo hold
Cheap
Dirty
Share toilets
Disease – some died
No fresh air (not allowed on deck)

5. Europeans Over 20 million between 1870 and 1920 – East coast
Early on most from Western and Northern Europe
New wave from Southern and Eastern Europe
Italy and Russia

7. Ellis Island New York Immigrants were inspected (5 hours – 2 days)
Physical exam – Labeled – “H” heart problem
Eye test
Legal interview
Prove no felonies
Able to work
Some money
2% sent home

12. Asians 500,000 between 1851 and 1920 – West Coast
Most were looking for fortune -Gold rush
Huge part in building the nations railroads

13. Angel Island San Francisco, California Asians Harsh Questioning
Long detention
Filthy buildings
Much worse than Ellis Island
10% sent home

16. PROBLEMS THEY FACED

17. Problems Long Hours Horrible working conditions Treated like machines
No helmets or safety glasses
Very low pay
Child Labor
Living conditions

18. Child Labor Families needed the money Easier to find jobs
Most dangerous conditions paid even less
As young as 6

19. Living Conditions Most lived in slums Tenements – run down apartments
Usually 4-6 stories high
4 families on each floor
Cook, eat, and sleep in the same room
Men, women, and children together
Disease
Fire and crime

22. Labor Unions
Group of workers organized to protect the interests of its members
Higher wages
Shorter hours
Better conditions
Would strike