1. Immigration

2. Introduction
Foreign-born pop. nearly doubled between
Came for economic opportunities and freedoms
Many feared they would destroy American culture, instead, Americans adapted parts of immigrant culture
Immigrants impacted the economic and political landscape

3. Who and Where From?
Up to 1870s-Protestants from N. & W. Europe
1840s and 1850s-German & Irish Catholics
1870s-S. & E. Europe (new immigrants)
New immigrants-in contrast to “old”, were often unskilled, poor, Catholic or Jewish and more likely to live in cities

4. Why leave home?
Push factors-those that compel people to leave their homes
ex. Wars, political revolutions, religious persecution
Pull factors-those that draw people to a new place
ex. Economic opportunity, employment, land, religious and political freedom
Tough decision to leave home and family, hard and costly journey with an uncertain end, difficulties of learning a new language and adjusting to a foreign culture

5. First Stop
Ships had to port at processing stations where immigrant officials decided who could stay
1st and 2nd class passengers could enter immediately w/o a processing station
Most arrived in New York Harbor and were processed at Ellis Island: 3rd class passengers (steerage) were sent there, where legal, intelligence and medical inspections were conducted
Approx. 3-5 hr process if all in order
Only about 2% were denied entry
: over 12 million immigrants entered through Ellis Island
First to enter: Annie More (15 yr old Irish girl)-Any more?
Other ports: Boston, Philly, Baltimore, Savannah, Miami, New Orleans, San Fran (Asian)-Angel Island

6. Opportunities
Americanization programs-volunteer institutions known as settlement houses that ran programs, helping newcomers learn English, adopt American dress and diet, job training, etc.
Settle in cities, near factories/work
Ethnic communities-maintain customs

7. Competition for jobs=resentment
Challenges
Nativism-belief that native-born white Americans were superior to these newcomers (discrimination)
Competition for jobs=resentment
Religious and cultural differences=suspicions
Prejudices tried to link physical characteristics to criminal tendencies or lower intellect (Chinese)
Extreme hostility toward Chinese laborers led to Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)-prohibited immigration by Chinese laborers, limited civil rights of those already in the U.S., and forbade naturalization of Chinese residents already in the U.S.

8. Changing the Face of America
Fuel industrial growth
“When I arrived as an immigrant, I thought the streets were paved with gold, but they weren’t, they weren’t paved at all, I was expected to pave them.”
Participate in politics
Traditions become a part of American culture
Dev. effective ranching techniques for SW
Build the railroads (Chinese and European labor- Transcontinental RR)
Become active in labor unions