1. Immigration to the U.S.
Late 1800s- Early 1900s

2. Immigration in the U.S. in the Early 20th Century
Turmoil in Europe led to poverty, unemployment, disease, religious persecution for large groups of people
Kick started migration to the US
Around 20 million
immigrants entered
the U.S. from

3. Types of Immigration
“Old Immigration”: immigrants from Northern/Western Europe
“New Immigration”: immigrants from Southern/Eastern Europe

4. Ellis Island Opened in 1892 in New York City, New York
Processed Immigrants from Europe
Processed 12 million immigrants by the time it closed
40% of Americans can trace their port of entry here

5. Angel Island Opened in 1910 in San Francisco, California
Nicknamed "The Ellis Island of the West“
Processed Immigrants from Asia
Processed one million immigrants until it closed in 1940

6. Immigrants Denied Entry
Only 2% of immigrants seeking entry through Ellis island were denied admission
Almost 20% of immigrants seeking entry though Angel Island were denied admission
Many were Chinese
Many had to have American witnesses or family members vouch for them

7. Social & Economic Impact of Immigration
Made up 15% of the total population
Many faced poverty and political instability in their former country, which meant that they were:
More likely to be poor in the U.S.
More likely to work as unskilled laborers in crowded U.S. cities
Many were Jewish or Catholic

8. Social & Economic Impact of Immigration
Many spoke little or no English
Settled in areas populated by people from the same countries who spoke the same language and worshipped in the same ways
“Little Italy”
“China town”

9. Nativism and Immigration Restriction
Nativism is favoritism towards native-born Americans
Gave rise to anti-immigrant groups
Native-born Americans believed that America was a “melting pot” or a mixture of people of different cultures and races who blended together by abandoning their native languages and customs
New immigrants didn’t want to do this
This led Americans to dislike immigrants and viewed them as a threat to their way of life

10. Nativism and Immigration Restriction
Nativism led to restrictions on immigration
“Desirable” immigrants were from English speaking countries and of Protestant religions
Anglicans and Puritans founded America and many Americans were still Protestant
“Undesirable Immigrants” were immigrants who came from non-English speaking countries and/or were Catholic or Jewish (mostly from Ireland, Italy, and Eastern Europe)

11. Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)
Banned Chinese from immigrating to the U.S.
Americans feared Chinese immigrants would take their jobs for lower wages
Was not repealed until 1943