Transcript immigrants and urbanization

IMMIGRANTS
AMERICA BECOMES A MELTING POT IN THE
LATE 19TH & EARLY 20TH CENTURY
A.
Causes of Immigration:
1. Escape difficult conditions at home
a. Famine
b. Land Shortages
2. Escape religious/political persecution
3. War
4. Come to earn money then go back
(Bird of Passage)
WHY LEAVE?
“PULL” TO IMMIGRATE
Lured by promise of better life
 Jobs supposedly plentiful in America
 Cultural Ties

EUROPEANS
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Between 1870 and 1920,
about 20 million
Europeans arrived in the
United States
Before 1890, most were
from western and
northern Europe- “old
immigrants”
After 1890, most came
from southern and eastern
Europe “new immigrants”
All were looking for
opportunity
CHINESE
 Between
1851 and
1882, about 300,000
Chinese arrived on
the West Coast
 Some were attracted
by the Gold Rush,
others went to work
for the railroads,
farmed or worked as
domestic servants
 An anti-Chinese
immigration act by
Congress curtailed
immigration after
1882
Many Chinese men
worked for the
railroads
JAPANESE
In 1884, the Japanese
government allowed
Hawaiian planters to
recruit Japanese
workers
 The U.S. annexation of
Hawaii in 1898
increased Japanese
immigration to the
west coast
 By 1920, more than
200,000 Japanese lived
on the west coast

THE WEST INDIES AND
MEXICO
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Between 1880 and 1920,
about 260,000 immigrants
arrived in the eastern and
southeastern United States
from the West Indies
They came from Jamaica,
Cuba, Puerto Rico, and
other islands
Mexicans, too, immigrated
to the U.S. to find work
and flee political turmoil –
700,000 Mexicans arrived
in the early 20th century
ARRIVAL AT ELLIS ISLAND
A.
B.
C.
Traveled by steamship to America
1. trip across Atlantic took 1 week
2. trip across Pacific took 3 weeks
Traveled in “Steerage” or the cheapest
accommodations in a ship’s cargo hold
Conditions:
THE JOURNEY TO AMERICA
ARRIVAL ON ELLIS ISLAND
REGISTRY ROOM
“Great Hall”
 189 feet long and 102
feet wide
 Officials in the Great
Hall decided whether
each person could
enter the country
right away or whether
that person's case
required further
review.

MEDICAL PROCESS
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The first test was a "sixsecond physical." A
uniformed doctor looked
for any signs of illness or
contagious diseases.
If someone was considered
a risk to the public health,
his or her clothes were
marked by a piece of chalk
with an identifying letter.
An "X" denoted insanity.
LEGAL INSPECTION

Where were you born?
Are you married?
What is your
occupation? Have you
ever been convicted of
a crime? How much
money do you have?
What is your
destination?

Legal detainees lived
in a dormitory room
on the third floor.
They might wait a few
days or even a month.
Then their case would
be reviewed in the
Hearing Room.
STAIRS OF SEPARATION

Immigrants who were
being detained were
often brought down
the center aisle.
People who were
traveling west or
south walked down
the right side of the
staircase. Those going
to New York City or to
the north walked
down the left side.
A.
B.
Ellis Island: immigration station in New York Harbor which
decided whether or not immigrants would be admitted to
America
17 million immigrants passed through
1. Had to pass a physical health exam
2. Had to pass a government inspector’s test
a. able to work?
b. have some money?
c. never been convicted of a felony?
ELLIS ISLAND
ELLIS ISLAND, NEW YORK HARBOR
A.
B.
Angel Island: immigration station in the San
Francisco Bay which decided whether or not
immigrants would be admitted to America
Between 1910-1940 50,000 Chinese enter U.S.
1. much more harsh
2. longer decision time
ANGEL ISLAND
ANGEL ISLAND WAS CONSIDERED MORE
HARSH THAN ELLIS ISLAND
A.
Challenges Faced by
Immigrants:
1. find a place to live
2. find a job
3. understand language
4. understand culture
SO YOU’RE IN! NOW WHAT?
FRICTION DEVELOPS
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While some immigrants tried
to assimilate into American
culture, others kept to
themselves and created ethnic
communities
Committed to their own
culture, but also trying hard
to become Americans, many
came to think of themselves as
Italian-Americans, PolishAmericans, ChineseAmericans, etc
Some native born Americans
disliked the immigrants
unfamiliar customs and
languages – friction soon
Chinatowns are found in many
developed
major cities
IMMIGRANT RESTRICTIONS
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Anti-Asian feelings included
restaurant boycotts
As immigration
increased, so did antiimmigrant feelings
among natives
Nativism (favoritism
toward native-born
Americans) led to antiimmigrant organizations
and governmental
restrictions against
immigration
D.
1882 Chinese Exclusion Act: law
passed by Congress which banned
Chinese immigrants for a period of
10 years (few exceptions)
E.
1897 Congress pass law requiring
literacy test for immigrants
(President Cleveland veto's)
F.
1906 San Francisco Board of Ed.
segregate Japanese school children
Outcome: Gentleman’s Agreement:
Japan will limit immigration if
segregation repealed
YOUR ASSIGNMENT!

You’ve just immigrated to the United States. Write
a postcard to your family back home and tell them
these 3 things: Why did you immigrate? What was
it like going through Angel or Ellis Island? How
were you treated by Americans when you arrived?

Write this on the journal entry!