Immigration. America s Past, Present & Future

Transcription

1 Immigration America s Past, Present & Future

2 Case Study 1 COMING TO AMERICA

3 Old Immigrants Early in American history, immigrants typically came to the United States from Western Europe: Germany England France Ireland

4 These particular immigrant groups shared common cultural elements with our Founding Fathers which made their immigration less challenging.

5 New Immigrants After the 1880s, immigrants began to come from more locations including: South Eastern Europe Caribbean China

6 These new immigrant groups were not warmly welcomed by all in the United States. They were often looked down upon for their cultural and linguistic differences. Many were discriminated against throughout American society.

7 The Golden Door Immigrants over many years endured the hardships of leaving home and traveling in order to make new lives in the US. They could enter the US through several ports: Boston Philadelphia Baltimore Los Angeles San Francisco Seattle New York City

8 More than 70% of all immigrants came through New York City. This port came to be called the Golden Door. In 1892, the federal government opened up an immigration station on Ellis Island near the New York Harbor near the State of Liberty

9 19 th Century Immigration Policy Ellis Island was the result of new immigration policy. Prior to 1880s, individual states decided their own immigration restrictions. During the 1880s, the federal government became more active and developed many new policies.

10 Immigration Act of 1891 The Immigration Act of 1891 law aimed to keep immigrants at holding places, like Ellis Island, to protect them from people who might take advantage of them. It also aimed at protecting the nation from particular immigrants.

11 Immigration Law created the Office of the Superintendent of Immigration. Its purpose was to set requirements that immigrants had to pass before coming into the United States. Ellis Island was a center where immigrants would be detained until they were checked.

12 Traveling to America Steamships offered three ways to travel: 1. First class 2. Second class 3. Third class

13 Cabin Accommodations First class passengers had the largest and most comfortable cabins. Second class passengers traveled in smaller, less expensive cabins. Most immigrants could not afford first or second class, they traveled in third class (Steerage) which typically cost $15-$20 $800 today.

14 On large ships 2,00 immigrants would crowd into steerage. They were assigned bunks, had little personal space and no privacy. Most remembered steerage as being difficult, uncomfortable and unhealthy.

15 Welcome to Ellis Island One of the first sights immigrants saw was the Statue of Liberty (given to the US from France in 1886). The first time I saw the Statue of Liberty all the people were rushing to the side of the boat. Look at her, look at her, and (in all kinds of languages). There she is, there she is, like it was somebody who was greeting them.

16 Ellis Island After rejoicing at their safe arrival, immigrants were questioned and inspected by doctors and other workers at Ellis Island. Only immigrants who were healthy and could support themselves would be allowed to enter the United States.

17 Immigrants who did not pass inspection would be sent back to Europe , more than 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island.

18 Passing inspection Almost all immigrants spent about 5 hours at Ellis Island before entering the United States. Most passed a series of medical, mental, and legal inspections with little or no trouble. Others who did not passed were filled with anxiety and fear!

19 Medical Inspection The inspection process began with a quick medical inspection hair, mouth, skin, and eyes. Eyes were checked with a button hook to pull back eyelids.

20 If doctors found something wrong they marked the immigrant s clothing with chalk: E for eyes H for heart Immigrants marked with chalk were given a more thorough medical inspection.

21 When illness was confirmed, immigrants were sent to Ellis Island hospital. They stayed there for a few days or weeks while they were treated. Once they were recovered, they were released.

22 Mental Inspection The most dreaded mark was an X designating mental problems. This inspection came with a variety of tests. Sometimes the questions would make little sense to newcomers who didn t understand English very well.

23 Typical Mental Check Question Would you wash stairs from the top down or from the bottom up? 9 out of 100 immigrants were marked with an X during inspection. These people went to a special room for questioning.

24 Legal Inspection Immigrants who passed both the medical and mental exams moved on to wait for a legal inspection. Once their names were called, an inspector with the help of an interpreter would ask quick questions.

25 Legal questions What is your name? What is your occupation? Are you married or single? Can you read or write? Have you ever been in prison? How much money do you have?

26 These questions confirmed information recorded on the steamship logs. They were also designed to assess whether an immigrant could support themselves. After this inspection, the immigrant was either permitted to enter the US or held for further questioning.

27 Most immigrants passed the tests. Then, they collected their baggage, exchanged their money for US dollars, and waited outside for a ferry that would carry them to New York City, and a new life.

28 Heartbreak Island As many as 20% of all immigrants coming through Ellis Island were detained (held up). 2% of 12 million who arrived were deported (sent back) to Europe.

29 Some families were held while waiting for money or tickets to arrive. Mothers & children waited for a husband or relative to pick them up. When immigrants failed the medical exam, they & their families were detained until the entire family was healthy enough to leave. Immigrants with incurable diseases, or failed mental or legal exams were usually deported as quickly as possible.

30 Sometimes families were split apart: Mothers, fathers, grandparents, even children as young as 10 years old, were sent back to Europe alone. For these reasons Ellis Island became known as the Isle of Tears or Heartbreak Island

31 What Next? Of the 12 million people who came through Ellis Island, only 1/3 remained in New York City. 8 million others traveled to areas across the country to places where industry was booming and jobs were easy to find.

32 The majority of immigrants traveled to their destinations by railway. They wore tags pinned on their clothing showing where they were traveling to and where they had to change trains.

33 Life in the City Most immigrants settled in cities. Cities attracted immigrants for many reasons: Offered work Ethnic neighborhoods However the immigrant neighborhoods were located in the poorest areas of the cities, most families crowded into tenements (crowded buildings with poor sanitation, safety & little comfort)

34 Settling In Immigrants faced several challenges: Learning to speak English (if you spoke English you found work quicker) Giving up their old ways & customs

35 The End of an Era Through the years, changes in immigration laws severely limited the number of immigrants who were allowed to enter the US. Immigrants were now being checked at ports in countries where they were leaving. Immigration stations like Ellis Island (NYC) and Angel Island (CA) were no longer needed.

36 Ellis Island closed in It was declared a national monument in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. About 40% of all Americans can trace their ancestry to immigrants arriving at Ellis Island.

37 Present day Immigration In the 21 st Century, the US has seen a new wave of immigration take shape. Immigrants from Vietnam, Haiti and Mexico are increasing in numbers.

38 homework Identifying main ideas: (answer these questions on a separate piece of paper) 1. What conditions did most immigrants encounter on their voyages to the US? 2. What kinds of inspections did immigrants undergo at Ellis Island? 3. What advantages and disadvantages did cities offer to immigrants?

39 Case Study 2 CONNECTING THE COASTS

40 A growing Country In the mid-1800s the US was rapidly expanding. At the start of the Civil War, there were 35,000 miles of railroad track in the US (most in Northeast). Railroads made travel easier and faster.

41 Community leaders throughout the United States began pushing for a transcontinental railroad (extending across the continent) to connect east to west.

42 The Pacific Railway Act In 1862, Congress passed the Homestead Act (law allowing citizens and permanent immigrants to claim 160 acres of public land for $10). President Lincoln signed into law the Pacific Railway Act (provided for building of the transcontinental railroad).

43 Significance of the Legislation? The two laws were connected, because the building of the railroad would allow people to claim land more easily and thus develop communities in the West. Building the transcontinental railroad would be the greatest engineering feat the nation ever attempted.

44 Competition for completion After the passage of the law, the US government encouraged railroad construction and competition in several ways. 1. Provided $65 million to companies paying companies based on the number of miles of track laid. 2. Promised to give away public land (10 square miles of land for each mile of track).

45 The search for workers At first hiring was difficult because most men in California were busy mining gold. Some hired ex-civil War soldiers and newly immigrated Irish workers. Eventually, companies like Charles Crocker s Union Pacific turned to hiring Chinese workers.

46 An army of immigrants Many Chinese had left China during the 1850s to escape wars and internal rebellions against the Chinese government (Taiping Rebellion). Emigration (leaving a native homeland) was punishable by death, but many Chinese fled for safety to the US.

47 Many Chinese came in search of gold, staying long enough to support their families. Chinese who had come to the US and return to their villages inspired others to come calling the US Gum Shan the mountain of gold

48 In search of gold mountain Once the gold rush stated, the numbers of Chinese in the US increased rapidly. Between more than 60,000 came to the US. This steady immigration continued until 1876 due to no immigration laws.

49 At the height of the gold rush, foreign shipping companies hoping to profit by carrying Chinese immigrants to gold mines, raised the cost of passage from China to US dramatically from $40 to $200. At first Chinese were welcomed because they would work for low wages.

50 Competition for gold Chinese were soon met with hostility by whites who resented their presence in the mines. In reality, Chinese did not compete with white miners. When gold started to become rare, the friendly atmosphere became hostile.

51 Attacks against the Chinese 1850, California passed the Foreign Miner s License law (a tax of $20 a month on foreign miners). This resulted in many Chinese miners leaving the gold mining industry. This led to many poor, unemployed immigrants in San Francisco. The law was removed in 1851.

52 California s Anti-Chinese Laws The California s legislature passed several anti-chinese laws. A tax on foreigners was imposed if they were not citizens a 1790 law allowed only white immigrants to apply for citizenship.

53 The Chinese were unable to fight the discrimination they faced. As unemployment soared, whites angrily blamed Chinese.

54 From Gold Mines to Railroads Many discouraged Chinese tried to return to China but could not afford passage. Many Chinese turned to the railroads for work, and were much more efficient than the white workers.

55 Dangerous WOrk Laying the foundation for the railroad was very dangerous. The track had to be laid in treacherous land and few white workers were willing to risk their lives, leaving the Chinese to complete the daunting tasks handling dynamite, nitroglycerin.

56 The healthful habits of the Chinese workers kept them healthier than their white counterparts.

57 An Act of Betrayal With the completion of the transcontinental railroad, thousands of Chinese laborers were suddenly out of work. Some returned home to China, some went to Canada and others went onto other western states.

58 Many Chinese found work in factories making boots, shoes, clothing and cigars. Before long, more white laborers both native and immigrant found themselves in competition with Chinese workers and frustration grew.

59 Growing resentment against the Chinese White workers felt that Chinese were taking the few jobs that were available. They also felt that because Chinese workers earned less than whites, they were holding down wages.

60 White workers in San Francisco and other California towns protested against the Chinese. Anti-Chinese riots spread from California to Colorado, Montana and Nevada.

61 Anti-Chinese feelings weren t always job related. The Chinese were different in appearance, culture, and religion. White workers could not understand or accept these differences. Even other immigrants considered the Chinese as outsiders.

62 Legalized Discrimination Workers formed organizations that pressured lawmakers into restricting Chinese immigration. Politicians eager for votes, made anti-chinese speeches Chinese constitution banned anyone except native-born whites, white immigrants, and African Americans from owning or inheriting land. 1880, the legislature forbid immigrants from fishing or selling fish from California waters.

63 Additional legal actions Cubic Air Law (1870) forbid cramped living conditions. Queue Ordinance (1876) allowed sheriff to cut the hair off all male prisoners Laundry Ordinance (1879) made laundry owners pay special fees.

64 Chinese Exclusion Act Nationally, politicians took a stand against the Chinese 1882 Congress passed legislation which banned immigration of Chinese laborers for the next 10 years and denied citizenship to Chinese already living there. Another law stated any white citizen married to a Chinese living in the US would lose her citizenship.

65 Similar laws discriminated against the Chinese in other areas of the United States. In 1910, as part of this restrictive immigration policy, the US government built a detention center on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay becoming a prison for hundreds of Chinese (closed in 1940).

66 Tighter Laws Although the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 had protected the right of Chinese immigrants already living in the US to travel freely to & from the US, the Scott Act of 1888 took that right away.

67 In 1892, every Chinese person living in the US had to carry a certificate of residence (documentation of their legal residence). 1892, the Geary Act renewed the Chinese Exclusion Act for another 10 years, in 1902 it was extended indefinitely. 1924, National Origins Act restricted immigration to the US from every country in Asia.

68 A Changing Community Chinese began forming their own communities called Chinatowns. The Chinese could exist without fear and following their traditional customs.

69 Fighting Back Chinese did not quietly accept discrimination. Chung Wah Kung Saw (Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association CCBA) became the major voice for the Chinese people. Arranged return passage to China Fought prejudice Brought discrimination cases to court

70 New Opportunities Chinese employed one another. They developed social centers called fongs that ran clubs and provided jobs, housing and other opportunities. They often established their own businesses.

71 A long road Laws against Chinese lasted until World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to repeal the Chinese Exclusion Act as China was a US ally. As a result more women immigrated.

72 In 1950s & 1960s, the US welcomed refugees from the communist regime in China and provided scholarships for Chinese students to enable them to study at American colleges. Since the 1960s, new laws have allowed about 20,000 Chinese to emigrate each year.

73 homework Identifying main ideas: (answer these questions on a separate piece of paper) 1. Why were Chinese immigrants recruited to help build the transcontinental railroad? 2. Why did white workers resent the Chinese? 3. How did the Chinese Exclusion Act affect Chinese immigrants? 4. Why did most Chinese immigrants live and work in Chinatowns in the late 1800s and early 1900s?

74 Case Study 3 POLICIES AND PREJUDICE

75 Nativism People who felt strongly that US laws should favor nativeborn Americans were called nativists. Many nativists ideas were based on practical concerns like job competition and increased crime, but also on prejudice.

76 Nativists claimed that problems of poverty and crime were caused by character flaws in immigrants. However, the real causes included poor housing, low wages, and discrimination.

77 No Irish Need Apply Nativists especially resented Irish Catholic immigrants whose numbers grew due to the potato famine in Ireland. Nativists felt the Irish were lazy, uneducated, untrustworthy, and harddrinking.

78 The Know-Nothings During the 1840s, nativists came together to form a new political party called the Know-Nothings (its members were sworn to secrecy). The Know-Nothings swore support to only nativist candidates and never to support an immigrant or Catholic candidate. They pushed for restrictive immigration laws including a 21- year waiting period for naturalization.

79 Nativism on the rise With unions, politicians and anti-asian sentiment on their side, nativists fought harder than ever for restrictions on immigration. In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was the first federal law to specifically limit immigration on the basis of race.

80 Growing Fears By the close of the 19 th century, increasing numbers of immigrants arrived from Southern & Eastern Europe Italians, Greeks, Slavs, Poles, and Russian Jews (13 million between ).

81 With the arrival of so many new immigrants, new nativist concerns and prejudice began to surface. These new immigrants spoke different languages and because of that difference nativists felt they would not be able to assimilate (adapt to) the American way of life.

82 American nationalism (loyalty to one s country) swept the nation after World War I. In 1917, nativists won a major victory when Congress passed the Immigration Act requiring all immigrants 16 years or older to read a 40-word passage in either English or some other dialect including Yiddish or Hebrew a literacy test.

83 Closing the Gates Most immigrants could read to the dismay of nativists. The Sacco & Vanzetti case took place at the height of the antiimmigration hysteria in the 1920s called the Red Scare. Nativists used the case to highlight how violent and dangerous immigrants can be.

84 In response, Congress passed a temporary law in 1921 that set quotas (limits) for immigration on the basis of population figures. In 1924, the National Origins Act, Congress made the quota law permanent and stricter.

85 A New Perspective In 1939, following the Great Depression, World War II virtually shut down all immigration. Concerned about sabotage by immigrants who were suspected of having divided loyalties, Congress quickly passed the 1940 Alien Registration Act requiring all resident aliens to register with the government.

86 The Second World War In 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the US joined the war against the Axis powers- Germany, Italy & Japan.

87 Almost immediately, German Americans, Italian Americans, and Japanese Americas faced discrimination from fellow citizens. The Japanese were treated the worst.

88 Many believed the Japanese Americans were part of the plan to destroy the United States. Between the US government declared people of Japanese ancestry a threat to the safety of the US, and interned (held prisoner) them in 10 isolated camps in the middle of the US.

89 Chinese Americans, however, benefited greatly from the war. Having fought as allies with the US, they had earned respect and in 1943 the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed.

90 Relaxing the Laws In 1948 Congress passed the Displaced Persons Act of 1948 allowing 205,000 World War II refugees to enter the US over 2 years. In 1952, the US removed all remaining racial restrictions against immigration and naturalization with the Immigration and Nationality Act to stop the spread of communism.

91 A new system The Civil Rights movement of the 1950s & 1960s made people sensitive to issues of discrimination, and in 1965 Congress finally eliminated the national origin system of immigration, replacing it with a new system that tied admission to factors such as family relationships, skills, and refugee status. The Immigration Act of 1965 capped immigration at 290,000 and replaced quotas with general quotas for the entire Eastern & Western Hemisphere.

92 Special Exceptions During the 1970s, largely as a result of the Vietnam War, the US recognized a need for special exceptions to immigration quotas to accommodate refugees. Congress responded to the refugee overload situation with the Refugee Act of 1980 removing refugees from the preference category and establishing a clear procedure for admission.

93 Not all would-be refugees received equal treatment. Shortly after the Refugee Act went into effect, large numbers of Cubans and Haitians (fleeing oppressive governments) came to the US through Florida.

94 The (white) Cubans were initially welcomed, but most (black) Haitians were turned away.

95 Deciding Who Should Enter During the 1970s changing attitudes toward immigration and immigrations from particular countries continued. Some Americans questions whether the US could or should accommodate many more foreigners.

96 Evaluating Immigration A 1981 report by the US government committee called the Select Committee on Immigration and Refugee Policy evaluated immigration policies & procedures and concluded that limiting immigration was in the best interest of the nation.

97 In 1986, Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act attempting to control illegal immigration by requiring employers to verify citizenship status of all newly hired employees and by fining employers who knowingly hired undocumented workers.

98 The law also allowed illegal aliens who had lived in the US since at least 1982 to apply for amnesty (citizenship process after proving residency for 4 years). More than 3 million illegal aliens took advantage of this opportunity.

99 Ongoing debates The Immigration Act of 1990 (still in effect) raised the annual limit on immigration to 675,000; created special categories for familysponsored, employmentbased, and diversity / lottery immigrants.

100 It also revised the grounds for exclusion and deportation, easing restrictions that had denied entrance to many people in the past.

101 By 1996, more than 24 million legal immigrants living in the US accounted for 9% of the population. The US saw a large influx of immigrants from Mexico, the Philippines, Vietnam, the Dominican Republic, mainland China and Taiwan, Korea and India.

102 Newcomers Many newcomers fall in one of two categories: Highly educated Little education As more and more immigrants enter the country, state and local government struggle to meet their needs for education, jobs, and health services.

103 Proposition 187 Proposition 187 was a California law denying medical and educational services to illegal immigrants. In March 1998, US District Judge Mariana Pfaelzer declared Proposition 187 unconstitutional asserting only the federal government can regulate immigration.

104 The Welfare Reform Act The Welfare Reform Act of 1996 called for cutbacks in Food Stamps and other federal benefits to immigrants, as well as imposing a 5 year waiting period from the date of entry to be eligible for those services at all.

105 homework Identifying main ideas: (answer these questions on a separate piece of paper) 1. What is nativism, and what immigration policies did it bring about in the late 1800s and early 1900s? 2. How did the National Origins Act of 1924 affect immigration? 3. How and why did attitudes toward immigration change during the 1960s? 4. What are some factors that encourage Americans to welcome or bar immigrants?

106 Case Study 4 IMMIGRANTS SEARCH FOR OPPORTUNITY

107 New Immigrants? The wave of African Americans from the South occurred at the same time as the wave of West Indian immigration to New York City. Despite the fact that both groups traced their roots to Africa, there were great differences between them.

108 Because of prejudice and segregation in the South, southern African Americans were mostly uneducated and unskilled. By contrast, most West Indian immigrants could read and write English more than 70% were either professional people, office workers, or skilled laborers.

109 The advantage in education and in skills meant that West Indians were often hired before African Americans for many jobs.

110 Why Harlem? In the 1920s, Harlem (an area of NYC) became the Promised Land for many African Americans. They believed it would provide them the opportunity to own property and escape brutal conditions of the south.

111 Harlem became the center of African American culture in the US. Harlem was also a magnet for people from the West Indies. New York City was just as segregated as the South. Landlords refused to rent apartments to people of color, many businesses refused to serve African Americans.

112 Contributing to the Harlem Renaissance In 1924, the National Origins Act limited immigration even more. The only countries that these laws did not affect were in the Western Hemisphere allowing West Indian immigrants to enter the US almost unrestricted through the 1920s.

113 Because white immigrants with whom they might have competed for jobs were barred from entering, West Indians found many opportunities for employment. The great wave of West Indians arrived in Harlem.

114 A Rebirth of the Arts In Harlem, music and the arts flourished. This exciting time became known as the Harlem Renaissance (rebirth of artistic activity). Much of the Renaissance resulted because of the efforts of West Indian immigrants who were arriving in Harlem in growing numbers.

115 The U.N.I.A and Black Hopes Marcus Garvey challenged the energy of Harlem by founding the U.N.I.A. with the aim of uniting all the Negro people of the world into one great body to establish a country and government all their own.

116 Garvey becomes a hero In the 1920s Garvey became a hero for helping by providing support to African Americans while avoiding help from white sources. He took a militant approach to dealing with white society which outraged many African American leaders.

117 Garvey s Downfall He opposed integration of any kind, even approaching the KKK for support! He was charged with mail fraud and was sentenced for 5 years in prison, then upon his release was deported to Jamaica.

118 Working for the dream During the 1930s there was little reason for West Indians to migrate to the US. Along with economic uncertainty, immigration laws permitted fewer than 1,000 immigrants from West Indies to enter the US each year.

119 Free to Immigrate It was only at the end of the 1960s that West Indians were again free to immigrate to the US in large numbers. West Indian immigrants still face the traditional problems of all immigrants how much of the homeland to leave and how much to bring along.

120 Homework Identifying main ideas: (answer these questions on a separate piece of paper) 1. Why were West Indian immigrants treated better than African Americans from the South? 2. How did the Harlem Renaissance help unite African American & West Indian immigrants? 3. How did Marcus Garvey both help and hurt the cause of African American & West Indian immigrants?

121 Case Study 5 A NEW FORCE IN POLITICS

122 Prisoners on their own land Ireland had been dominated by the British since 1171, when British troops, led by King Henry II of England, conquered the land. At that time, the British confiscated (took away) Irish-owned lands and passed laws that limited Irish rights.

123 The British, who were primarily Protestant, controlled the Irish with these and other strict laws, known as Penal Laws. These laws were specifically aimed at Irish Catholics who made up 80% of Ireland s population.

124 The Penal Laws Among other things, the Penal Laws banned Irish Catholics from voting, owning land, working in government, serving on a jury, studying at a university, carrying guns, and speaking Gaelic (their native language). These laws also barred them from almost every profession, including teaching.

125 Irish Catholics who broke Penal Laws were fined, imprisoned, whipped or sentenced to death. The British hoped that the laws would force Irish Catholics to convert to the Protestant religion.

126 Farming was one of the few jobs available to Irish Catholics; they lived on and farmed British plantations. Most of the crops they grew were used to pay the rent. The Penal Laws were abolished by 1829, but the Irish Catholics had become trapped in a cycle of poverty from which there was virtually no escape.

127 Depending on Potatoes English landlords owned 95% of the land in Ireland, and demanded high rents and taxes. Irish farmers had to sell the corn, wheat, barley, and oats they grew to pay their rents. Almost all they grew on their farms was either sold or exported to Britain.

128 The Importance of Potatoes Irish farmers lived simple lives. Their diet consisted of oatmeal, milk, honey, butter and potatoes their most dependable crop. The potato fed the Irish for generations

129 The Great Famine In 1845, throughout Ireland, a quick-growing fungus invaded the potato crop. Known as the Great Famine (hunger) the potato rot continued for 10 years. As the crops failed, farmers struggled to feed their families.

130 Many children died of starvation. British landlords offered little help. They blamed the Irish for their problems, depicting them as drunkards and beggars. Cruel landlords evicted families who were unable to pay their rent, leaving them to die homeless.

131 Eventually, the British were forced to take action. They set up soup kitchens and public work programs that enabled some families to receive food. The British efforts were halfhearted, they simply did not care if the Irish lived or died.

132 While millions of Irish starved to death, the British landlords shipped thousands of tons of meat, grain and cattle from Ireland to England. As the famine continued, the British still demanded that the starving Irish pay their rent and taxes.

133 A Matter of Survival Many Irish left their homeland, believing that they would be better able to survive in the US. Although desperately poor, many found ways to make their transatlantic journey. Some hired themselves as indentured servants (temporary servants in exchange for the cost of their passage).

134 During the height of the famine, the British government had passed laws requiring landlords to help pay for relief efforts. The laws made landlords responsible for their tenants, the more people on a landlord s farm, the more he paid so it was usually cheaper for him to by their steerage tickets and send them away.

135 The Irish packed themselves into creaky ships to cross the Atlantic Ocean. These overcrowded ships were later called coffin ships because they were barely able to sail and they often reached their destinations only after losing half their passengers.

136 Some ships were so full of people that they sank within a few days of leaving Ireland. There were no beds, passengers slept on their folded clothes. The food and water were usually unfit for consumption.

137 During the famine, Ireland lost 1/3 of its population. Altogether, more than 1 million people died of either famine or disease. Nearly 2 million people came to the US between 1845 & The US seemed to offer work, land, food, wages, freedom, and the right to participate in government all things unavailable to the Irish in their homeland.

138 City Life in the United States At the time they arrived, 15% of the Irish lived in cities. In the cities, the Irish stuck together and formed communities. They were attracted to city life because it offered something more dependable then farming life they left behind.

139 Shantytowns The drawbacks to city life was its cost. Many Irish immigrants with little money for housing were forced to live in inexpensive areas close to where they worked. Large groups of Irish settled in what became known as shantytowns (crowded unsanitary areas where families lived in basement of shacks)

140 Poverty and living conditions in shantytowns bred crime, alcoholism and disease especially cholera.

141 A Cold Reception Native-born Americans (mostly Protestants) reacted with suspicion toward the Irish (mostly Catholics). Because they were the first large scale immigrant group to arrive in the US, native born Americans saw them as a threat to the American way of life.

142 Fitting In Among the first to appreciate the Irish immigrants were local politicians. They discovered that the Irish voted as a group for a particular candidate. They had little trouble gaining citizenship and the right to vote.

143 Politicians who won Irish votes rewarded Irish communities by providing them with needed services and jobs in fire departments, police departments, and other public service organizations, as well as positions in utilities, subways, and railways that the city owned.

144 Many Irish also joined labor unions as a way to gain respect. As the Irish gained power in labor unions, they worked to bring about higher wages, shorter workdays, and safer working conditions for Irish Americans and other immigrant gorups.

145 Building Political Power In large cities, groups of politicians came to be known as machines (informal powerful organizations). Men who had become successful in business and who were raised in shantytowns were leaders of Irish political machines, called bosses.

146 Irish political machines fought back against anti-catholic prejudice by appointing Irish Americans to jobs in education and public service. Through these jobs, favors, and services Irish politicians helped their communities overcome discrimination and improve their situation.

147 The Ultimate Victory By the 1930s, Irish Catholics were more successful than any other immigrant groups, despite their myth of allegiance to the pope overriding their patriotism. FDR chose Joseph Kennedy (Irish Catholic) as ambassador to Great Britain. Joseph Kennedy s son, John Fitzgerald Kennedy went on to become President of the United States.

148 homework Identifying main ideas: (answer these questions on a separate piece of paper) 1. What event sparked the immigration of millions of Irish to the US? 2. What types of jobs were available to the Irish in the US? 3. How did the Irish become power political forces?

149 Case Study 7 BUILDING COMMUNITIES

150 The First Group of Cuban Immigrants Late in 1958, Fulgencio Batista, the dictator (ruler) of Cuba fled the country after Fidel Castro launched a coup. Within months of the take over, Castro had announced that Cuba would become a Communist country.

151 The Golden Exiles The almost overnight transition of Castro from rebel hero to Communist dictator sent shock waves to the US. The US wanted to weaken Castro s government if possible by encouraging Cubans to leave the country.

152 Instead of categorizing Cubans entering the US as immigrants and limiting the number who could enter the country, the US labeled Cubans who left their homeland as political refugees (people who fled from a country for political reasons).

153 Among this group of Cuban immigrants were many professionals whose property had been confiscated, or taken by the Castro government. Despite their treatment at the hands of the Communists, these Cubans were known as the golden exiles because of their former status in Cuba.

154 Freedom Flights In 1965, Castro announced that Cubans who had relatives in the US could leave Cuba by boat. However many of the boats were not seaworthy, and this policy resulted in many deaths at sea.

155 To stop the loss of life, the governments of the US and Cuba agreed to reestablish air flights between the two countries. During the next 8 years, the so-called Freedom Flights brought more than 300,000 Cubans to the US.

156 The Expanding Community Between 1960 and 1970, the population of Cubans in Dade, County Florida (Miami particularly) grew from 29,500 to 224,000. The people who had fled Cuba in the early 1960s were among the best-educated and wealthiest group of immigrants ever to enter the United States.

157 Most, however, were forced to take jobs below their abilities. Despite the difficulties they encountered, Cuban refugees succeeded. Because many were well educated, they were able to rise quickly in their jobs once they learned English.

158 Homework Identifying main ideas: (answer these questions on a separate piece of paper) 1. What prompted thousands of Cubans to flee Cuba? 2. Why were Cubans able to easily immigrate to the US? 3. Why were Cubans welcomed in the US?