The New Immigrants
Great Migration Largest mass movement in history = 23 mil immigrants arrived in America between 1880-1921. 46 mil people left their homeland during this time and ½ came to the US U.S. had no quotas/limits 73% 1910 Eastern and Southern Europe 16% Northwestern Europe 11% Rest of the world
Push & Pull Factors 1. Economic reasons agriculturally based economies of many European towns were replaced during the Industrial Revolution. Mechanized farming laid off local farm laborers. Farmers were forced off land and into factories. 2. Political and Religious persecution in eastern Europe, Russian Jews were stripped of their legal rights (could not own land or attend schools) and Russian government supported violent mob attacks, called pogroms. 3. Magic Land - idea of the Magic Land with unlimited opportunity and riches.
Journey Across the Atlantic Families used all their savings to pay for the trip Steamship held between 1,200 and 2,000 people; trip lasted 8-14 days. Separated by class - Steerage had no windows, little ventilation, and only 1 toilet for every 47 1,000 passengers. Few ships had a steerage deck for people to have access to the outside.
Arrival in America 75% of immigrants entered the U.S. through immigration processing centers = Ellis Island (New York Harbor) or Angel Island (San Francisco) First sights of America were the skyscrapers and the Statue of Liberty
Medical Inspections Medical Inspection this was a way to weed out immigrants who might need public assistance. 1 st step baggage checked. 2 nd step single file up the grade stairway to Registry hall, where public health officials scanned the people as they walked up the stairs. 3 rd step top of stairs, immigrants were given an inspection card for a more thorough medical examination. The 45 minute exam took place in front of others and if doctors found something, they would place a letter on the immigrant s shoulder. (H-heart problems, K- hernia, L-lameness, X-mental defect, B-back problems). About 20% were held for further examination. If you passed examination, you went on to Registry Hall.
Legal Inspections Final Inspection: 1. clerk called name and matched identification number on tag, 2. inspector asked 32 questions which determined whether they had a legitimate reason to be here. 3. Recorded names incorrectly inspectors often misspelled immigrants names. Ex: Kapelovish = Kaplowitz. Only about 2% of immigrants, prior to 1921, were forced to return home.
Left-Side Urban Problems Define Urbanization (pg 262) [282] at the top of left-side page. Create six (6) boxes: (p264-265) [284-286] 1. Identify an urban problem in each box (housing, transportation, water, sanitation, crime, fire). 2. Brief summary for each problem 3. Draw an image to represent each Take-A-Stand: Based on these urban problems, how should these problems be fixed/address? (should anything be done and/or by whom?)
Left-Side Urban Problems Define Urbanization = (pg 262) [282] Brief summary about problem and an image (p264-265) [284-286] Housing (description) Transportation Water Sanitation Fire Crime Take-A-Stand: Based on these urban problems, how should these problems be fixed/address? (should anything be done and/or by whom?) Support.
Ethnic Enclaves Leaving Ellis Island Money exchange, post office, then collected their baggage and made travel arrangements to their final destination. About 12 million immigrants passed thru Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954. Ethnic Enclaves 2/3 of immigrants settled in urban centers by ethnic neighborhoods. Provided new immigrants with a sense of community and security.
Living Conditions cities could not keep with the increasing population. City Tenement Buildings run-down, low-rent apartment buildings in the poorest parts of town. Rural Living Conditions immigrants settled in small towns looking for agricultural work.
Working Conditions majority of immigrants worked in industrial jobs, provided a cheap labor source. Working conditions were often dangerous, unsanitary, and uncomfortable (poor ventilation, chemical fumes, smoke, airborne fibers.)
Americans Treatment of Immigrants Nativism a belief that immigrants posed a threat to native-born Americans and their way of life. Created prejudices based on ethnicity, race, religion, and social beliefs. In 1921, Congress, passed the Dillingham Bill, set quotas ending American s open-door policy. 1. Chinese Exclusion Act (1882-1942): banned entry to all Chinese except students, teachers, merchants, tourists, and govt officials. 2. Gentlemen s Agreement (1907-08): Japan agreed to limit emigration of unskilled workers to the U.S. after riots erupted in Japan over the segregation of Asian children in San Francisco schools.