IMMIGRANT Llf.E ate: Between 1865, when the Civil War ended, and 1900, about 14 million immigrants arrived in the United States. They came from countries like Italy, Russia, Poland, Greece, Germany, Great Britain, China, and Sweden. These immigrants hoped for a better life in the United States. Many of the boats carrying immigrants across the Atlantic Ocean had to stop first at Ellis Island in New York Harbor. In the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, immigrants were inspected by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. If people were sick, they were sent back to their original countries. Immigrants also could not enter the country if they had prison records or no money. When they entered the country, immigrants found their problems were just beginning. Most immigrants ended up settling in the big cities. The majority of immigrants were poor and did not have special work skills. Most could not speak English. Their cultures and religions were different from those of native-born Americans, many of whom disliked the immigrants. Native-born Americans resented them because they felt the immigrants took away jobs. Immigrants often felt out of place and isolated. Because of these feelings, they formed ethnic neighborhoods. For example, people who had traveled from Greece chose to live in the same part of a city as other Greek immigrants. In these neighborhoods, immigrants met people who spoke their language and ate the same foods that they liked. Having contact with people from their homeland made immigrants feel less homesick and less lonely. Because so many people moved to the cities, there was not enough housing for them. Builders put up small, crowded tenement apartments. Families would live in one room that had no windows. People on the same floor of a building had to share one bathroom. People in cities got sick easily because of the living conditions. Garbage was not always collected, and sewers were often backed up. Sometimes, there was no clean drinking water. Living in cities like New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco was not easy for most people. Immigrants and native-born Americans alike had to struggle to get by in the growing cities of the United States. Though immigrants went through hard times, they adapted to American life. Today, you can still find ethnic neighborhoods, like Chinatown in San Francisco and Little Italy in New York City. PCI (!!)]REPROUCIBLE U.S. HISTORY SHORTS 2 31
ate: Multiple Choice Circle the best answer, and write the letter in the box. 1. Between 1865 and 1900, about immigrants arrived in the United States. A. 14 million B. 24 million C. 140 million. 200 million 2. People were not allowed to enter the country if they A. were sick B. had prison records C. had no money. all of the above 3. In ethnic neighborhoods, people could A. meet others who spoke their language B. meet others who ate the same foods that they liked C. feel less homesick and less lonely. all of the above 4. Tenement apartments were A. large and luxurious B. small and crowded C. like a small house. two bedroom condos 5. San Francisco's Chinatown is an example of a/an, A. tenement B. city C. ethnic neighborhood. suburb PCII!JJ REPROUCIBLE U.S. HISTORY SHORTS 2 32
ate: Crossword Puzzle Write the best answer in each blank, and complete the crossword puzzle. 1. 2. 3. 4. s. 7. 8. 9. 2. Greek immigrants might have moved to a Greek. 6. Immigrants hoped for a better life in the 8. In cities, was not always collected, and sewers were often backed up. 9. Many immigrants were inspected by the Immigration and Naturalization Service at Island. 1. Living in like New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco was not easy for most people. 2. Many immigrants could not speak _ z 3. Cities grew so quickly that there was not enough for all the people. 4. Having contact with people from their made immigrants feel less homesick and less lonely. ~ c 5. Many Americans disliked immigrants because they thought the immigrants took away jobs. 7. There was sometimes no clean drinking in cities. PCI f.!!!iaepaoucible U.S. HISTORY SHORTS 2 33
ate: Charts- Percent of U.S. Foreign-Born Population, 1900 and 2000 Use the charts to answer the following questions. Write the answers in complete sentences. 1900 2000 Central America 34.So/o Other Regions 12.6o/o Latin America 1.3o/o Asia 1.2o/o South America 6.6o/o Caribbean 9.9o/o Source: U.S. Census Bureau 1. In 1900, what area were most foreign-born Americans from? 2. In 2000, what area were most foreign-born Americans from? 3. What percentage of foreign-born Americans was from Asia in 2000? PCI f.!!!l REPROOUCISLE U.S. HISTORY SHORTS 2 34
ate: Extension Activities Choose one of the following activities to complete. Write the answer in complete sentences. 1. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from another country. What country gave it to the. United States? In what year was it placed on Ellis Island? Look on the Internet or at the library to find out. 2. Why do you think people were sent back to their original countries if they had prison records? 3. Though millions of immigrants moved to the United States between 1865 and 1900, few settled i_n the South. Why do you think few immigrants settled in the South? PC I f.!lll REPROUCIBLE U.S. HISTORY SHORTS 2 35
QUIZ: ate: True/False ecide if each statement is true or false, and write "true" or "false" in the blank. 1. Tenement apartments were small and crowded. 2. In ethnic neighborhoods, immigrants felt less homesick and less lonely. 3. Most immigrants spoke English. 4. Between 1865 and 1900, about 1,400 immigrants arrived in the United States. 5. Many native-born Americans did not like immigrants. Multiple Choice Circle the best answer, and write the letter in the box. 6. In big cities,. A. there sometimes was no clean drinking water B. garbage was not always collected C. sewers were often backed up. all of the above 7. is an example of an ethnic neighborhood. A. Ellis Island B. Chicago C. New York City's Little Italy. all of the above Short Answer Answer the following question in complete sentences. 8. What are two reasons why an immigrant would not be allowed to enter the country? PCI f.i!!l REPROUCIBLE U.S. HISTORY S H 0 RTS 2 36