Immigration: The Great Push/Pull What do you see? What is the artist trying to say in this picture? Terms to consider Period of Immigration 1820-1924 Diversity Discrimination Racism Melting Pot (?) Civil European Unrest 1750 to 1850 Europe had a population explosion. A new food, the potato (from Peru), brought a source of high calories to the population. Resulting in more healthy babies being born and surviving past the age of 1. Period of Immigration (cont.) Period of Immigration (cont.) 1840s Irish potato famine blight rotted in the ground 1840s Ireland lost 8 million people to either death or emigration (leaving). 1880 to 1920 23 million immigrants came into the United States. This was the largest continuous voluntary human migration in the world. 1850s Ireland lost 4 million people to either death or emigration Question: What does voluntary mean in this situation? 1
Period of Immigration (cont.) Old Immigrants 1880 was the mark year. Not before or since has so many people arrived to one common destination. This resulted in changes in immigration Prior to 1880 immigrants were primarily from N.W. Europe. Question: Why? In 1848 there were Revolutions in Paris, Berlin, and Vienna: 2
Old Immigrants (cont.) English - Colonies Irish 1845 to 48; First non Protestants in large numbers German First non English in large numbers they were easily accepted Why? British Were welcomed common culture Scotts They had to leave They were kicked off of their land for sheep grazing pasture They were pushed out of their land, and pulled to America with Industry Labor Political liberties Freedom of Religion Native Americans were being pushed off of their land... Creating more opportunities for German immigrants (wealthier than the Irish). Before 1850 immigration was largely unregulated, which meant that there were little to no records kept they just took down names. Question: What are some problems that could arise from this? 3
After 1850 there was stricter enforcement they began to turn away undesirable immigrants The sick/lame Paupers (poor) Diseased tuberculosis Mentally retarded Felons Prostitutes based on clothes (?) Polygamists - based on religion Muslim Anarchists - from the 1848 revolutions Anyone under 16 years of age without parents Asians Nativism basically old immigrants feel superior to new immigrants After 1880 Immigrants face hostility from the old immigrants based on Language Religion (Jews, E. Orthodox, Catholics) Politics Education (literacy) Race Economics Job competition Ellis Island Ellis Island (cont.) 1890 Ellis Island Opens This was the new port of entry to the North and Northeast 5,000 per day came through Ellis a medical check was performed Question: What would this consist of? watching those that had trouble carrying/standing for long periods with their bags fainting 80% pass through initially most (of those that didn t pass) didn t pass the test due to dehydration Awaiting an eye examination 4
New Immigrants After 1880 the immigrants coming into America were primarily Italian, Hungarian, Russian, Slavic, and Asian (South and East Europe, and Asia). The Slavic people went to the mines, the Greeks worked on the railroad, and the Italians worked in the wine industry Asians Asians (cont.) Primarily the poor from China To California why? Asians had the most cultural differences that separated them from the other immigrants, resulting in violence against them. Asians were the first to be targeted with legislation against them 1880: US China Treaty which suspended/limited immigration numbers The press used stereotypes to portray them as opium dealers and prostitutes. 5
Asians (cont.) Misc. Geary Act of 1892 denied bail to Chinese had to get further certification or they were deported (they had to prove identification) South Carolina upheld these laws on the grounds of Public Interest By 1890 over 20 million Americans were of foreign birth (greater than 1/3 of the population, and 40% of the white population) Not born in America, or having at least one not born in America. More people moved to America between 1900 and 1910 than moved to Canada in 100 years Now (?) 2000 US Census Figures: European Americans (197 million; 71%) African Americans (33 million; 12%) Hispanic Americans (32 million; 12%) Asian Americans (11 million; 4%) Native Americans (2 million; 1%) 6