Immigration and Discrimination Effects of the Industrial Revolution
Types of Immigration Push problems that cause people to leave their homeland. Pull factors that draw people to another place.
Where did they come from? 1840 s-1890 s: most immigrants came from northern and western Europe. Irish, British, German and Scandinavians Late 1890 s many came from southern and eastern Europe. Italians, Greeks, Hungarians, Poles and Russians.
1845-52 the Great Potato Famine in Ireland. 1840 s half of all immigrants were from Ireland. American Dream 5 million Germans came to farm the fertile lands of the mid-west Revolutions 2 million Jews came to escape persecution in Russia and later Romania. Push or Pull?
Immigrants From Asia By 1850s many Chinese men came to help in the gold mines, and to lay RR track By the early 1880s most harvest workers in the state of California were Chinese. By 1882, nearly 40,000 Chinese men migrated to the U.S.
Chinese Exclusion Act 1882 prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers, skilled or unskilled for a period of 10 years. It also prevented Chinese already in the country from becoming citizens. many were deported back to China.
Chinese Exclusion Act Exceptions to this law were made for: Merchants Diplomats Teachers Students And relatives of existing Chinese-American citizens.
Oregon Immigrants
Pendleton Underground
Chinese Exclusion Act It was the first time the United States had restricted immigration based solely on nationality or race. Why did they do this? Nativism Discrimination
Chinese Exclusion Act Nativism Political position giving a favored status to a certain established people of a country and not to newcomers. Discrimination prejudice or different treatment based on a certain group a person belongs to.
Chinese Exclusion Act Why? During the Long Depression of the 1870 s many Californians blamed the Chinese workers for their economic problems. They were an easy scapegoat because they looked different and were seen as inferior people by many.
Angel Island The Ellis Island of the Pacific completed in 1910. In San Francisco Bay Chinese Exclusion Act only permitted them in if they had a relative who was already a citizen. 10% were sent back, many spent years detained at Angel Island.
Built in 1892 used as the port of entry for most European immigrants. Inspections at the island were for steerage passengers (those in 3 rd class) 1 st and 2 nd class passengers did not have to go through inspection. Ellis Island
Ellis Island Medical Inspections Checked for lameness, eye conditions, heart or mental issues Legal Interviews Do you have work waiting for you in the U.S.? Foran Act 1885 made contracted labor illegal
Ellis Island what now? Those who passed the exam boarded a fairy for the mainland 20% did not pass and were detained or quarantined. 2% were sent back to their country of origin.
European Life in the Cities Many immigrants stayed in the urban areas looking for factory work. Settled in districts of the city where other people from their home country lived. Tenement living Ghettos
How Did They Survive? Many worked in low paying factory jobs or relied on assistance from relatives or churches. Settlement houses helped immigrants with health care, daycare for kids, classes on English
Who took advantage of the Political Bosses powerful leaders who ran local politics in big cities. They would provide jobs or pay bills for immigrants in exchange for votes. Tammany Hall in NYC was the worst. immigrants?
Discrimination Many Americans discriminated against the new immigrants. Why? Different cultures Different religion Different political views: Anarchists Socialists Communists
Nativism and the Know-Nothings The Know-Nothings opposed immigration and specifically Irish Catholics. In 1850s they formed a political party, and in 1856 Millard Fillmore ran for the presidency under this ticket.
Nativism Many Americans were threatened by immigrants afraid they would take all the jobs and bring the wages down. (sound familiar?) 1897 Congress passes a bill requiring immigrants to pass a literacy test it was vetoed by the Pres.
3 Waves of Immigration 1820-1870 from northern and western Europe 1880-1920 from all parts of the world, but especially southern and eastern Europe 1965-today from all parts of the world, but especially Latin America and Asian countries.
Laws Effecting Immigration 1924 National Origins Acts established a quota system. Targeted Asians and Eastern Europeans (Russians) 1965 Immigration Act abolished the quota system.
Immigration Today