Immigration
SWBAT Explain why and how immigrants came to the US in the Gilded Age Describe the immigrant experience and contributions
Immigration Many immigrants came to this country because of job availability and few restrictions (no laws) on immigration
Origin Colonial Immigration England, Germany, Sweden, Africa, Netherlands Old Immigration (1779-1865) N & W Europe (Ireland, Ger., Scandinavia, Mexicans) New Immigration (1865-1924) S & E Europe (Italy, Poland, Russia), Japan & China Reason for Immigration Political & religious freedom; Economic opportunities & slavery Famine in Ireland; Revolution in Germany; Economic opportunities Economic opportunities; Escape persecution in Russia
Areas of Settlement Difficulties Faced 13 Colonies Irish- cities in Northeast; Germansmidwest; Mexicans; southwest Conflicts with Native Americans; challenging new way of life Religious discrimination (Irish & Catholics) by Protestants; Mexican discrimination from whites Industrial cities & port cities; Asian immigrants- West Coast (California) Discrimination in jobs & housing; fear & hostility from native-born Americans
How they Influenced America English lang; sys of govt, religion, & cultural tradition; Africanslabor & culture Irish- built railroads, canals; factory work Germansadvanced farming methods, & kindergarten Mexicansmanual labor & farming techniques Italians & Russian Jewsgarment industry Poles & Slavescoal mines & steel mills Chinese- Transcont. RR & laundries Japanesemanual labor & farming
Push-Pull Factors Reasons for Emigration Push Factors Population pressure, overcrowded Recruitment Economic conditions American Attractions Pull Factors Labor Shortage Liberty & Freedom Ghettos (ethnic neighborhoods)
Immigration Where did they go?
How did they get here? Passage to the U.S. often cost a life s savings. Because of this, entire families often saved enough money to send one or two family members to America, hoping eventually these members could afford to bring over the rest of the family.
On the Boat The crowded steerage deck contained a diverse group of people. Many were poor farmers whose fathers or grandfathers land had been divided so often that the plots were no longer large enough to support even single families.
The Promise of a Better Life Others were schoolmasters unable to find work or artisans looking for greater opportunities. Many were young men & women willing to risk traveling to an unknown land in hopes of finding a brighter future.
Travel Dangers As for conditions below decks, an agent for the U.S. Immigration Commission described them as follows: During the twelve days in the steerage I lived in surroundings that offended every sense. Only a fresh breeze from the sea overcame the sickening odors. Everything was dirty, sticky, & disagreeable to the touch. In such conditions, disease & even death were not uncommon.
Living Conditions Conditions were uncomfortable, crowed, & dirty. The majority of immigrants settled in the big cities where factory jobs were available. By 1900, 4 of 5 people in New York City were immigrants or children of immigrants. In one part of New York City, 1,231 people lived in only 120 rooms. In Chicago in one year, over 60% of newborns never reached their first birthdays. Many babies asphyxiated in their own homes.
Living Conditions Many immigrants had no home & slept in 5-Cents-A-Spot rooms where people paid for a small space to spend the night.
Tenements then
Tenements now Do you think they still exists in the US? Explain.
Immigration Island of Hope, Island of Tears Directions: After watching the documentary about Ellis Island, and reading the article Who s Coming to America, write a 1 PAGE reaction. For the first part of your reaction, focus on the documentary. For the second paragraph, focus on comparing immigrants from the documentary during the late 1800s, and early 1900s, to those who are coming to the United States today.
Nativism & Cultural Pluralism
SWBAT Explain reactions to immigrants Do Now: Where were most immigrants during the wave of New Immigration, coming from?
Nativism Nativism- belief that native born citizens are more superior to immigrants Explain how the cartoon, Looking Backward represents nativism.
The High Tide of Immigration- A National Menace Explain the message in this cartoon.
The Last Yankee Cartoon by an English immigrant, depicting the point-of-view of the nativists, who feared the original American-stock of Anglo-Saxons was being degraded by S. & E. Europeans, & Chinese
Does this cartoonist support or oppose Nativism? Explain.
What about this one
Immigrate & Emigrate Immigrate- when a person has arrived in a new nation - Ex. Claude immigrated to America Emigrate- when a person leaves their home country to settle in another nation - Ex. Charles emigrated from Britain
Reactions to Immigration 1. Know-Nothing Party (Political): anti-immigrant, anti-catholic, tried to keep immigrants from voting & obtaining citizenship 2. Chinese Exclusion Act 1882: Congress passed law to severely limit Chinese immigration; referred to Chinese as Yellow Peril
Reactions to Immigration 3. Gentleman s Agreement 1907: President Roosevelt asked Japan to stop its emigration to the U.S.; in return US promised not to discriminate against Japanese already in the US
Reactions to Immigration 4. Literacy Tests: In 1917, Congress passed a law barring any immigrant who could not read or write
Reactions to Immigration 5. Emergency Quota Act of 1921: Limited the number of immigrants to the US each year to 350,000
Reactions to Immigration 6. National Origins Quota Act of 1924: - Set quotas (limits) on the amount of immigrants who could come into the US - Discriminated against Southern & Eastern Europeans - Later, limits # to 150,000 immigrants/year
Reactions to Immigration Stereotyping of the Irish Immigrant
Reactions to Immigration How has immigration changed from 1880-present?
Immigrants & American Society How were they absorbed into American society? 1. Assimilation: a) immigrants disappear into an already established culture b) gave up older language and customs & became Americanized to be accepted
Immigrants & American Society 2. Melting Pot Theory: a) people from various cultures met in US formed New American culture b) contributions of individual groups NOT easily distinguished c) New culture is more important than its parts
Immigrants & American Society 3. Cultural Pluralism (Salad Bowl Theory): *most correct a) recognizes that groups do not lose their distinctive characteristics b) groups live side-by-side, contributing in different ways to society
What s the difference between these two theories?
Wrap Up Which laws restricted the # of immigrants to the US each year? Why do you think people wanted to restrict immigration? How did the views of settlement house workers (Hull House) differ from those of nativists? Would you consider the US a land of opportunity during the New wave of immigration? Explain.
Ellis Island