{ Immigration & Change Immigration & Nativism in America at the turn of the 20 th Century.

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Immigration & Change

Immigration & Nativism in America at the turn of the 20th Century

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Lack of land, or overcrowding in European Nations like Italy

Religious persecution in Europe: Pogroms VS. Jewish

Revolution and Political Unrest in nations like Mexico

Job opportunities in the United States of America

Freedoms: of speech, of the press, of religious expression, and the chance to participate in a democratic government.

Immigration to the United States was caused by a variety of “push” and “pull” factors.

The Irish Potato Famine of Black ‘47 War and Conflict in Southeastern Europe Lack of Jobs and Land in Europe –

Economic Opportunity in the United States. Religious Persecution in Europe – Religious

Freedom in the United States. Democracy and Representative

Government in the United States – against monarchies and authoritarian governments in Europe.

The California Gold Rush, contract labor. Frequently, immigrants intended to make

money and return to their homelands; this often worked out exactly as planned.Other Reasons for

Immigration

Immigrants: The “Old” VS. The “New”

“Old Immigrants” The myth of the WASP –

White, Anglo-Saxon Protestants…

Northern or Western Europeans

English Speakers or familiarity with the language and alphabet

Protestant faiths allowed church-centered community development.

“The New Immigrants” Southern and Eastern

Europeans… Russian, Slavic, Balkan, Italian, Greek, Chinese, Japanese

Non English speakers – some with unique alphabets: Greek Cyrillic, Arabic.

Catholic, Jewish, or Orthodox Christian faiths made assimilation more difficult.

“The New Immigrants” Southern and Eastern

Europeans… Russian, Slavic, Balkan, Italian, Greek, Chinese, Japanese

Non English speakers – some with unique alphabets: Greek Cyrillic, Arabic, or Chinese characters.

Catholic, Jewish, or Orthodox Christian faiths made assimilation more difficult.

{ {Ellis Island, New York Harbor

Angel Island, San Francisco Bay

Immigration Stations processed New Immigrants to the United States – by the 1880s, though, immigration restrictions were being drafted into law.

{The process of becoming a part of another culture – it may require learning new languages, social norms, customs, holidays, traditions, and common beliefs.

Assimilation – (n.) a process…

How did Theodore Roosevelt’s views on immigration compare with Nativists? To what extent did he support immigrants?

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Ethnic neighborhoods allowed immigrants to have all of the comforts of home – a common language, culture, and even favorite foods – in their adopted nation. It could also prevent assimilation, though, since older family members never ventured out of the neighborhood to learn about American culture.

Ethnic Neighborhoods

The term “Melting Pot” is often applied to the United States – suggesting that all nationalities, religious groups, and ethnicities have been able to seamlessly blend in to American society over the years? The accuracy of this metaphor is much debated. In what ways, though, have Americans insisted upon assimilation over the years?

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The public school movement in Northern cities was started by Horace Mann at a time when immigration was increasing rapidly. Usually children in families learned to speak English before their parents or grandparents, and practiced American customs and traditions rather than – or in addition to - the customs of their native countries.

The Public Schools were created to help assimilate immigrant children to American culture.

{ Immigrants were the backbone to

America’s workforce, taking jobs in steel mills, meatpacking plants, mines, and garment workshops.

Unions continued to oppose immigration, though.

Ethnic foods gained great popularity. Immigrants and the children of immigrants

were major contributors of inventions and innovations.

Immigrant Contributions

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Nativists believed that the United States must be preserved for native born Americans – and the immigrants constituted a threat to the American way of life. This despite the fact that EVERY American is a descendent of immigrants and our nation could never have been founded were it not for the contributions of immigrants.

Nativism – (n.) Anti-Immigrant bigotry and racism

What groups of Americans supported anti-Immigrant political cartoons like the one in the previous frame? Why?

How did Nativist beliefs about the Irish and Chinese influence United States history? How were the assimilation processes both groups encountered similar? How were they different?

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Foreign Languages Non-Christian, or non-

Protestant religious faiths.

Unusual customs. Immigrants took jobs

from American workers. Violence Crime Poverty Intemperance Anarchy Superstitions and

Sabbath Desecration

Alleged Negative Characteristics of Immigrants - Nativists ascribed all of the problems in American Society to immigrant groups. Frequently, immigrants were the victims of these conditions, not the cause.

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The Immigration Acts of 1917 and 1924 placed restrictive barriers on immigration as well. Literacy requirements and economic tests prevented poor immigrants from coming to America.

Rise of Nativist Legislation: The Chinese Exclusion Act & The Gentleman’s Agreement