Chapter 7: Immigrants and Cities

Chapter 7: Immigrants and Cities

A NEW WAVE OF IMMIGRATION

NEW IMMIGRANTS

• 1880s: in 1 decade as many immigrants came as in the previous 4 decades=“melting pot”

• Old immigrants: mostly from Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, and Scandinavia (Northern Europe)

• New Immigrants: from southern and eastern Europe countries like Italy, Poland, Russia, Greece, and Hungary – Brought new cultures and religions like Judaism, Eastern

Orthodox, and Catholicism

COMING TO AMERICA

• steerage: lower area of ship where steering was kept; immigrants traveled in this area

– Cramped and dirty

Europeans arrived at Ellis Island on East Coast/New York Ellis Island– Asian immigrants arrived at Angel Island in San

Francisco Bay• Interrogated and examined physically before

admitted

IMMIGRANT LIFE

• Moved into large cities for work and stayed in neighborhoods with same nationality

• Lived in tenements—poorly built, overcrowded apartments

• Benevolent societies: aid organizations established by immigrants to help in case of illness, unemployment, or death– Eventually adopted American ways to fit in and

promoted the free public education system as key to success in America

IMMIGRANT WORKERS

• Most were farmers from their home country but couldn’t afford to be a farmer in America

• Worked in factories as unskilled labor for little pay and in bad conditions

• Many worked in small factories making clothing known as sweatshops for long hours and unhealthy conditions

• Earned living by how many pieces they made=pieceworkers

IMMIGRANT WORKERS

• Many women worked as maids and cooks or ran boardinghouses

• Some skilled laborers borrowed money and opened their own businesses

• Many returned to Europe

OPPOSITION TO IMMIGRATION

• Nativists: Americans that were already here– Prejudice against Asian and southern and eastern

European immigrants’ languages and customs– Argued that the immigrants’ lack of education

would harm American society– Feared they would take away jobs– Some took place in violence against immigrants

OPPOSITION TO IMMIGRATION

• Chinese Exclusion Act: 1882 Congress passed– Banned Chinese immigrants for 10 years– First time specific nationality was banned – Chinese American population dropped in 1800s

and Congress extended ban into the 1900s

• Immigration Restriction League: est. by nativists-demanded all immigrants prove they could read and write

Homework

• Using your notes create a crossword puzzle with the key terms

• We will exchange crossword puzzles on Monday to complete with each other.

• You can use an online generator like http://www.puzzle-maker.com/crossword_Entry.cgi