IMMIGRANTS AMERICA BECOMES A MELTING POT IN THE LATE 19 TH & EARLY 20 TH CENTURY.

IMMIGRANTSAMERICA BECOMES A MELTING POT IN THE

LATE 19TH & EARLY 20TH CENTURY

WHY LEAVE?

A. Causes of Immigration:

1. Escape difficult conditions at homea. Famineb. Land Shortages

2. Escape religious/political persecution3. War4. Come to earn money then go back

(Bird of Passage)

“PULL” TO IMMIGRATE

Lured by promise of better life Jobs supposedly plentiful in America Cultural Ties

EUROPEANS Between 1870 and 1920,

about 20 million Europeans arrived in the United States

Before 1890, most were from western and northern Europe- “old immigrants”

After 1890, most came from southern and eastern Europe “new immigrants”

All were looking for opportunity

CHINESE Between 1851 and

1882, about 300,000 Chinese arrived on the West Coast

Some were attracted by the Gold Rush, others went to work for the railroads, farmed or worked as domestic servants

An anti-Chinese immigration act by Congress curtailed immigration after 1882 Many Chinese men

worked for the railroads

JAPANESE In 1884, the Japanese

government allowed Hawaiian planters to recruit Japanese workers

The U.S. annexation of Hawaii in 1898 increased Japanese immigration to the west coast

By 1920, more than 200,000 Japanese lived on the west coast

THE WEST INDIES AND MEXICO

Between 1880 and 1920, about 260,000 immigrants arrived in the eastern and southeastern United States from the West Indies

They came from Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and other islands

Mexicans, too, immigrated to the U.S. to find work and flee political turmoil – 700,000 Mexicans arrived in the early 20th century

ARRIVAL AT ELLIS ISLAND

THE JOURNEY TO AMERICA

A. Traveled by steamship to America1. trip across Atlantic took 1 week2. trip across Pacific took 3 weeks

B. Traveled in “Steerage” or the cheapest accommodations in a ship’s cargo hold

C. Conditions:

ARRIVAL ON ELLIS ISLAND

REGISTRY ROOM “Great Hall” 189 feet long and

102 feet wide Officials in the Great

Hall decided whether each person could enter the country right away or whether that person's case required further review.

MEDICAL PROCESS The first test was a "six-

second physical." A uniformed doctor looked for any signs of illness or contagious diseases.

If someone was considered a risk to the public health, his or her clothes were marked by a piece of chalk with an identifying letter. An "X" denoted insanity.

LEGAL INSPECTION

Where were you born? Are you married? What is your occupation? Have you ever been convicted of a crime? How much money do you have? What is your destination?

Legal detainees lived in a dormitory room on the third floor. They might wait a few days or even a month. Then their case would be reviewed in the Hearing Room.

STAIRS OF SEPARATION

Immigrants who were being detained were often brought down the center aisle. People who were traveling west or south walked down the right side of the staircase. Those going to New York City or to the north walked down the left side.

ELLIS ISLAND

A. Ellis Island: immigration station in New York Harbor which decided whether or not immigrants would be admitted to America

B. 17 million immigrants passed through1. Had to pass a physical health exam2. Had to pass a government inspector’s testa. able to work?b. have some money?c. never been convicted of a felony?

ELLIS ISLAND, NEW YORK HARBOR

ANGEL ISLAND

A. Angel Island: immigration station in the San Francisco Bay which decided whether or not immigrants would be admitted to America

B. Between 1910-1940 50,000 Chinese enter U.S.1. much more harsh 2. longer decision time

ANGEL ISLAND WAS CONSIDERED MORE HARSH THAN ELLIS ISLAND

SO YOU’RE IN! NOW WHAT?

A. Challenges Faced by Immigrants:1. find a place to live2. find a job3. understand language4. understand culture

FRICTION DEVELOPS

While some immigrants tried to assimilate into American culture, others kept to themselves and created ethnic communities

Committed to their own culture, but also trying hard to become Americans, many came to think of themselves as Italian-Americans, Polish-Americans, Chinese-Americans, etc

Some native born Americans disliked the immigrants unfamiliar customs and languages – friction soon developed

Chinatowns are found in many major cities

IMMIGRANT RESTRICTIONS As immigration

increased, so did anti-immigrant feelings among natives

Nativism (favoritism toward native-born Americans) led to anti-immigrant organizations and governmental restrictions against immigrationAnti-Asian feelings

included restaurant boycotts

D. 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act: law passed by Congress which banned Chinese immigrants for a period of 10 years (few exceptions)

E. 1897 Congress pass law requiring literacy test for immigrants (President Cleveland veto's)

F. 1906 San Francisco Board of Ed. segregate Japanese school childrenOutcome: Gentleman’s Agreement: Japan will limit immigration if segregation repealed

YOUR ASSIGNMENT!You’ve just immigrated to the United States.

Write a postcard to your family back home and tell them these 3 things: Why did you immigrate? What was it like going through Angel or Ellis Island? How were you treated by Americans when you arrived?

Write this on the journal entry!