Multicultural History. Millions of immigrants entered the U.S. in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries Causes Famine Land shortages Religious and.

Multicultural History

Off to America…Millions of immigrants entered the U.S. in the late 19th

and early 20th centuries Causes

Famine Land shortages Religious and political persecution Some were “birds of passage,” intending to immigrate

only temporarily to earn money and return home

Immigration today reflects many of the same causes… Sudan (Darfur) Middle East Africa Mexico Europe

Europeans Arrived at Ellis Island (New

York) 1870-1920

Approximately 20 million immigrants flooded the U.S.

Before 1890 most came from western and northern Europe

Ireland, England, Scandinavia, etc.

After 1890 most came from southern and eastern Europe

Italy, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Balkans, Poland, etc.

Causes: Rising population in Europe---

400 million Land and farm scarcity Job scarcity Religious persecution

Chinese and Japanese Arrived at Angel Island (San

Francisco) 1851-1883

Approximately 300,000 immigrants

Gold Rush of 1849 ---Chinese came to make their fortunes

Helped build the transcontinental railroad-connected the east and west

After completion of the railroad most turned to farming, mining, and domestic services

1884 Approximately 200,000

immigrants Hawaiian planters were allowed

to recruit Japanese workers United States annexation of

Hawaii in 1898 led to an increased number of Japanese immigrants to America

The West Indies and Mexico 1880-1920

Approximately 260,000 immigrantsArrived in eastern and southeast U.S.

Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and other islandsCame to the U.S. because jobs were scarce and

the U.S. was in the middle of an industrial boomEarly 1900s

700,000 immigrants (7% Mexico’s entire population)

Mexicans arrived to work on newly created farmland and political/social upheavals in Mexico

Hardships Faced many adjustments to

culture Trip from Europe took 1 week Trip from Asia took nearly 3

weeks Many traveled in steerage,

the cheapest accommodations Crammed into small areas

with many other travelers Rarely allowed on deck Louse-infested beds Shared toilets with many

others Disease spread quickly and

many died

Once Admitted to the Country…

1. Find a place to live2. Get a job3. Get along in daily life

without understanding the language and culture

4. Search out those who shared common culture, religion, language and values

5. Pool money with those people and build churches or synagogues and create social clubs

6. Publish newspaper in native language

7. Deal with hatred and prejudice from natives

Restrictions on Immigration

Many natives (born in America) viewed the country as a melting pot, where the old language and customs are abandoned to blend with American culturenew immigrants did not wish to abandon their native customs,

enraging the nativesNativism-overt favoritism toward American-born citizens

Anti-Asian Sentiment

Native-born workers feared Chinese immigrants would take jobs, accepting lower wages

Multicultural History

Urban OpportunitiesTechnological/industrial boom of the 19th

century led to rapid growth of the citiesImmigrants settled in cities

Cheap and convenient places to liveOffered unskilled laborers steady jobsBy 1910 immigrants made up more than half

the total population of 18 major American citiesAmericanization Movement

Designed to assimilate people of wide-ranging cultures into the dominant culture (AMERICAN)

Schools and volunteers taught immigrants skills needed for citizenship

Urban Problems Housing

Tenements (multi-family urban dwellings) were often over crowded and unsanitary

Transportation Transportation meant to

move large numbers of people along fixed routes

Water Little to no access to safe

water Sanitation

Horse manure Sewage fowl smoke into the air trash

Crime Pickpockets and thieves

Fire

Reform Settlement House

Movement Settlement Houses

Community centers that provided assistance to people

Educational, cultural, and social services

Social Gospel Salvation through

service to the poor and unable

Jane AddamsOne of the lead

reformers at Chicago’s Hull House