Why Would Many Immigrants Risk It All to Be An American? Why Would Many Immigrants Risk It All to Be An American? A Land of Promise Chapter 20.

Why Would Many Immigrants Why Would Many Immigrants Risk It All to Be An American?Risk It All to Be An American? A Land of

Promise Chapter 20

Dreams of a better life brought many immigrantsimmigrants-people from another country-to the United States in

the late 1800’s. America was known to all as the “Land of Opportunity”.Life was very hard at first,yet, over time many would come and many would build a

strong ,diverse nation unlike any other.

Section 1: A Land of Promise

• From 1866-1915, 25 million immigrants poured into the United States due to several factors.

• Push and Pull FactorsPush and Pull Factors played an important role in immigration.

• Push Factors: conditions that drive people to leave their homes.

• Pull Factors: conditions that attract people to a new area.

Push Factors:Push Factors:

Small plots of landIntroduction of machinery on fields (loss of

jobs)

• E. Europe: political and religious persecution

• Mexican Revolution: disorder and famine

• China: poverty poverty and hardships

Pull Factors:Pull Factors:

Promise of freedomHopes for a better lifeHopes for a better lifeFamily and friends: riches of a new land!Industry needs workersneeds workers for low wages

The Unforgettable Voyage

• Most immigrants left their native countries to face unspeakable hardships, but they found a welcome symbol on the other side.

• A. The Welcome Symbol– Voyages ended in NYC with the Statue of

Liberty– Given to the United States by France, it was a

symbol of hope and freedom

B. A Last Hurdle …

• European immigrantsEuropean immigrants were processed by way of Ellis Island (1892)

• Most did not know new languages or customs• Set apart by their native languages and religions• To save time, many immigrant names were

Americanized – wanted us all to be Americans• Asian immigrantsAsian immigrants were processed through Angel

Island in San Francisco Bay• Some came and sent for their families later on

when they were established.

Changing Patterns of Immigration

• ““Old ImmigrantsOld Immigrants””-- English, Irish, German, and Scandanavian

Immigrants

• ““New ImmigrantsNew Immigrants””-- Northern and Western Europe

** Few of these immigrants spoke English causing immigrants to be set apart by their native languages and religions.

The Result …

Most found it hard to adapt to new ways of life in the United States

From Dreams to Reality …

• Most good farmland in the west was taken• Most immigrants were poor, and found jobs via

the railroad. • California law prohibited Asians from owning

land, as a result many immigrants left and moved east.

• Many immigrants did not assimilate very well – rather they settled in ethnic neighborhoods where they shared a common culture.

STOP! Vocabulary check!

1. Assimilation: the blending of one culture into another

2.Ethnic neighborhood or group: people who share a common culture

3. Newcomers could speak their own language and observe their own holidays

**Helped to ease loneliness

Finding Jobs … and Friends.

• Friends, relatives and employment agencies helped newcomers bridge the gap between old traditions and new American traditions to find jobs

1. Newcomers were torn between traditional ways and “American” ways

2. Children assimilated more easily than their parents. Why?

3. Easier for them to give up customs and traditions (not inbred like parents)

Conflicts …

Family Conflicts• Americanized Children

vs. Traditional Parents• Example: Traditional

Chinese bow to greet one another where as Americanized children may say ““WASS-UPWASS-UP””!!

• Children often fought Children often fought authority, a trend that is authority, a trend that is still very common today. still very common today. Why?Why?

What’s in a Name …?

• Many immigrants took great care in choosing names for their children …

• Many parents upon entering the United States had their names changed . EX. Joseph Spuchinsky to Joseph Smith

• Names were important to help children to remember their “lost” heritage

WELCOME!??..Anti-Immigrant Feelings Grow

• Many Americans were fearful that newcomers would not assimilate

• Resentment toward immigrants who worked for low pay

• 1860’s- “Chinatowns” created as many Chinese immigrants are brought over to work on the railroads

Conflicts Continued …

Limits on ImmigrationLimits on Immigration

Thousands of Chinese come to United States to make $$$ on railroads.

Chinese Exclusion Act –Chinese Exclusion Act – Chinese laborers barred for 10 years.

First limit on Chinese immigration in U.S. – repealed in 1943

Other Limits on Immigration

• *1887- American Protective Association

Campaigned for laws to restrict immigrationrestrict immigrationDenied passage to people who could not could not

read their own languageread their own language1917- bill becomes law