Immigration in the U.S. I. Waves of Immigration Colonial Immigration: 1600s - 1700s “Old” Immigration: 1787-1850 “New” Immigration: 1850-1924 A. Where they came from Old Immigration Northern and Western Europe (Ireland, Germany, Scandinavia) New Immigration Southern and Eastern Europe (Italy, Poland, Russia) East Asia (China, Japan) B. Reasons for Immigration Economic opportunity Irish: famine Germans: political revolution Italians: economic opportunity Russian and Polish Jews: escape antiSemitism, religious persecution C. Areas of Settlement Irish: Northeastern cities (Boston, New York) Germans and Scandinavians: Midwest Eastern and Southern Europeans: Eastern cities, centers of industry Asians: West coast D. Nativism: Belief in the superiority of one’s home country; desire to restrict immigration and the rights of immigrants Know Nothing Party: discriminated against Catholics “Irish need not apply” Chinese Exclusion Act – limited Chinese immigration Gentlemen’s Agreement – limited Japanese immigration II. Theories of Immigration “Melting Pot” Theory – people from various cultures formed a unique American culture. Individual groups aren’t easily distinguishable. Assimilation – Immigrant cultures disappeared into an already existing American culture Pluralism (Salad Bowl Theory) – Groups do not lose their distinctive characteristics. Each group contributes in different ways to society.