Review for Test on Immigration
1. Why did immigrants come to the US in the 19th century?
Push- Pull factors – revolution in country, famine, religious persecution, economic opportunities, family and
friends already there.
2. Why was early immigration unrestricted?
Necessary for factory workers
3. Define
Cultural Pluralism – different cultures can exist side by side in the same society, all-contributing to the society
without losing their identity.
Nativism – desire to limit immigration
4. How have US immigration policies changed throughout history?
New immigrants restricted due to nativism – Chinese Exclusion Act, Gentlemen’s Agreement, Quota Acts.
5. Identify
Chinese Exclusion Act – limited Chinese immigration.
Know nothing Party - limit the voting strength of immigrants, keep Catholics out of public office, never
achieved goals
Immigration Quotas - restrict immigration (target new immigrants)
6. Identify
What is the melting pot theory? Blend all cultures to form a new American.
Salad Bowl Theory? Groups do not always lose their distinctive characters
7. Why were most immigration acts passed to restrict the flow of immigrants? Who supported the passage of
these acts? Why?
Nativists called for restriction because they felt that the immigrants took the jobs.
8. Explain the difference between old and new immigrants.
Old – North and West Europe, mostly settled on farms, assimilated well
New – South and East Europe, settled in the cities, did not assimilate
9. How has the US government dealt with recent immigrants?
Quota laws
10. Describe the type of immigrants that have come to the US from 1965-1998
Vietnam, Soviet Union, Cuba, Mexico, and Korea.
Coming to escape poverty and persecution, communism and religious problems.
11. How did immigrants impact life in America? Brought culture to US.
12. Where did most new immigrants tend to settle? Why? Cities – for job opportunities
13. Essay:
Old Immigrants
New Immigrants
Why
Famine, religious persecution,
economic opportunities –
settled in cities and out west
Economic opportunities, escape religious persecution –
settled in cities
Policy
Unrestricted – need people to
work in factories
Restricted – nativists claimed they were taking jobs
Impact
Economic “boom”, industry
was thriving, brought new
farming techniques increased crop production
Ghettos, urbanization, discrimination increased,
increased productivity in factories; Hull house helped
with immigrants to learn English, nursery for children