Immigration to the U.S.
1880-1920
The Jazz Singer
Demographic Shifts of 1880-1920
• In 1880, the population of the United States
was 50,189,209.
• By 1920, the population of the United States
was 106,021,537.
• Between 1880 and 1920, over 20 million
immigrants came to the United States.
• Unlike previous waves of immigrants to the
U.S., most of the new arrivals were from
central and southern Europe.
• Although most of these people came for the
same reasons as previous groups (religious
oppression/persecution, famine, better
opportunities), this changed the U.S.
dramatically.
• The Statue of Liberty was opened in 1886. At
the opening of the Statue of Liberty, Emma
Lazarus read her poem “The New Collosus”
which is written inside her.
Demographic Shifts of 1880-1920
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Ellis Island and Angel Island
• In 1892, Ellis Island, an island outside of New
York City, was opened as an immigrant
processing center.
• Between 1892 and 1954 when it closed, millions
of immigrants came through Ellis Island.
– It is estimated that 40% of all Americans have
at least 1 direct relative who came through
Ellis Island.
• Between 1910 and 1940 a similar immigration
processing center for Asian immigrants was
located on Angel Island in San Francisco.
– Over 1 million Asian immigrants came
through Angel Island.
• Although millions were let into America,
approximately 2% of all immigrants were sent
back for being too sick, or because they were
considered “likely to become a public charge”.
Urbanization and Immigration
• Aside from being racially and religiously
different from prior immigrants (prior to
1880, most immigrants were Protestant and
after 1880 most were Catholic and Jewish),
another big change came in where the
immigrants settled.
• Prior waves of immigrants quickly spread
across the country through government acts
such as the Homestead Act, and acquired
land and became farmers.
– The new arrivals, however, primarily
settled in the cities along the East Coast,
and worked in factory or industrial jobs.
– For example, in 1875, the population of
New York City was about 1 million
people.
– By 1900, the population of New York City
had reached 3.5 million people!
Urbanization and Immigration
Urbanization and Immigration
• Aside from being racially and religiously different
from prior immigrants (prior to 1880, most
immigrants were Protestant and after 1880 most were
Catholic or Jewish), another big change came in
where the immigrants settled.
• Most of the immigrants came from rural areas, but
their children grew up in urban centers which were
quite different than their homelands
• Changes in agriculture also made it possible for more
people to live in cities instead of in farms.
– In 1850, nearly 50% of all Americans lived on
farms and 64% of all American workers were farm
workers. By 1920, less than 25% of all Americans
lived on farms, and about 21% of all American
workers worked on farms.
• These changes gave rise to a new, modern American
identity and culture from the century before with
different roles for men and women.
Melting Pot
• America between 1880 and 1920 was known
as the great “melting pot” in which a new
American identity was forged from all the
differences between the different ethnic
groups.
• The children of immigrants mostly wanted to
identify with America and American culture
and often shed their parents traditions.
• Most immigrant children became fluent in
English whereas many immigrants read
native language newspapers.
• Most immigrant children became much
more successful and educated than their
immigrant parents.
• This created generational tensions as the
immigrant parents had a different culture
and range of acceptable norms that were
quite different than those of their children.
Immigration and Resentment
• As the number of immigrants increased, many
restrictions started to appear on legal
immigration.
• Initially, immigrants only had to pay a $0.50 tax
as they entered the country.
• In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act prevented
any more Chinese workers into the United
States and barred any Chinese worker from
becoming an American citizen.
• In 1907, the United States and Japan entered
into an informal agreement called the
“Gentleman’s Agreement” in which both
countries agreed not to allow any more
Japanese workers into the United States.
• In 1924, Congress passed The Immigration Act,
which limited immigration from any country to
no more than 2% of the total population from
that country in 1890.