U.S. History
Ch. 21
Immigration at the Turn of the Century
The United States is a nation whose population has been built on immigration. As European nations
raced to colonize the “New World” of North America, immigrants (or settlers as they were known back then)
established new communities. Immigration did not stop after the United States declared its independence from
Great Britain in 1776. Immigrants came to the United States for a variety of reasons. Some came to escape
religious persecution in their own countries, others came to escape from famine or cruel dictators and most
came to take advantage of the economic opportunities that were rumored to exist in this new country.
A Tidal Wave of Immigration…
Between 1841 and 1860 approximately 4.1 million immigrants came to the United States. About 93%
of these immigrants came from Northern and Western Europe (nations such as Ireland, England, Sweden &
Norway). In the 1880s the United States experienced a wave of immigration larger than any it had experienced
in its past. Over 5.5 million immigrants came to the United States in the 1880s and another 4 million moved
here in the 1890s. At the turn of the century another change in immigration patterns took place. The number
of immigrants coming to the U.S. from southern and eastern European nations grew. Many of the new
immigrants arriving in the United States came from Italy, Poland, and Russia. There was also an increase in the
number of immigrants from Latin America. The pie charts below illustrate some of the change that took place:
1841-1860
O.7% from
southern/easter
n Europe
 93% from
northern/weste
rn Europe
 3.3% from
Latin America
 2% from Asia

1881-1900
1881-1900
 31% from
southern/eastern
Europe
 61% from
northern/western
Europe
 6% from Latin
America
 1.5% from Asia
Arrival in the United States…
In the earliest days of American history there were no federal immigration laws. The regulation and
inspection of immigrants was considered to be the responsibility of the individual seaports and states. But as the
number of immigrants arriving in the United States increased regulation became necessary. As the number of
immigrants increased in the 1840s (due in p art to the Gold Rush), the people became worried about diseases
that immigrants might carry into the United States. Diseases such as cholera, smallpox and typhoid fever could
devastate a population. At this time the U.S. government established laws and procedures that states had to
follow before allowing immigrants to move in to the United States.
Between 1786 and 1892 about two thirds of all immigrants coming to the United States entered the
country through New York City. As a result this is where most of the federal laws regarding immigration first
went into effect. Ellis Island, located off the coast of Manhattan (NYC), was the first stop for most European
immigrants. Once there, immigrants were put through an examination process in which the federal
government determined if they would be allowed to stay in the United States. First they had to pass a physical
exam. Those with noticeable health problems had their backs marked with chalk. This indicated that they
needed a second examination (see the list of chalk markings on the next page). Those with serious health
problems or diseases were sent home. Even children with serious medical conditions were turned away. Next
the immigrants were asked a series of questions (name, occupation, amount of money you have). Those who
passed the tests exchanged their money for American dollars and either stayed in New York or boarded trains
for cities with strange names such as Boston and Pittsburgh.
Most of the immigrants who entered the United States through the Pacific Ocean
were processed at Angel Island located in the San Francisco Bay. Most of the immigrants
entering through Angel Island were from China (which was experiencing an economic
depression). In the 1880s about 10% of San Francisco’s population were Chinese immigrants.
In Angel Island’s filthy buildings most Chinese immigrants were held for several weeks. One
unhappy Chinese immigrant carved the following into a wall on Angel Island, “For what
reason must I sit in jail? It is only because my country is weak and my family poor.”
Work, Work, Work…
During the second half of the 1800s the United States experienced a period of rapid
economic growth. The growing economy needed more labor. Much of this work was done
by immigrants. Immigrants settled in places where they could find jobs. Most found work in
American factories. About half of the immigrants settled into four industrial states (New
York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Illinois). Once in the city, most immigrants sought
out other people from their home country. As a result, ethnic neighborhoods became to take
root. Neighborhoods like “Chinatown” or “Little Italy” could be found in most American
cities.
Most immigrants worked long hours for little pay (as we have read about in class).
The factories in which they worked were dangerous places. It was difficult for these workers to
organize into labor unions because of the language and cultural barriers that existed. Most
immigrants lived in the tenement houses like those depicted in Jacob Riis’ book How the
Other Half Lives. Despite these hardships, many immigrants families decided to stay here and
try to make a better life for themselves.
Becoming Americans…
Some Americans have described the United States as a melting pot, or a place were cultures blend
together. The new immigrants blended into American society as earlier immigrants had done. This process of
blending into society is called assimilation. Most new immigrants were eager to assimilate. To do so, they
studied English and how to be American citizens.
Many immigrants began to assimilate at work. Employers and labor unions both tried to Americanize
immigrant workers by offering English and citizenship classes. At the same time that immigrants were learning
to be more “American”, they were also changing America. Immigrants did not give up their culture right away.
Bits and pieces of immigrant language, food and music remained. These elements of immigrant culture became
part of the American culture.
Despite their attempts to assimilate, many immigrants experienced prejudice and discrimination from
native born Americans. Many Protestants feared the arrival of Catholics and Jews. Other native born
Americans thought that the immigrants would not fit into our democratic society. Americans also feared that
immigrants would take jobs away from them. At times this prejudice turned violent. In Rock Springs,
Wyoming, in 1885, Americans killed 28 Chinese immigrants.
Name:
Date:
Core:
U.S. History
Immigration & Assimilation in the Early 20th Century:
Reflection Questions…
Directions: Use the Immigration at the Turn of the Century handout and today’s Do At Bell
(Immigration, Education & the Turn of the Century) to help you answer the following questions.
Fact Check…
1. From which parts of Europe did most U.S. immigrants emigrate in the late 1800s? _________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. What are the names of the ports where most immigrants arrived on the east & west coasts of
the United States?
East coast port of entry: __________________________________________________________
West coast port of entry: _________________________________________________________
3. Identify two distinct ways that immigration patterns changed between 1841-1860 and 18811900.
Change #1
Change #2
4. The following is an English vocabulary lesson from an American textbook used to educate
immigrant children in 1911. Identify some stereotypes that Americans had about immigrants
that can be identified in this lesson.
Vocabulary Lesson 31:
School, wood, dishes, work, his
Father goes to his work
Mother washes the dishes
Brother, sister and I help mother.
Brother gets wood and coal for mother.
We get ready for school
We brush our clothes
We brush our shoes
We wash our hands
We clean our fingernails
We are ready for school
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Reader Response…(ATITIC)
America is a country whose population is made up mainly of immigrants or descendents of
immigrants. This has been true since our nation was first founded by colonists from Great Britain.
Sometimes social scientists describe the United States as a “m
melting pot”, or a place where many
cultures are blended together to form one culture. The term is often used to describe the assimilation
of immigrants into American culture. Other social scientists refer to the United States as a “ssalad
bowl”, meaning that America is made up of many different cultures which remain distinct (unmelted). This term describes how immigrants hold onto distinct aspects of their own culture even
after moving to the United States.
Which do you think is a more accurate description of American culture in the early 1900s – a
melting pot or a salad bowl? Use evidence from the text to support your response.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4
Exemplary




Insightful, well
organized, and
fluent
Deep understanding
of text is
demonstrated
Specific references
to text are used to
support ideas
Text references are
well interpreted and
clearly connected to
response
3
Proficient




Thoughtful,
organized, and
fluent
Clear understanding
of the text is
demonstrated
Relevant references
to text are used to
support ideas
Text references are
explained and
connected to
response
2
Progressing




Organized and
somewhat fluent
Basic understanding
of text is displayed
At least one
relevant example
from text is used to
support ideas
Text references are
somewhat
connected to
response
1
Beginning




Disorganized or
confusing
Limited or no
understanding of text
is displayed
Limited or no
examples from text
are used to support
ideas
Text reference seems
irrelevant to response