Lesson 15-1: New Immigrants

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New Immigrants
Lesson 15-1
The Main Idea
A new wave of immigrants came to the United States in the
late 1800s, settling in cities and troubling some nativeborn Americans.
Reading Focus
• How did patterns of immigration change at the turn of the
century?
• Why did immigrants come to America in the late 1800s, and
where did they settle?
• How did nativists respond to the new wave of immigration?
Changing Patterns of Immigration
The old immigrants
• 10 million immigrants came
between 1800 and 1900. Known
as the old immigrants, they
came from Northern and
Western Europe.
• Most were Protestant
Christians, and their cultures
were similar to the original
settlers.
• They came to have a voice in
their government, to escape
political turmoil, for religious
freedom, or fleeing poverty and
starvation.
• Most immigrants came for
economic opportunity, attracted
to the open farm land in the
United States.
• Chinese immigrants had been
lured by the gold rush and jobs
building railroads.
The new immigrants
• From 1880 to 1910, a new wave
brought 18 million people to
America.
• Most came from Southern and
Eastern Europe.
• They were Roman Catholics,
Orthodox Christians and
Jews. Arabs, Armenians, and
French Canadians came as well.
• Smaller numbers came from East
Asia. Severe immigration laws
reduced Chinese immigration,
but 90,000 people of Chinese
descent lived in the U.S. by
1900. Japanese immigrants
arrived by way of Hawaii.
• The makeup of the American
population had changed. By 1910
about 1 in 12 Americans were
foreign-born.
Coming to America
• Desire for a better life
–
Most immigrants were seeking a new life, but they left their homelands
for many reasons, including religious persecution, poverty, and little
economic opportunity. If you were willing to work hard in America,
prosperity was possible.
• The journey to America
–
The decision to come involved the entire family. Usually the father
went first and sent for the rest of the family later. Travelers made their
way to a port city by train, wagon, or foot to wait for a departing ship.
They had to pass an inspection to board, and prove they had some
money. Most traveled cheaply, in steerage (below deck), and they still
had to make it through the immigration station. Many were birds of
passage who planned to make money and return home.
• Ellis Island
–
Opening in 1892 as an immigration station, 112 million immigrants
passed through Ellis Island. Immigrants had to pass inspection before
they were allowed to enter.
Immigrants from Europe
• Most immigrants came through Ellis
Island
– Virtual tour of Ellis island
– Slide slow over Ellis island
• Statue of Liberty was a gift to the
U.S. from France
– Was a symbol of refuge and hope
Coming to America
Angel Island
Building
urban
communities
West Coast immigrants were processed in San
Francisco at Angel Island. Many Chinese
immigrants were detained in prison-like conditions
while awaiting a ruling. Poverty and discrimination
awaited many newcomers.
Many new immigrants lived in poor housing in
teeming slums near the factories where they found
work. In the Northeast and Midwest, immigrants
settled near others from their homeland. Cities
became a patchwork of ethnic clusters. Residents
established churches and synagogues to practice
their religious faith. They formed benevolent
societies, aid organizations to help new
immigrants obtain jobs, health care, and education.
Nativists Respond
Threat to
society
Limiting
Chinese
immigration
Some native-born Americans saw immigrants as
threats to society. Nativists felt they brought
crime and poverty and accepted jobs for lower
wages, keeping wages low for everyone. They
wanted to close America’s doors to immigration.
Chinese workers were tolerated during good times,
but with a worsening economy Denis Kearney led
an active opposition to their presence. Chinese
workers were not allowed state jobs, and local
governments could ban them from communities or
restrict them to certain areas. The Chinese
Exclusion Act was passed in 1882, banning
Chinese immigration for 10 years. None of the
Chinese in the U.S. would be allowed citizenship.
The law was renewed in 1892, and Chinese
immigration was banned indefinitely in 1902.
Limits to Immigration
Japanese
• Nativists also resented the
Japanese. Japanese students
in San Francisco were
segregated from other
children.
• Theodore Roosevelt
negotiated a Gentlemen’s
Agreement with Japan.
• No unskilled workers from
Japan, and in return Japanese
children could attend schools
with other children.
Other immigrants
• Nativists opposed
immigration from Southern
and Eastern Europe.
• They claimed these folks
were poor, illiterate, and nonProtestant and could not
blend into American society.
• They called for a literacy
test to see if test takers
could read English.
• The Literacy Test Act was
passed in 1917, over
President Wilson’s veto.
Americanization occurred in many places. Newcomers were
taught American ways to help them assimilate. They learned
English literacy skills and American history and government.
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