1. Immigration
American Studies

3. Before Civil War “Old Immigrants” from Western Europe
Ireland: The Great Potato Famine

5. After 1865
After the Civil War: “New Immigrants” from Eastern Europe, Italy, Austria, Russia and Scandinavian countries
Settle in cities or explore western frontier
On west coast: From Asian countries
More immigrants coming to the US than ever before
Most come through Ellis Island in NYC

9. Reasons for Immigration
Push Factors: Reasons to leave their home country
Poverty: Not enough jobs
High inflation: Food is expensive
Religious and Political discrimination or persecution
Europe: Crowded with very little land to purchase
Pull Factors: Reasons to come to the United States
Many jobs in new factories
Growing economy
Religious and Political freedom
Lots of land to settle and farm out West

10. Practice Question
What factor contributed to the migration of large numbers of people from Europe to the US in the late 1800s?
A. The US needed people to colonize the overseas territories it had recently acquired
B. European social reform movements wanted to spread their beliefs to the US
C. Economic prosperity in Europe allowed people to purchase land in the US
D. Industrialization in the US attracted laborers from Europe

11. European Immigrants: Italians
Italians leave due to poverty
Most of income spent on food
Divided land among family-not enough to make a profit off crops
Promise of success in US
Lack of democracy in Italy
Few had the right to vote

12. Russians and Jews Jews in Russia were persecuted
Come to US for religious freedom
Bring Eastern Orthodox and Jewish religion to US
In late 1800s: NYC had the largest Jewish population in the world

13. Recruitment Campaigns
Representatives go to Europe to promote idea of immigrating to the US with the American Dream
Give impression that anyone can become rich in a few years
Railroad companies selling land
in the west
Steamships seeking passengers
offer cheap tickets (as low as $25)

14. Practice Question
Many people from the region of Southern and Eastern Europe, such as Italians and Russians, immigrated to the United States between the Civil War and WWI. Identify two factors in their home region and two factors in America that led them to move to the United States?
Short Answer (4 bullet points)

15. Asian Immigrants Most Asian immigrants settle on west coast
Bring Eastern culture: Very different from Western
California Gold Rush in starts in1849
Hope to get rich then go home
Work on Central Pacific Railroad: dangerous and many die building in mountains

17. Practice Question
Religious diversity in the US started to increase in the late 19th century. One factor that has contributed to this increase has been an increase in:
A. Emigration to Africa
B. Immigration from Asia
C. Immigration from Australia
D. Emigration to South America

18. Immigrant Life in the US
More jobs in US cause of Industrialization
Europeans come expecting better pay = not true
Ghettos: A neighborhood where one ethnicity lives
Try to preserve culture: language, religious beliefs, customs, clothes, food, music, dance

19. Practice Question
Many immigrants that came into America lacked the knowledge of US cultures, especially language. When immigrants arrived they move into ghettos to feel more at home. What are ghettos?
A. Rundown neighborhoods plagued with crime.
B. Area right outside the cities where the poor or middle class lived.
C. A neighborhood where one ethnicity would live.
D. A neighborhood that was established in their old country.

22. Americanization Try to learn English and be “American”
Schools only teach in English
Change names to fit in or make easier to spell
Only teach American history
Teach beliefs of the dominant culture

23. Reactions to Immigrants
Foreign-Born: Immigrant families
“Native-Born”: Ancestors came to America generations ago-born here
Dominant Group determines culture:
Rugged Individualism: Responsibility and work ethic
White Superiority over all other races
Western Culture (English/Protestant) is the best for everyone

24. Debate: Which is best?
Total Assimilation: Minority learns/adopts customs of Dominant culture
Americanized completely, get rid of foreign customs, speak English
Melting Pot Theory: All cultures gradually blend into one superior American culture
Take best from each, English as common language
Cultural Pluralism: All cultures respected/valued individually
Practice own customs while fitting into society; English speaking is not superior

26. Practice Question
During the late 19th century many immigrants faced discrimination and were forced to adapt the new culture. In American there were three different ideas on how immigrants should inherit the new American culture. The idea that all cultures should blend together but English remains the dominant language is called:
A. Assimilation
B. Americanization
C. Cultural Pluralism
D. Melting Pot Theory

27. Nativist Opposition
Nativists: Believes foreigners are a threat to the dominant culture and should be stopped from entering the country
Reasons for hatred:
Economic: Taking jobs and replacing workers
Cultural: Protect from foreign influence on culture and religion
Psychological: Desire to feel superior, fear those who are different
Political: Fear immigrants are connected to radical anarchist movements

29. Anti-Immigrant Sentiment
Asian immigrants were met with more hostility
Thought to be taking too many jobs in west
Chinese often work as replacement labor-increases resentment
Chinese Exclusion Act (1882): Halt all future immigration and keep them from becoming US citizens
Quota: A set number of immigrants allowed in (small %)

30. Exclusion Acts Riots breakout in West over “yellow peril”
Gentlemen’s Agreement: Teddy Roosevelt stops Japanese segregation in school
In return Japanese stop new immigrants from coming to US

32. Nativist Response
Literacy Tests: Disqualified for immigration if they can’t read/write in any language
Emergency Quota Act of 1921
Quota Act of 1924: Limits # of immigrants coming from all countries
Drastically reduces
immigrants until WWII

33. Immigration Today
Total estimated unauthorized adult immigrant population in 2011: 9.9 million
Total working: 6.4 million
Total who are English Proficient: 2.9 million
1.8 million don’t speak English at all
Policy in the US: Difficult to legally become a citizen
90 day visitor pass or Visa, then Green Card (LPR)
Takes 6 months to get your application reviewed to become a legal resident
Lack of official documents
If you have money or education or join the military, you’re more likely to be granted citizenship
The process to become a full citizen can take 5 months to 2 years

34. Immigrant Demographic
Legal Permanent Residents: 1.1 million in 2012
429,000 from Asia
107,000 from Africa
146,000 from Mexico
Majority settle in California, New York and Florida
Naturalized Citizens: Legal Residents for 5 years or married to a resident for 3 years
Dual Citizenship: Only by birthright, otherwise it’s renounced
If you are born in US citizen you are automatically a citizen
If your parent was born in the US you are a citizen
Deferred Action for children brought to US illegally
If they stay in school they can apply to become citizens at 18

35. Immigration Today What should our immigration policy be?
Should it be the same toward all countries or should we limit some?
What should be the requirements to become a citizen?
Free trade agreement with Mexico
State Laws: Arizona and border patrol
European Union: Open borders and shared economy
Making friends or enemies?
Immigrants of Middle Eastern decent