Migrating for opportunities Immigration

Reasons for migration Religious Education Money New start Opportunities Instant wealth Freedom Equality Chance to improve their lives : 30 million additional people entered the country

Immigrants’ life before they were immigrants - Probably didn’t own land -Sharecroppers -Pogroms (Russia) violent massacres of Jews -Could not take part in the government -Probably could not move through social ranks

Coming to America Crossing the Ocean –Steamships shortened trip to one week –Steerage – large open area beneath ship’s deck Physical Exams –Disease – could be deported Later on Literacy test Then off to find their relatives if they had any

70% of immigrants came through NY “Golden Door”

Inside Ellis Island

Settling down Often sought to live in communities established by previous settlers from their homeland Some urban neighborhoods became ghettos Restrictive covenants –Agreements among homeowners not to sell real estate to certain groups of people

Expanding cities Brought explosive growth to the nation’s urban center population on farms fell from 72 to 54 percent Subways and skyscrapers Smog and slums Suburbs – residential communities surrounding cities

Slums Poverty, overcrowding, neglect Fire constant danger Open sewers Lack of good ventilation helped disease to spread

Asians Chinese and Japanese formed two largest groups Chinese worked on railroads Japanese –Migrated from Hawaii –Most settled in Los Angeles –Produced large % of fruits and vegetables –Prejudice

Mexicans Farmland Hired to work land Helped construct railroads –Southern Pacific –Santa Fe

Result of Immigration Political Machines –Unofficial city organization designed to keep a particular party or group in power Political Boss –Handpicked others to run for office and then helped them win –William Marcy Tweed Most notorious Peddled bills and stole money