MODERN US HISTORY Unit 4 Notes 2: Immigration in America

Read Chapter 7, Section 1 – The New Immigrants – pages and answer the following: Step into the shoes of an immigrant traveling to the United States in Choose which country you are traveling from – see the map and graph on page 255 for a selection. Use your selection to complete the following prompts:

Read Chapter 7, Section 1 – The New Immigrants – pages and answer the following: Describe yourself. Where are you from? Where are you going to live? Are you bringing a family? What job skills do you have? How old are you? Are you male or female? Anything else? Describe your voyage. Was it long? Short? Difficult? Easy? What did you choose to bring with you (remember you can only bring what you can carry)? What did you leave behind? Who did you leave behind? Ellis Island or Angel Island? Which did you arrive at? Describe your experience.

Changes in Immigration Patterns The years between 1870 and 1920 saw one of the greatest surges of immigrants to America. Until 1890, most of these immigrants came from Northern and Western Europe, just like many of the original European immigrants to America.

Changes in Immigration Patterns On the west coast, immigrants from China began arriving for the Gold Rush in 1849, but many ended up working on the railroads or starting farms; after 1882 Congress limited Chinese immigration.

Changes in Immigration Patterns After 1890, the immigrating population changed to people coming from Southern and Eastern Europe, countries such as Italy, Austria-Hungary, and Russia. During this time almost a million people also immigrated from Mexico and the West Indies.

The Immigration Journey The journey to America was often difficult. Immigrants often had to travel in steerage – the cargo hold in ships. Wealthier people often took the cabins above deck. Steerage was crowded and dirty. The trip was not easy; many got sick from typhus or cholera and whole ships sunk or went up in flames.

The Immigration Journey The captains of the ships often provided little food and clean water to the earlier immigrants. Regulations for the transport ships slightly improved travel conditions for later immigrants. Italian Immigrants

Gateway to America Many immigrants from Europe originally entered America through Castle Garden in New York. This facility was quickly overrun by the increasing quantity of immigrants. Ellis Island replaced Castle Garden in New York City. Ellis Island

Gateway to America From 1892 – 1924, Ellis Island was the chief immigration station to the United States. An estimated 17 million immigrants passed through this station. On the West Coast, many immigrants from Asia entered the United States through Angel Island in San Francisco Bay.

Gateway to America Upon reaching these checkpoints, new immigrants were processed before they could enter the country. About 20% of the new immigrants had to stay at the checkpoint for more than a day. Immigrants had to meet the following requirements: no contagious diseases or serious health problems, no felony conviction, the ability to work, and having a little money ($25 after 1909).

Gateway to America Only 2% of the people who tried to immigrate to the U.S. were refused entry. Immigrants being interviewed at Ellis Island

Ellis Island Artifacts

Literacy Tests

Detention Card

Women Travelling Alone

Questions about Ellis Island Artifacts Why did America care if an immigrant could read in their native language? How would you feel if you were Freide Goldfusz? What would your concerns be if you were detained in America?

Life in America Upon arriving in America, many new immigrants could not speak the language. The culture of urban areas like New York City was also a shock to many. To make the new American experience easier, many new immigrants settled in an area that contained others that were from their original culture and spoke their native language. These ethnic communities supported many immigrants by easing them into America.

Life in America – Little Italy c1900

Lower East Side

Street with signs in English and Hebrew

Life in America These ethnic communities also created problems for many immigrants. Many people who moved to America with a family wanted their children to have both new opportunities in America and a respect for their cultural heritage.

Life in America Instead, many children who were trying to fit into American culture often refused to participate in traditional practices such as practicing their family’s religion or speaking in their native language. Many parents were confused and saddened by this behavior – America might have given their children new economic opportunities, but it also created a generation gap between parents and children.

Questions about “Bintel Brief” Letters What are the major tensions of immigrant life as revealed in these letters? Choose one story (write which one you chose). Pretend that you are the person who wrote into the newspaper. Write your reaction to the editor’s advice. Was it helpful? What changes in your life will you make now in response to what he wrote?