Happy valentine’s day

Warm Up 2/14 LINCS Cards: Choose four of the following terms that you are unsure of to complete cards on Bessemer Process Assembly Line Monopoly Vertical Integration Horizontal Integration Captain of Industry Robber Baron Political Machine

Immigration in the Gilded Age Focus Question: Why did immigrants come to the United States in the Gilded Age and what impact did they have on society?

Old vs. New Old Immigrants New Immigrants Protestant Catholic & Jewish From North & West Europe Whole families came together Educated, had some money, had a skill or trade Settled on farms New Immigrants Catholic & Jewish From South & East Europe Usually came alone Unskilled, poor Settled in cities The foreign born population of the United States doubles between 1870 and 1900.

Why did they come to America? Pull Factors -promise of freedom & better life -factory jobs available -chance to join family or friends already settled in the U.S. -Chance at the “American Dream” Push Factors -lack of land -political/religious persecution -poverty & hardship -revolution

Horatio Alger wrote novels that explained if a person works hard they can go from “rags to riches.” This convinced many immigrants to come here and believe that they would be wealthy and “live the American Dream”

Immigrant v. Emigrant Emigrant is someone leaving their home country E = exit Immigrant is someone entering a new country I= Incoming Emigrant Immigrant

The Journey Most took a ship across the oceans 1 week from Europe 3 weeks from Japan Slept in very unsanitary conditions on the boat—usually traveled in steerage. Steerage was crowded and dirty. Disease spread fast

Arrival into the US To enter, immigrants had to go through an inspection station where officials decided who could stay in the U.S. Had to pass a physical test, a literacy test and be able to read at least 40 words in English as well as answer questions.

Ellis Island Immigrants coming from Europe New York Harbor Only about 2 % of immigrants were denied entry Thought of as a “place of hope”

Arrival into the US: Angel Island Asians typically entered on the West Coast at Angel Island (San Fran Bay) Stricter admitting procedures than Ellis Island More Difficult Questions Longer wait and filthy detention centers Most were turned away

The Ethnic City Immigrants are majority in many cities Chicago – 87% New York – 80% Detroit – 84% Immigrant “Ghettos” Usually based cultures and practices of native lands

Assimilation Assimilation “Americanization” attempts the merging of cultural traits from previously distinct cultural groups “Americanization” attempts Schools – teach English Employers – insists employees speak English Churches – encourage assimilation Stores – force immigrants to adopt some American food/clothing

Challenges for Immigrants Nativism- the belief that native-born white Americans were superior (better than) newcomers.

Congress Limits Immigration Chinese Exclusion Act: prohibited immigration by Chinese workers, limited the civil rights of Chinese immigrants already here, and stopped the naturalization of Chinese residents. 1882: Congress passes an act that prohibits entry of anyone who was a criminal, immoral, poor or likely to need public assistance.

Gentleman’s Agreement-1907 Agreement between the U.S. and Japan USA agrees to accept (not deport) Japanese immigrants already living in the U.S. Japan agrees to stop issuing passports and allowing people to emigrate to the U.S. Goal: To stop Japanese immigration (it never passes Congress, though)

Simulation Reflection How were you treated by the immigration inspector? If you were the inspector how did you treat the incoming immigrants? How did this make you feel? Do you feel as though you were treated fairly? Or did you treat people fairly? How do you think this compared with real immigrants experiences?