Chapter 6: Urban America Section 1: Immigration Pages 214 - 219

Europeans Flood Into America Between 1865 – 1914: 25 million Europeans immigrated to the United States More than half were Eastern and Southern European: Italy, Greece, Russia, Austria, and Serbia Many came to escape religious persecution (Jews in Poland, Catholics in Ireland)

The Atlantic Voyage Most immigrants booked passage in steerage, the cheapest accommodations on a ship Europe to New York: 14 day trip Passengers embarked at Ellis Island, a tiny island controlled by New York and New Jersey in New York Harbor

Ellis Island 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island between 1892 – 1954 Immigrants had to visit a doctor first “H” for heart problems, “K” for hernias, “Sc” for scalp problems (head lice), “X” for mental disorders Those who failed the medical inspection would be sent back to Europe

Ethnic Cities By the 1890s, immigrants made up a large portion of the population in New York, Detroit, Chicago, and Milwaukee Map of New York City colored in lines of the different cultures would have more stripes than a zebra Cities separated in ethnic groups: Little Italy, Greektown, Chinatown, etc.

Asian Immigration Mid-1800s: China’s population reached 430 million and the country was suffering from a depression Taiping Rebellion caused civil unrest Central Pacific Railroad offered work

Nativism Resurges Feelings of nativism is an example of dislike of immigrants by native-born people Surfaced during the wave of Irish immigration between 1840 – 1850 Opposed immigration of Asians, Jews, Poles, Catholics, and other Eastern Europeans

Prejudice Against Catholics American Protective Association: founded in 1887 by Henry Bowers, was an anti-Catholic organization Members vowed not hire or vote for a Catholic Most aggression was directed towards Irish-Catholics White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) was the dominant culture in America WASPs considered the Irish to be lazy

Restrictions on Asian Immigration In 1882 Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act which barred Chinese immigration for 10 years and prevented Chinese already in the country from becoming citizens; law renewed in 1902, repealed in 1943 Gentleman’s Agreement: Between President Roosevelt and the San Francisco School Board, Roosevelt agreed to curtail Japanese immigration and the San Francisco School Board agreed to revoke its segregation order

The Literacy Debate 1905: Roosevelt commissioned a study on how immigrants were admitted to the nation Recommended a literacy English test Two years later recommended a literacy test in any language “New immigrants” vs “Old immigrants” Both Presidents Taft and Wilson rejected the law Eventually passed in 1917 over Wilson’s second veto Purpose to reduce immigration from southeastern European nations