AIM: To re-examine the difference between “old” and “new” immigration. To re-examine the push and pull factors that led to the immigrant migration. To re-examine the contributions and problems of immigrants. Do Now: What is your favorite type of food to eat?

Immigrants at Ellis Island Old vs. New Immigration Immigrants at Ellis Island

“Old” Immigration (1609-1860) Came from northern and western Europe. Major Sources: Ireland, Germany & Scandinavia Push/Pull Factors: Massive potato famine (Irish) Revolution led to seeking of peace (Germans) Better economic conditions Areas of Settlement: Irish: Northeast cities Germans settled in cities and moved west to start farm, as did Scandinavian immigrants

“Old” Immigration Difficulties: Resentment from the Protestant population Know-Nothings party that wanted to restrict immigration keep Catholics out of public office and limit voting strength Long residency before granting citizenship Contributions: Helped build railroads, canals and worked in factories Germans and Scandinavians brought advanced farming techniques and new educational ideas such as Kindergarten.

ELLIS ISLAND

“New” Immigration (1865-1930) Came from Southern and Eastern Europe, also and influx of Japanese and Chinese came. Major European Sources: Italy, Poland, & Russian Push/Pull Factors: Greater economic opportunity Political freedom Russian Jews sought religious freedom Areas of settlement: Industrial centers and ports Asians tended to settle on the west coast, namely California

“New” Immigration Difficulties: Contributions: Hostility among many native-born Americans Political Machines/Tammany Hall/Boss Tweed Discrimination in jobs and housing Contributions: Increase US cultural diversity. Cheap labor aided in US economic expansion: Italians and Jewish girls worked in sweatshops Poles and Slavs labored in coal mines and steel mills of Pennsylvania and the Midwest. Chinese workers helped build the transcontinental railroad

Melting-Pot Theory Pluralism Theory Formation of a “new American.” Immigrants became “Americanized” Gave up old languages and customs adopting the larger societies in order to become accepted. Pluralism Theory “SALAD-BOWL” Theory Groups do not always lose distinctive characteristics, but create a new larger whole.

DO NOW: Who were the “OLD” and “NEW” immigrants coming to the U. S DO NOW: Who were the “OLD” and “NEW” immigrants coming to the U.S.? What were the differences?

Nativism – belief that native-born Americans and their ways of life were superior to those of the “new” immigrants.

1) Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) Stopped Chinese immigration 2) “Yellow Peril” - 1886 Viewed Japanese immigrants as a threat 3) Gentlemen’s Agreement (1906) California withdraws law against educating Japanese immigrant children in exchange for agreement by Japan to reduce the numbers of immigrants.

OLD VS. NEW IMMIGRATION Before 1880 -- Western and Northern Europe & Protestant After 1880 -- Southern and E. Europe & Catholic and Jewish

1920’s NATIVIST IMMIGRATION RSTRICTIONS EMERGENCY QUOTA ACT of 1921 Allowed only 3% of those that had been there from each group in 1910 QUOTA ACT of 1924 quotas cut from 3% of 1910 to 2% of 1890 + no Japanese QUOTA ACT of 1929 Limited immigration to 152,574 per year.

IMMIGRATION PRO: a) Cultural differences strengthen America – “cultural pluralism” (cuisine?) b) Advantage for business owners Immigrants take low paying jobs! Immigrants endure hard working conditions c) Politicians like people who would be dependent upon government. They are a source of potential voters, especially if they were given government jobs! MELTING POT -- Everyone is assimilated or “Americanized” SALAD BOWL -- Everyone maintains individual cultural distinctions, but contributes to the whole

IMMIGRATION CON: a) cultural differences cause problems 1)language barriers exist (Do they all learn English?) 2)religious differences 3)racial/ethnic differences 4)immigrants take jobs away from “real” Americans b) “NATIVISM” -- anti-foreignism attitude of superiority toward all immigrants

Lets Review Why They Came Push Factors: Horrible conditions of poverty Potato famine “Pogroms” – violent government sponsored riots against Russian Jews Pull Factors: Greater political freedom, higher standards of living and availability of jobs. Benefits spread by letters, railroad ads and industrialist recruiters

Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…

Examination of immigrants at Ellis Island After they left the ship and entered the inspection station at Ellis Island, they had to walk up a steep stairway, past doctors who stared at each of them and occasionally wrote something in chalk on their coats. L for lame, H for heart trouble, E for eye problems. Those who were sick could be removed from the line and denied entry. Everyone was examined, including children and babies. Families with one sick member were separated, sometimes for weeks. Many were forced to return to where they came from, leaving their families behind. And that was only the informal part of the physical exam.