The New Immigrants Changes in American Life Chapter 21, Section 2

Essential Questions What does a “new” student have to do in order to “fit-in” into Valhalla 8 th Grade culture? Should English be the national language of the United States? What does the term, “melting pot” mean to YOU?

Why Did Immigrants Come to the United States?

“Old” Immigrants vs. “New” Immigrants “Old” Immigrants (Prior to 1890) = Northern and Western Europe –Britain –Ireland –Germany –France “New Immigrants” (After 1890) = Southern and Eastern Europe –Italy –Poland –Russia –Slavic Peoples (Former Yugoslavia: Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Serbia, Albania –Jewish

Ellis Island 1 st Stop for Immigrants Coming From Europe (Across the Atlantic) Between NY & NJ Screening Station

Why an Island?

Processing of Immigrants at Ellis Island The Great Hall (Back Then) Physical Examination Criminal Inspection Entrance Fee

The Great Hall (Back Then)

The Great Hall (Today)

Physical Examinations All Immigrants Were REQUIRED to Pass a Physical Examination Check for Diseases If You Had a Disease……….

Processing at Ellis Island

Angel Island Pacific1 st Stop for Immigrants Coming Across the Pacific Ocean Predominantly Asian Faced More Discrimination

Angel Island Sleeping Arrangements

Immigration From Mexico Mexicans had to go through Texas $8 Entrance Fee Quick Examination Much Easier to get into U.S. through Texas!

After Getting Through Ellis Island… Immigrants Went to Cities Settled in the 4 Industrial States of: –Massachusetts –New York –Pennsylvania –Illinois –WHY?

Ethnic Neighborhoods Immigrants Looked for Help from Americans from the SAME Country Help Find Jobs & Housing Published Newspapers in Native Language Pool $$$ Together for Religion Support Local Political Machine: –Help Them Find Jobs!

“Little Italy”

“Chinatown”

Immigrants in the EAST Most European Immigrants Took Whatever Jobs They Could Find Most Europeans Worked in Factories and Sweatshops! Got Paid Very Little!

Immigrants in the WEST Asian Immigrants Mostly Settled in the West Immigrants Took Jobs As: –Railroad Workers –Owned Restaurants & Businesses –Sugar Farmers –Fisherman –Miners

Immigrants in the Southwest Revolution in Mexico in 1910: –Thousands of Mexicans fled to the U.S. Took Jobs as Farmers & Ranchers in California and Texas Took Jobs as Copper Miners in Arizona

What Does the Term, “Melting Pot” Mean to YOU?

What Did YOU Have for Dinner Last Night?

What is an “American” Meal?

America’s Melting Pot Immigrants Wanted to Assimilate into American Culture –Learn English –Take Citizenship Classes

America’s Melting Pot!

Reasons WHY Nativists Feared/Hated Immigrants Take Americans’ Jobs! –Immigrants Would Work for Cheaper Pay! –Would Hurt Unions! Discrimination: –Racial & Religous Immigrants Would Be Controlled by Political Machines –Would Ruin Democracy –Would Vote Whatever Political Machine Wanted

U.S. Attempts to Limit Immigration in 1882 Congress Passed Laws to Limit Immigration Placed Taxes on Immigrants Coming to the U.S. (Keep Out the Poor) No Beggars/No Criminals/Nobody with Diseases The Chinese Exclusion Act!

The Chinese Exclusion Act No Chinese Immigration to the United States for 10 Years! Completely Racist!

The Quota System By the 1920’s, Many Nativists Wanted to Stop Immigration to the U.S. U.S. Created the Quota System Only a Certain % of Immigrants Could Come from Each Country

Restriction of Immigration Passed by Congress (1882)

Ellis Island Today

Ellis Island Today Continued…

Essential Questions What does a “new” student have to do in order to “fit-in” into Valhalla 8 th Grade culture? Should English be the national language of the United States? What does the term, “melting pot” mean to YOU?