Getting here, problems and discrimination

Immigration to America Millions of people came to America seeking liberty, jobs and an opportunity for a better life Traveled by steamship in steerage; conditions were unhealthy Before 1880s they came from England, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, and Norway During 1880s more than ½ million came from Italy, Russia, Poland and Greece Left homelands ravaged by drought, famine, war, unfair laws and religious freedom Settled in major cities: New York, Philadelphia

The Homestead Act of Offered cheap, fertile land to immigrants Railroad companies advertised this in Europe to attract immigrants to the West By the time they arrived most of the land was gone Unable to move West, immigrants stayed in the eastern and Midwestern cities

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 Passed by Congress Passed a law saying that no more Chinese could come to the United States They completed much of the work on the transcontinental railroad

Gentlemans Agreement of 1907 Agreement between the U.S. and Japan U.S. would not impose restriction on Japanese immigration Japan would not allow further emigration to the U.S. It was an informal document that was never passed by Congress Congress ended the agreement in 1924

Discrimination Immigrants Faced Some Americans did not like the new immigrants Feared that immigrants might take jobs that Americans could have Feared they would have to work at a lower wage Disliked dealing with those who were not able to speak English well

Jim Crow Laws Passed in the 1880s and 1890s Separated African Americans and whites in public spaces Developed separate but equal Most people felt that the laws were unconstitutional Civil Rights Act of 1875 made segregation in public places against the law 1883 Supreme Court ruled the CRA was unconstitutional Store owners, railroad companies and other private businesses could not discriminate against African Americans

Plessy v. Ferguson Homer Plessy refused to move from the white only section of a railroad car in 1892 Plessy wanted to challenge this law He was arrested and brought before a judge named Ferguson Plessy was found guilty He appealed his case to the U.S. Supreme Court

He argued at the Supreme Court that the Louisiana law was unconstitutional He said the 14 th amendment forbid state laws that discriminate against African Americans Supreme Court disagreed In 1886, the Supreme Court upheld the law and separate but equal This was a shock and continued their struggle for equality