The History of U.S. Immigration Here is not merely a nation, but a teeming nation of nations.Walt Whitman

Immigration Vocabulary Emigrate: to leave one country or region to settle in another Immigrate: to come to a country of which one is not a native, usually for permanent residence. Migrate: process of moving from one country, region, or place to another

Old Immigrants Came to U.S. before the 1880s from Northwestern Europe Britain Germany Ireland Scandinavia Spoke English Skilled workers Protestants Except Irish & Germans

New Immigrants Southern & Eastern Europe Czechs Greeks Hungarians Italians Poles Russians Slovaks

Waves of Immigration: 37 Million Germany (6 million) Ireland (4.5 million) Great Britain (4.2 million) Scandinavian nations (2.3 million) Austria-Hungary (4.2 million) Italy (4.75 million) Russia & Baltic (3.3 million)

Push-Pull Factors

Why Immigrate? Push factors: Political Freedom Religious Tolerance Economic Opportunity Refugees Slavery Family Reunification

Why Immigrate? Pull Factors: Land Jobs “streets paved with gold”

Why Immigrate? Jews for religious freedom Italians/Asians for work Russians to escape persecution “Land of opportunity”

Ellis Island Where did they settle? 70% initially landed in New York City – fanned out into areas

Ellis Island European immigrants 5+ hours Physical examination Government Inspector - proper documents - literacy test - ready for life U.S.

Angel Island Asian immigrants San Francisco Harsh questioning Many interrogations Terrible conditions Chinese exclusion until 1943

The Naturalization Process 18 years old Lawful residence Good moral character Understand some basic English Some basic knowledge of government Some basic knowledge of U.S. history Oath of Allegiance

Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the U.S.A. I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potenate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

Choice of Destination Relatives or friends in particular region Sought particular type of work Looking for heavy industry (Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago) Looking for skilled occupations & agriculture (Texas & Midwest) Farming (Upper Midwest)

1910 Foreign Born Concentration

Life of An Immigrant Most worked in low prestige occupations Earned wages that were insufficient to provide decent standards of living Lived in shabby built and overcrowded dwellings without heat, light, air or plumbing Took two to three generations for children or grandchildren of immigrants to move up socioeconomic ladder & earn sufficient incomes