1. Immigration
Coming to the New World

2. 3 Phases
Colonial
Old
New

3. Colonial
1609 – 1776
Who Came?
English, Scotch-Irish, Germans Swedish Dutch
Africans
Why?
Religious Reasons
Indentured Servitude
Slaves

4. European Population Explosion 1815 - 1914
Relative Peace
Improved Diet
Improved Sanitation
Mechanization reduced need for human labor
Renters pushed off land

5. “Old” Immigration 1776-1880 Who Came?
Northern &Western Europe (18th c - English, Scotch, Dutch & French Protestants) (19th c – English Germans, Scandinavians, Irish)
Why?
Revolts (Germany)
Potato Famine
Desire For better Standard of Living
Many were skilled and either could assimilate easily or settled in rural immigrant communities.
“Old” Immigration

6. New Immigration
Between 1877 – million
1890 – Million more

7. Who Came? Eastern and southern Europe Asia (China, Japan, Filipinos)
(Russia, Austria-Hungary, Italy)
Asia (China, Japan, Filipinos)
Many unskilled agricultural workers
Many Catholic or Jewish (European)
Not Familiar with American Democratic Traditions.

8. Why did they come? PUSH PULL Italians fleeing famine and Disease
Jews from Eastern Europe and Russia escaping Religious Persecution
Escaping Poverty
PULL
Better jobs (IR tremendous demands for cheap labor)
Encouraged by friends/family
Fresh Start
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9. Sojourners Some didn’t stay For every 100 immigrants 30 returned home
Earned enough $
Obstacles too much and left
For every 100 immigrants 30 returned home
Some came intending to return, but stayed.

10. 1-3 weeks in steerage with diseases and not much food
NEW LIFE
-difficult journey
1-3 weeks in steerage with diseases and not much food
-Ellis Island, NY
immigrant processing
Physical exam, government inspection (criminal record)
-Angel Island, SF
Harsher examinations, detentions
Once in America, new immigrants had to endure physical examinations (to check for disease and lice), as well as governmental examinations, which checked your criminal record in your previous country. While many were admitted, some were sent back home.

11. Waiting in line at Ellis Island in New York
Waiting in line at Ellis Island in New York. This was the major immigrant in-processing station in the nation, as 17 million immigrants passed through its gates to gain entrance to the United States.

12. NEW LIFE
-Culture Shock
Need a home and job in a brand new culture
Settled in ethnic communities
Similar language/customs

13. Settling in America Culture Shock – Need a new home in a new area
Vast Majority settled in Urban Areas
Available land scarce
(Japanese and Filipinos in California – an agricultural exception)
Industrial work provided economic foundation for communities
Already substantial immigrant communities
Could settle in ethnic communities
Ethnic specific goods, language, religion etc.
Because of low wages – ethnic areas tended to be densely populated and poverty stricken.
Provided a place where they could feel at home.
Often provided aid and services/ support for newcomers.

14. Reaction to Immigration
Nativism
Reaction to Immigration

15. Theories of Americanization
Homogenous Culture Theory
Melting Pot Theory
Cultural Pluralism “Mosaic” or “Salad Bowl”
Homogenous Culture Theory
Immigrants will be changed and assimilate to American Culture.
Melting Pot Theory
Immigrants will blend with the society forming a homogenous, yet ever changing society.
Cultural Pluralism “Mosaic” or “Salad Bowl”
Emphasizes the diversity of the country while recognizing a common center (political and economic institutions, including language)

16. Nativism
The “different” nature of the new immigrants frightened many middle and upper class Americans.
Xenophobia – the fear of outsiders
Examples of Nativist Groups ( KKK , American Protective Association)
Tended to be Anti Catholic and Anti Jewish (Anti-Semitic)
Felt Immigrants were:
The wrong religion and a threat to Protestant traditions
Would not be readily assimilated – culture too different.
Of “lesser” races who would drag the country down
Brining in un-American ideas (Socialism)
Taking jobs from Americans

17. Successful Nativist Efforts
Many local and state governments passed laws discriminating against the Chinese
Segregated Schooling, boycotts of Chinese businesses
Violence flared
1882 Chinese Exclusion Act
Prohibited Chinese immigration for 10 years, except students, teachers, merchants, tourists & government officials.
Extended in 1892 for another 10 years.
In 1902 Chinese immigration prohibited indefinitely.
Repealed in 1943.
Violence did subside as immigration dropped.
Many local and state governments passed laws discriminating against the Chinese
Segregated Schooling, boycotts of Chinese businesses
Violence flared
1882 Chinese Exclusion Act
Prohibited Chinese immigration for 10 years, except students, teachers, merchants, tourists & government officials.
Extended in 1892 for another 10 years.
In 1902 Chinese immigration prohibited indefinitely.
Repealed in 1943.
Violence did subside as immigration dropped

18. Successful Nativist Efforts
1907 Gentleman’s Agreement
Japan agreed to limit emigration in return for ending school segregation in the US.
1907 the Immigration Restriction League pressed Congress to require a literacy test for immigrants wishing to enter the U.S.
Vetoed repeatedly by Taft & Wilson but overridden by congress in 1917.
Had to read no less than 30 words of English.
1907 Gentleman’s Agreement
Japan agreed to limit emigration in return for ending school segregation in the US.
1907 the Immigration Restriction League pressed Congress to require a literacy test for immigrants wishing to enter the U.S.
Vetoed repeatedly by Taft & Wilson but overridden by congress in 1917.
Had to read no less than 30 words of English.

19. Later Legislation 1921 Emergency Quota Act
number of immigrants limited to about 350,000
1924 National Origins Quota Act
Further limited immigration and biased it toward Northern & Western Europeans.
1929 National Origins Act
Limited immigration to 150,000 a year.
1921 Emergency Quota Act
Sharply limited the number of immigrants to about 350,000
1924 National Origins Quota Act
Further limited immigration and biased it toward Northern & Western Europeans.
1929 National Origins Act
Further limited immigration to 150,000 a year.