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Published byAnabel Sparks Modified over 9 years ago
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If you were applying for citizenship… U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services – http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis Would you be a citizen?
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A New Wave of Immigrants
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New Immigrants “There will soon be larger towns than any the world has yet known.” – Frederick Law Olmsted - speaking to a Boston crown about the rapid growth of U.S. cities.
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Old and New Immigrants Old Immigrants (Before 1880) – Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, and Scandanavia – Protestant (except for Irish and some Germans) New Immigrants (1880’s) – As many immigrants entered the U.S. in the 1880’s as had arrived in the years from 1820 to 1860. – Southern and Eastern Europe – Various religions
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Coming to America Why come to America? – Economic opportunity, religious and political asylum, adventure of a new life How did people get here? – Cheap boat tickets in steerage
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What were the conditions like in steerage?
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Ellis Island On the East Coast, millions of immigrants came through! – Written tests, interviews, physical examinations Take a tour of Ellis Island!!! On the West Coast, millions of Asian Immigrants entered through Angel Island!
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Immigrant Life Most immigrants settled in large cities What was in large cities for these immigrants? – Work / economic opportunities – Other immigrants from same country
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Where did Immigrants Live? Tenements – poorly built, over-crowded apartments. “I dreamed of the golden stairs leading to the top of the American palace where father was supposed to live. [I] went ‘home’ to… an ugly old tenement in the heart of the lower East Side. There were stairs to climb but they were not golden.” – New York Tenements
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How did Immigrants adjust? Formed benevolent societies – Aid organizations that offered help in cases of sickness, unemployment, or death Adjusted to American culture – Language, customs, etc. Does this happen today???
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Immigrant workers Many had previously been farmers – Why would it be difficult to be come a farmer when immigrating to a new country, specifically the East Coast of the United States? Found factory jobs in American cities – What types of jobs would an unskilled, non English speaking person get?
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Opposition to Immigration? Why do people oppose immigration today?
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Opposition to Immigration Anti-immigrant feelings grew along with the rise in immigration in the late 1800’s. – Racial and religious prejudices Felt that these new immigrants would not be able to assimilate to American culture well and become good citizens. – Taking jobs away from union members in the United States
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Opposition to Immigration Chinese Exclusion Act – 1882 – Banned Chinese people form immigrating to the United States for 10 years Immigration Restriction League – 1894 – Demanded all immigrants prove they could read and write before entering the country
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Homework… What does it mean to be American? What defines us today as American?
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