1. What is immigration?
Immigration is the movement of people from one country or region to another in order to make a new home

2. Immigration before the Gilded Age (1820-1880)
Most immigrants before the Gilded Age came from Northern Europe
Ireland
Germany
United Kingdom
Sweden

3. Immigration before the Gilded Age (1820-1880)
After gold was discovered in California, many immigrants came to the West Coast from China
Many worked as miners or railroad builders

4. Immigration during the Gilded Age and Progressive Era (1880-1920)
The main sources of immigration were Southern and Eastern Europe
Italy
Poland
Russia
China still a major source for immigration to the West Coast

5. Why did immigrants come to the U.S.?
Push Factors
Things that made them want to leave their home country
Pull Factors
Things that made them want to come to the United States

6. Push Factors Religious Persecution Mandatory military service Famine
Limited economic opportunities
Especially for farmers

7. Pull Factors Greater political and religious freedoms
Bill of Rights
Employment opportunities
Advertisements
Connected to robber barons/captains of industry
“Streets paved with gold”
“Land of milk and honey”

8. Immigrant Life in the U.S.
Had to adjust to English language and urban life
Most did not speak English
Most came from rural areas
Crowded living conditions
Dangerous work with low wages

9. Immigrant Life in the U.S.
Created their own communities
“Little Italy” or “Chinatown”
Created organizations to help their fellow immigrants
Irish Hibernian Association, Italian Knights of Columbus

10. Impact on the United States
Increased population
10 million in 1820
50 million in 1880
100 million in 1920
Hastened urbanization
Provided labor for industrialization
Changed the religious and cultural makeup of the country