1. American Studies Immigration

3. Before Civil War  “Old Immigrants” from Western Europe like England, Germany, and Ireland  Ireland: The Great Potato Famine 1845-1852 Potatoes were brought over from South America in 1590 and become a staple of the Irish diet 200 types: Explorers bring back only two types Fungus spreads to both types of potato plant and kills crops Mass starvation: 1 million die, 1 million leave the country Immigrants:1 in 5 die on the journey to America Irish were persecuted in the US due to anti-British and anti-Catholic sentiments Seen as poor and dirty and sub-human 1850: 43% of immigrant population lived in the slums

5. After 1865  After the Civil War: “New Immigrants” from Eastern Europe, Italy, Austria, Russia and Scandinavian countries  Settle in cities or explore western frontier  During Industrial Revolution: More immigrants come than ever before to US  Asian immigrants enter at Angel Island, California  European immigrants enter at Ellis Island in NYC 12 million from 1892-1954: 120,000 deported and 3500 die http://app.discoveryeducation.com/search?Ntt=immigration&N=4294939055&N=4294939062#N =4294939055+18343+4294867516&Ne=4294868674&Ntt=immigration&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+ matchallpartial http://app.discoveryeducation.com/search?Ntt=immigration&N=4294939055&N=4294939062#N =4294939055+18343+4294867516&Ne=4294868674&Ntt=immigration&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+ matchallpartial

7. http://www.history.com/topics/ ellis-island/videos#detained- at-ellis-island http://www.history.com/topics/ellis- island/videos#hurdles-to-citizenship-on- ellis-island

8. http://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=8X4CypTaOQs&safe =active

9. Reasons for Immigration  Push Factors: Reasons to leave their home country  Poverty: Not enough jobs  High inflation: Food is very expensive  Religious and Political discrimination or persecution  Europe: Crowded with very little land to purchase  Pull Factors: Reasons to come to the United States  Many jobs in new factories  Growing economy  Religious and Political freedom  Lots of land to settle and farm out West

10. Practice Question  What factor contributed to the migration of large numbers of people from Europe to the US in the late 1800s?  A. The US needed people to colonize the overseas territories it had recently acquired  B. European social reform movements wanted to spread their beliefs to the US  C. Economic prosperity in Europe allowed people to purchase land in the US  D. Industrialization in the US attracted laborers from Europe

11. European Immigrants: Italians  Italians leave due to poverty  Most of income spent on food  Divided land among family-not enough to make a profit off crops  Promise of success in US  Lack of democracy in Italy  Few had the right to vote

12. Russians and Jews  Jews in Russia were religiously persecuted  Pogroms: Attacks where they are beaten/killed, homes burned  Come to US for religious freedom  Bring Eastern Orthodox and Jewish religion to US  In late 1800s: NYC had the largest Jewish population in the world  Military Conscription: Law requires all boys of 15-16 to serve in army

13. Recruitment Campaigns  Representatives go to Europe to promote idea of immigrating to the US with the American Dream  Give impression that anyone can become rich in a few years  Railroad companies selling land in the west  Steamships seeking passengers offer cheap tickets (as low as $25) -Example: Titanic in 1912 -3 rd class ticket cost about $700 with 1 st class cabins costing over $10,000

14. Practice Question  Many people from the region of Southern and Eastern Europe, such as Italians and Russians, immigrated to the United States between the Civil War and WWI. Identify two factors in their home region and two factors in America that led them to move to the United States?  Short Answer (4 bullet points)

15. Asian Immigrants  Most Asian immigrants settle on west coast  Bring Eastern culture: Very different from Western  California Gold Rush in starts in1849  Hope to get rich then go home  Work on Central Pacific Railroad: dangerous and many die building in mountains  Often used as scabs

17. Immigrant Life in the US  More jobs in US cause of Industrialization  Europeans come expecting better pay = not true  Ghettos: A neighborhood where one ethnicity lives  Try to preserve culture: language, religious beliefs, customs, clothes, food, music, dance

20. Americanization  Try to learn English and be “American”  Schools only teach in English  Change names to fit in or make easier to spell  Only teach American history  Teach beliefs of the dominant culture

21. Reactions to Immigrants  Foreign-Born: Immigrant families  “Native-Born”: Ancestors came to America generations ago  Dominant Group determines culture:  Rugged Individualism: Responsibility and work ethic  White Superiority over all other races  Western Culture (English/Protestant) is the best for everyone

22. Debate: Which is best?  Total Assimilation: Minority learns/adopts customs of Dominant culture  Americanized completely, get rid of foreign customs, speak English  Used on Native Americans as well  Melting Pot Theory: All cultures gradually blend into one superior American culture  Take best from each, English as common language  Cultural Pluralism: All cultures respected/valued individually  Practice own customs while fitting into society; English speaking is not superior

24. Nativist Opposition  Nativists: Believes foreigners are a threat to the dominant culture and should be stopped from entering the country  Reasons for hatred:  Economic: Taking jobs and replacing workers  Cultural: Protect from foreign influence on culture and religion  Psychological: Desire to feel superior, fear those who are different  Political: Fear immigrants are connected to radical anarchist movements

27. Anti-Immigrant Sentiment  Asian immigrants were met with more hostility  Thought to be taking too many jobs in west  Chinese often work as replacement labor-increases resentment  Chinese Exclusion Act (1882): Halt all future immigration and keep them from becoming US citizens  Quota: A set number of immigrants allowed in (small %)

28. Exclusion Acts  Riots breakout in West over “yellow peril”  Gentlemen’s Agreement: Teddy Roosevelt stops Japanese segregation in school  In return Japanese stop new immigrants from coming to US

30. Nativist Response  Literacy Tests: Disqualified for immigration if they can’t read/write in any language  Emergency Quota Act of 1921  Quota Act of 1924: Limits # of immigrants coming from all countries  Drastically reduces immigrants until WWII

31. Immigrant Demographic  Legal Permanent Residents: 1.1 million in 2012  429,000 from Asia  107,000 from Africa  146,000 from Mexico Majority settle in California, New York and Florida  Naturalized Citizens: Legal Residents for 5 years or married to a resident for 3 years  Dual Citizenship: Only by birthright, otherwise it’s renounced  If you are born in US citizen you are automatically a citizen  If your parent was born in the US you are a citizen  Deferred Action for children brought to US illegally If they stay in school they can apply to become citizens at 18

32. Immigration Today  Total estimated illegal adult immigrant population in 2011: 9.9 million  Total working: 6.4 million  Total who are English Proficient: 2.9 million 1.8 million don’t speak English at all  Policy in the US: Difficult to legally become a citizen  90 day visitor pass or Visa, then Green Card (LPR)  Takes 6 months to get your application reviewed to become a legal resident Lack of official documents If you have money or education or join the military, you’re more likely to be granted citizenship  The process to become a full citizen can take 5 months to 2 years

33. Immigration Today  What should our immigration policy be?  Should it be the same toward all countries or should we limit some?  What should be the requirements to become a citizen?  Free trade agreement with Mexico  State Laws: Arizona and border patrol  European Union: Open borders and shared economy  Making friends or enemies?  Immigrants of Middle Eastern decent  Refugees:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5H5w3_QTG0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5H5w3_QTG0  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvOnXh3NN9w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvOnXh3NN9w