1. N EW I MMIGRANTS 14.1

2. O BJECTIVES Compare the “new immigration” of the late 1800s to earlier immigration. Explain the push and pull factors leading immigrants to America. Describe the challenges that immigrants faced in traveling to America. Analyze how immigrants adapted to American life while trying to maintain familiar cultural practices.

3. K EY P ARTS New Immigrants Come to America Immigrants Decide to leave home The Immigrant Experience Opportunity and Challenges in America Immigrants Change America

4. N EW I MMIGRANTS C OME TO A MERICA Immigrants had always come to America for economic opportunity and religious freedom. Most had come from early protestants and then later German and Irish immigrants. In the 1870s “new immigrants” come from southern and eastern Europe. These immigrants were often unskilled and poor, they were from Italy, Greece, Poland, Hungary, Russia.

5. C ONT. After 1900 immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe made up more than 70 percent of all immigrants. That is up from about 1 percent at midcentury. Many native-born Americans felt threatened by these newcomers with different cultures and languages.

6. I MMIGRANTS D ECIDE TO L EAVE H OME Two types of factors lead to immigration. Push factors are those that compel people to leave their homes such as famine, war, or persecution. Pull factors are those that draw people to a new place such as economic opportunity or religious freedom.

7. C ONT. Push Factors- In the 1880s farmers in Mexico, Poland, and China lost their farms due to land reform and low prices for their produce. Pull Factors- The United States offered plenty of land and employment. Many businesses welcomed the immigrants in hope of cheap labor and economic stimulation.

8. T HE I MMIGRANT E XPERIENCE Coming to America was a big task, also a costly one for European immigrants. They were only allowed to bring what they could carry with them. So many had virtually nothing once they arrived in America. Many of the immigrants had to endeavor the long voyage in steerage which is the worst accommodations on the steamships they were on, sickness spread and many died on the ride over.

9. C ONT. In 1892 the first stop for immigrants was the processing station at Ellis Island or New York Harbor. This is where the United States officials determined whether the immigrant could stay or be shipped back to Europe. All first and second class citizens were inspected on the ship and set free. All third class immigrants or steerage passengers were sent to Ellis Island.

10. C ONT.. During this same time Asian Immigrants were coming to America via the Pacific ocean. They would arrive at San Francisco Bay and processed through Angel Island. Angel Island was a very tough place, many Chinese immigrants were turned away and even those who did stay were held for weeks to get processed and had to stay in very poor conditions.

11. O PPORTUNITIES AND C HALLENGES IN A MERICA Passing immigration inspections was just the first step for immigrants. There were often language barriers and they had to figure out how to adjust and fit into the new society and figure out how to obtain a job. Most immigrants stayed in cities near industrial jobs in factories.

12. C ONT. By 1890 many cities had huge immigrant populations. In San Francisco and Chicago they made up more than 40 percent of the population. Four out of five inhabitants of New York City were foreign born. In many cities volunteer institutions known as settlement houses ran Americanization programs, helping newcomers learn English and adopt American dress and diet.

13. C ONT.. During this time is when the United States began representing the term “melting pot” which simply means the blended nationalities living and operating together in one country. Many new immigrants faced hostility, they were subjected to nativism which was a belief that native-born white Americans were superior to newcomers.

14. I MMIGRANTS C HANGE A MERICA Despite opposition, immigrants transformed American Society. They fueled industrial growth and brought new customs, techniques, and traditions to the workforce and society. Ultimately the Immigrants expanded the definition of being an American.