Chapter 21, Section 1:New Immigrants in a Promised Land

Main Idea: In the late 1800s, millions of “new immigrants” came to the

United States in search of economic opportunity and freedom.

A. Hopes and Fears

Push Factors – conditions that drive people away from their homeland

1. 1. Overpopulation – not enough jobs, scarce land

2. 2. Poor Economy – poverty, hardships (potato famine in Ireland

3. 3. Persecution – religious (Jews in Russia - pogroms) & political (revolution)

Pull Factors – conditions that attract people to a new place

1. 1. Economic Opportunity – lots of jobs due to industrialization

2. 2. Promise of Freedom – religious & political

3. 3. Hope for a Better Life – “streets are paved with gold”

Immigrationlate 19th and early 20th

centuries

Push Factors

lack of farmlandin Europe

fleeingpersecution

• Irish • Italians• Russian Jews

• Armenians

political turmoil

Mexicans

famine / poverty

• Irish• Chinese

Immigrationlate 19th and early 20th

centuries

Pull Factors

cheap land and passageto America

promise offreedom anda better life

available jobs in

factoriesand mines

join familyand friends

Lack of Farmland in Europe

German Italian Puerto Rican  English Japanese AmericanAfrican Mexican Irish

• Land was scarce in Europe, but it was plentiful in the U.S.

B. The Unforgettable VoyageMost immigrants traveled in steerage, the lowest & cheapest deck on the ship. It was often crowded, dirty & disease-ridden.The Statue of Liberty (gift from France) greeted arrivals in NYC after 1886. It came to symbolize hope & freedom. Emma Lazarus wrote “The New Colossus” (…give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…)

German ship carrying immigrants to Ellis Island in steerage. (below deck)

B. (continued)Ellis Island – processing station built in 1892 where immigrants were registered (some name changes) & inspected (physical & mental) before entry into USAngel Island – processing station in SF for Asian immigrants crossing the Pacific O.

The pens at Ellis Island, main hall. These people have passed the first mental inspection. (1902-1913)

Angel Island

• From 1910 to 1940, thousands of immigrants, many of whom were Asian, entered the United States through Angel Island, CA.

C. Changing Patterns of Immigration“Old Immigration”

1. Came before 1880ish

2. Came from NW Europe (England, Ireland, Germany, etc.)

3. Tended to settle on open land (cheap & available

“New Immigration”

1. Came after 1880ish2. Came from SE Europe

(Italy, Poland, Russia, Greece, etc.), Asia & Latin America

3. Tended to settle in cities (industry jobs)

* This group had it more difficult due to prejudice.

D. Adjusting to a New LandReality differed from expectations: “1st, the streets were not paved w/ gold. 2nd, the streets were not paved at all. 3rd, they expected me to pave them.”Most immigrants settled in ethnic neighborhoods (Little Italy, China Town). This helped them adjust to a new country & keep old customs.Assimilation – becoming part of another culture. Kids assimilated quicker because: 1. school (English, US history) 2. less attached to the old ways

We love social studies!

Adjusting to a New Land· Most immigrants stayed in the cities where they landed.· By 1900, lower Manhattan was the most crowded place in the world.

Hester Street, ca. 1900

· Immigrants adjusted by settling in communities with people of their own ethnic group.

Little Italy, New York CityA Jewish vendor in Lower East Side, New York City

· Assimilation was a long, slow process.Assimilation - process whereby a minority group gradually adopts the customs and attitudes of the majority culture.

E. Anti-Immigrant Feeling GrowsNativism – anti- immigrant feelingsReasons: 1. overcrowding2. prejudice (different customs, etc)3. complained that immigrants took jobs & kept wages lowChinese Exclusion Act (1882) – barred immigration for 10 yrs (renewed several times)