The New ImmigrantsChanges in American Life

1880-1914

Chapter 21, Section 2

Essential Questions• Why was there such a great influx of

immigration in the late 1800’s?• What was it like to immigrate to the United

States?• What types of jobs did most immigrants

take in the United States?• Describe the challenges faced by

immigrants to assimilate into American culture.

“Old” Immigrants vs. “New” Immigrants

• “Old” Immigrants (Prior to 1890) = Northern & Western Europe– Britain– Ireland– Germany– France

• “New Immigrants” (After 1890) = Southern & Eastern Europe– Italy– Poland– Russia– Slavic Peoples (Former Yugoslavia: Croatia, Bosnia,

Macedonia, Serbia, Albania– Jewish

Ellis Island• 1st Stop for

Immigrants Coming From Europe (Across the Atlantic)

• Between NY & NJ

• Screening Station

Why an Island?

Processing of Immigrants at Ellis Island

• The Great Hall (Back Then)

• Physical Examination

• Criminal Inspection

• Entrance Fee

The Great Hall (Back Then)

The Great Hall (Today)

Physical Examinations• All Immigrants

Were REQUIRED to Pass a Physical Examination

• Check for Diseases

• If You Had a Disease……….

Processing at Ellis Island

Angel Island• 1st Stop for

Immigrants Coming Across the PacificPacific Ocean

• Predominantly Asian

• Faced More Discrimination

Angel Island Sleeping Arrangements

Immigration From Mexico

• Mexicans Had to go Through Texas

• $8 Entrance Fee

• Quick Examination

• Much Easier to Get Into U.S. Through Texas!

After Getting Through Ellis Island…

• Immigrants Went to Cities

• Settled in the 4 Industrial States of:– Massachusetts– New York– Pennsylvania– Illinois– WHY?

Ethnic Neighborhoods• Immigrants Looked for

Help from Americans from the SAME Country

• Help Find Jobs & Housing

• Published Newspapers in Native Language

• Pool $$$ Together for Religion

• Support Local Political Machine:– Help Them Find Jobs!

“Little Italy”

“Chinatown”

Immigrants in the EAST• Most European

Immigrants Took Whatever Jobs They Could Find

• Most Europeans Worked in Factories & Sweatshops!

• Got Paid Very Little!

Immigrants in the WEST

• Asian Immigrants Mostly Settled in the West

• Immigrants Took Jobs As:– Railroad Workers– Owned Restaurants

& Businesses– Sugar Farmers– Fisherman – Miners

Immigrants in the Southwest

• Revolution in Mexico in 1910:– Thousands of

Mexicans Fled to the U.S.

• Took Jobs as Farmers & Ranchers in California & Texas

• Took Jobs as Copper Miners in Arizona

What Does the Term, “Melting Pot” Mean to

YOU?

What Did YOU Have for Dinner Last Night?

What is an “American” Meal?

America’s Melting Pot• Immigrants

Wanted to Assimilate into American Culture– Learn English– Take Citizenship

Classes

America’s Melting Pot!

Reasons WHY Nativists Feared/Hated Immigrants

• Take Americans’ Jobs!– Immigrants Would

Work for Cheaper Pay!– Would Hurt Unions!

• Discrimination:– Racial & Religous

• Immigrants Would Be Controlled by Political Machines– Would Ruin Democracy– Would Vote Whatever

Political Machine Wanted

U.S. Attempts to Limit Immigration in 1882

• Congress Passed Laws to Limit Immigration

• Placed Taxes on Immigrants Coming to the U.S. (Keep Out the Poor)

• No Beggars/No Criminals/Nobody with Diseases

• The Chinese Exclusion Act!

The Chinese Exclusion Act

• No Chinese Immigration to the United States for 10 Years!

• Completely Racist!

The Quota System• By the 1920’s, Many

Nativists Wanted to Stop Immigration to the U.S.

• U.S. Created the Quota System

• Only a Certain % of Immigrants Could Come from Each Country

Restriction of Immigration Passed by Congress (1882)

Ellis Island Today

Ellis Island Today Continued…

Essential Questions• Why was there such a great influx of

immigration in the late 1800’s?• What was it like to immigrate to the United

States?• What types of jobs did most immigrants

take in the United States?• Describe the challenges faced by

immigrants to assimilate into American culture.