Immigration

Ch 3.3

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

• Daily goal:• Understand where most immigrants came from

during this period and the significance of both Ellis and Angel Island.

• Think About it…• During this time period the pledge of allegiance

was written and mandatory in most schools. Why do you think immigrants were forced to say the pledge?

Land of Opportunity

• 1870-1920 – 20 million Europeans arrive in the U.S.

• Pre-1900 – Most from Western and Northern Europe – (English, Irish, German)

• After 1900 – Most from Southern and Eastern Europe – (Italians, Greeks, Jews, Poles, Slavs)

• Small numbers of Chinese and Japanese settled in the West.

Welcome to America!

• Ellis Island (NY)- Processing center for most Immigrants arriving on the East Coast from Europe.

• Angel Island (SF Bay)- Where most immigrants from Asia were processed on the West Coast.

Not Welcome…

• The Nativism movement grew as more immigrants arrived.

• Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act (1910) which stopped Chinese immigration and prevents them from becoming citizens.

To the Cities

• Most immigrants stayed in big cities• Sought out people of their native culture• Formed ethnic communities –ex: Little

Italy, the Jewish Lower East Side, China towns.

• Americanization movement – Schools and volunteers taught immigrants

English, American history and civics– Goal was assimilation – lose native culture

and become more American.

Urbanization• Eugenics movement – the idea that Science

could prove the superiority of certain races.• Government restricted immigration from South

and Eastern Europe and Asia.

• Urban problems – poor housing, water, sewage, crime.

• Tenements – small apartment slums– ¾ of all New Yorkers live in them.

Political machines

• Kept corrupt politicians in power. • Offered new immigrants jobs, important

services in exchange for votes.• William “Boss” Tweed- Notoriously

corrupt politician runs NY and goes to jail.• Politicians use Graft (fraud) to get rich.

Stole gov’t money and took bribes.

• Do you think most immigrants had the money to start their own business?

Working Conditions

• Long hours – 12 hours a day/6 days a week• No vacation, sick time or unemployment• Dangerous conditions – injuries and death

common• Women and children – all worked to help the

family survive.

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