The New Immigrants

Chapter 5 Section 1

1. Compare and contrast the new immigration of the late 1800s to earlier immigration.
Old Immigrants Prior to 1870
Protestants From Northern and Western Europe Came with their Families Had a skill or were educated Typically had money Tended to settle in rural areas or move west to buy land German and Irish Catholics (1840 1860s)
Were able to avoid some prejudice against Catholics because:
The Irish spoke English The German Catholics benefitted from the good reputation of their Protestant countrymen. Typically were uneducated, unskilled, and had little money but would blend into American society within a generation.

1. Compare and contrast the new immigration of the late 1800s to earlier immigration.
New Immigrants 1870 Beginning WWI
Most were Catholic or Jewish From Eastern and Southern Europe
Italy, Greece, Poland, Hungary, and Russia (70% of immigrants by 1900)

Tended to come alone (intending to send for family later) Unskilled and uneducated Typically poor Settled in urban areas Cultures and languages differed greatly from Native Born Americans.

2. Explain the push and pull factors leading immigrants to America. Push Factors
Why did they leave their homes?
Famine
Irish Potato Famine

War and Political Revolution

Specifically China and Eastern Europe

Persecution (religious or political)

Jews from Russia and Eastern Europe

Land reform and low prices for grain forced farmers off their land
Mexico, China, Poland, and Italy

2. Explain the push and pull factors leading immigrants to America.

Pull Factors
Why did they decide to come to the United States?
Plentiful land
The Homestead Act, aid from RR companies made western farmland inexpensive

Plenty of jobs available

Many immigrants recruited and brought to US by companies who needed labor. Chinese brought here to work on RR in the West.

Chain Immigrants family members were already here. Following a promise of religious and political freedom.

3. Describe the challenges that immigrants faced in traveling to America. Leaving:

Had to pack up their lives and find $ for the journey.
Usually only took what they could carry.

Get to a port of departure and find a ship that would be leaving for the US soon.
Could be dangerous in war-torn areas.

3. Describe the challenges that immigrants faced in traveling to America. Traveling:

Traveled in the steerage section of a steam ship.
Worst accommodations aboard ship Kept separated from the 1st and 2nd class passengers. Located on the bottom decks
Hot, cramped, and dirty Illnesses could spread quickly Seasickness was a problem for many

Horrible conditions could lead to illness or death for even healthy immigrants.

3. Describe the challenges that immigrants faced in traveling to America. Arrival:

From Europe
Most came through New York Harbor Had to go through a processing station
Ellis Island starting in 1892

1st and 2nd class passengers were quickly screened and allowed to disembark Steerage passenger were sent to the processing station
Legal and medical screenings were conducted

If found to be healthy they took a ferry to New York within a couple of hours.

3. Describe the challenges that immigrants faced in traveling to America. Arrival:

From Asia
Entered through San Francisco Bay
Processed at Angel Island starting in 1910

Not very welcoming Very difficult for Chinese to enter. Many kept at the processing station for weeks or months under very poor conditions

4. Analyze how immigrants adapted to American life while trying to maintain familiar cultural practices.
Attempts to adapt:
Americanization programs:
Helped immigrants learn English and adapt to American culture.

Fraternal Lodges and Social Clubs

Immigrants helped new comers learn American ways and could provide financial assistance.

Children of immigrants tended to Americanize quickly.

Without memories of the home country.

Melting Pot- Idea that white people of all nationalities would blend together to form one single American culture.

4. Analyze how immigrants adapted to American life while trying to maintain familiar cultural practices.
Attempts to maintain familiar cultural practices:
Settled in ghettos with people who shared their language and culture.
Could be 40% of the population in large cities. In New York 4 in 5 inhabitants were 1st or 2nd generation immigrants.

Fraternal Lodges, Social Clubs, and Religious institutions.

Helped to make immigrants feel like they were back in their home country. Catholics would form churches and parochial schools
Tended to stay divided ethnically (Irish and Italians created their own churches).

Many immigrant families spoke their native language in the homes instead of English.

4. Analyze how immigrants adapted to American life while trying to maintain familiar cultural practices. Resentment:
Economic issues and job competition inflamed resentment of immigrants Religion was a major reason that nativists mistrusted immigrants
Especially Catholics and Jews

4. Analyze how immigrants adapted to American life while trying to maintain familiar cultural practices. Resentment:
Nativism
The belief that native-born Americans were superior to immigrants. Backed up by sketchy scientific evidence that linked immigrants physical characteristics with criminal tendencies or lack of intellect. Nativist Laws were passed:
Chinese Exclusion Act

5. Explain how these immigrants changed America Fueled industrial growth

Mexican immigrants developed ranching techniques Immigrants built coal mines, steel mills, textile mills and factories. Chinese, Irish, and Mexican laborers built the Railroads that connected the nation. Immigrant women worked in factories or as domestic servants.

5. Explain how these immigrants changed America Elected politicians

Became citizens and voted for politicians who were favorable to immigrants, the poor, and labor in general. Joined labor unions and helped them become more powerful.

5. Explain how these immigrants changed America Incorporated their traditions into American culture.
Examples: