Immigration in the Gilded Age

1. Immigration in the Gilded Age Ch 8, Sec. 2

2. Why and How? • Many reasons: religious/political persecution, lack of jobs, dreams of something better. • Est. 10 million immigrants during 1865-1890. • Mostly NW and Central Europe. • Est. 10 million immigrants during 1890-1920. • Mostly Eastern Europe and Middle East. • Most immigrants were very poor. • Traveled by ship in steerage class; cheapest fares, worst conditions. • Arrived mostly through San Francisco and New York City (“Golden Door”).

6. 70% of all immigrants came through New York City, at Ellis Island. • Had a medical exam; if diseased, were quarantined or deported. • Immigrants often settled with others from their homeland. • Set up communities in cities. • Would immediately begin looking for work. • Worked hard to build a new and better life.

13. Asian immigrants usually came through San Francisco and Seattle. • About 250,000 Chinese found work building railroads. • Indentured servitude. • Not liked by many whites; would work for less pay, drove wages down. • Unions excluded Asians; many felt Asians physically & mentally inferior. • Led to Chinese Exclusion Actin 1882 – no more Chinese immigration. • Repealed in 1943.

19. Many Japanese immigrated from Hawaii. • Mostly settled in California. • Faced same prejudices as Chinese. • Early 20th century, big wave of Mexican immigration. • Lots of job opportunities in American SW, especially during WWI. • 1910 Mexican Revolution drove many out. • Laws restricting European, Asian immigration in 1921 drew huge numbers of Mexicans into USA.