The New Immigrants

1. The New Immigrants Chapter 10, Section 1

2. New Immigrants Come to America • Where did the majority of immigrants come from prior to 1870? • From northern and western Europe– Ireland and Germany primarily. • What region(s) of Europe did the ‘new immigrants’ come from starting in the 1870s? • Southern and eastern Europe– Italy, Greece, Poland, Spain, Austria, et al.

3. Immigrants Decide to Leave Home • Push factor= a factor that compels people to leave their homes. • What are the ‘push’ factors for new immigrants? • Loss of land in home country; • Wars and political revolutions

4. Immigrants Decide to Leave Home • Pull factor= a factor that draws people to a new place. • What are the ‘pull’ factors for new immigrants? • Lots of land and employment; • Hope for gold; • Families and friends in the U.S.

5. The Immigrant Experience • When immigrants crossed the Atlantic, how did they travel? • Often only had enough for a single ticket; • Carried only the belongings they could carry. • Steerage= lower decks of a ship; very crowded and dirty; high chance of sickness. • When the immigrants reached port, were they automatically allowed into the country? • No; if they came from steerage they were inspected– had to be healthy, show they had a skill, money, or a sponsor.

6. The Immigrant Experience • What was the main port on the East Coast? • Ellis Island, New York • What was the main port on the West Coast? What countries did these immigrants come from? • Angel Island; • China and other Asian countries

7. Opportunities and Challenges in America • Where did the majority of immigrants reside? What benefits did these areas provide? • Ethnic neighborhoods in cities; • Allowed immigrants to adjust to the U.S. quicker. • How is the Americanization of immigrants similar to the assimilation of Native Americans? • Wanted non-whites to adopt American cultural practices and give up their own.

8. Opportunities and Challenges in America • Was the United States the great ‘melting pot’ of culture that many believed? • Melting pot= all nationalities blend into one unified culture. • No– many held onto their own traditions. • Some individuals did not approve of the influx of immigrants—why not? • Nativists believed that native-borns were superior to immigrants. They feared it would degrade U.S. culture. • Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) = prohibited Chinese laborers from immigrating; limited the rights of those in the already in the United States; prevented them from becoming naturalized citizens.

9. Immigrants Change America • How did immigrants assimilate to and change American culture? • Worked on railroads, in factories and in mines; • Engaged politically ; • Incorporated traditions which became part of U.S. culture.