Post on 13-Jan-2016
transcript
Immigration: Era of Restriction
Immigration 1890s—“new immigration”—eastern and
southern Europe (Italy, Russia, Ottoman Turks, DARKER COMPLEXION)
“old immigration” --- northern and western Europe. (England, Ireland, Scandinavia, ANGLO-SAXONS)
Crossing: the journey
Push factors
_ poverty and the restrictions of social class in Europe
− to avoid forced military service
− high food prices
− oppressive taxes
− religious persecution
Pull Factors
Plenty of land and plenty of work Higher standard of living Democratic Political system Opportunity for social advancement
The Journey
The voyage to the United States was often very difficult.− Most immigrants booked passage in
steerage = compartment where the ships steering equipment used to be located.
− cargo holds without windows and only 2 ventilators. Crammed as many as 2,000 in these compartments unfit for human habitation
The Journey
Emma Lazarus’ Famous Poem. The New Colossus
cries she with silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
The Reception Examined and
questioned: Physically fit,
morally sound,& mentally able.
To merit passage thru the “golden door”
The Reception: Americanization of names Perplexed inspectors often changed the
hard to pronounce foreign names By shortening, changing spelling or
pronunciation, immigrants heritage was forever altered
many families still bear these “Ellis Island” names.
“Schyon Vergessen” a German Jew so
flustered by the bombardment of questions, When asked for his name, replied “Schyon Vergessen” yiddish for “I forget”
The official responded:“Welcome to America, Mr. Shawn Fergussen”
Housing and Employment The rapid increase in industrialization
since the civil war created a demand for cheap, unskilled labor.
Immigrants could quickly find employment in industrial cities in the Northeast
2 images of Immigrant workers 1. Creative, ambitious, and optimistic individuals
eager to take advantage of opportunities in America. “Rags to riches”
2. Faceless mass of unskilled labor, exploited by robber baron industrialist. “Humiliation and hardships”
Housing Immigrants lived in
Tenements. Over crowded apartment buildings.
To save cost they would rent out space compounding the problem.
Asian Immigration Gold rush 1949 Railroad Work Taiping Rebellion
(takes 20 million Chinese lives)
Japan immigration increases in 1910
Angel island
Chinese Exclusion Act Barred Chinese
immigration Renewed 3 times Not repealed until
1943 Unfair: Only race
banned from immigrating
Nativism Nativism is a
preference for native born people.
Originally opposed Irish immigrants.
Now focused on Asians, Jews, and Eastern Europeans.
Immigration restriction Nativist argued that
“undesirable” foreigners could be weeded out by administering a literacy test
Restriction cont… In 1921 eventually a
quota system was established only allowing 3% of a nationality already living in the US in.
Too late. By 1921 over 23 million immigrants had Entered the country and would inevitably changeThe nature and culture of American society.
How has immigration “changed” America?For good? For bad?