What Immigrants from Europe Wanted and Gained from Coming to

America between 1607-1911

By: Sarah, Robbie, and Dom

Day 5, Group C

• What immigrants from Europe wanted in coming to America, and what America gave them, both changed during the period 1607-1911. Discuss changes BOTH in what these immigrants wanted and what they found, giving about equal attention to the periods of 1607-1790 and 1820-1915.

Thesis

• During the period of 1607 to 1911, America was a foreign and mysterious land to outsiders. Immigrants from poverty-stricken and desolate countries in Europe wanted to start a new life in America, some of these groups found what they were searching for, while others continued to face misfortune.

1607-1790 What they were searching for

• Most immigrants coming to colonial America wanted a fresh start in life.

• Colonists from England wanted to experience the religious freedoms that the New World had in store for them.

• The Separatists of England wanted to find a safe haven where they could die as English men and women, and as purified protestants.

1607-1790 What they were searching for

• Other groups/people wanted to discover great riches and a daring adventure, such as Henry Hudson from the Netherlands.

Religious Tolerance

1607-1790 What they Found

• Some colonists experienced new opportunities such as, success via trading, growing crops, and plantations. – Tobacco, sugar cane, and wheat were among the

more successful crops • Other settlers like those from Jamestown

faced challenges they were not expecting such as starvation and diseases. 40 of the Jamestown settlers died before even stepping foot on shore.

1607-1790 What they found

• The Puritans who traveled to the New World on the Mayflower faced some difficult challenges in the beginning, but soon found the religious peace that they were searching for.

• Henry Hudson and other immigrants from the Netherlands ventured into the Delaware Bay and then ascended up what is now The Hudson River. New Netherlands was founded in 1623-1624 in the Hudson River area. They made many smart business deals such as buying New Amsterdam, now New York City, from the Indians.

1820-1915What they were searching for

• Europe was becoming overcrowded at this time and expansion was necessary due to the lack of space in many European cities.

• Religious groups in Europe (such as the Jews or the Quakers) were seeking religious freedoms available in America.

1820-1915What they were searching for

• Food shortages, like the famine in Ireland, also drove people to emigrate to America seeking the opportunity to farm on the open land that America had recently acquired, such as land from Mexico and the Louisiana Purchase.

• America was known at this time as the land of “economic opportunities” and this drew immigrants, as they wanted to have a chance to succeed financially.

Expectations

1820-1915What they Found

• Immigrants held America up on a pedestal and thought all their problems would go away when they arrived in the United States, but this was not the case. Although many groups were better off than they were in their homelands, they were mistreated for being foreigners and different. The Irish were treated like aliens until they were accepted into society.

• Minorities and immigrants also made little in wages compared to “regular” Americans (Irish worked dangerous conditions on railroads).

Reality

1820-1915What they Found

• Due to persecution because they were foreigners, immigrants had to create their own communities. This led to Little Italy, Chinatown, etc. People did not expect such prejudices in the “land of the free”, but the communities it created are still around today and a good source of culture.