Coming to America

1820-1914

Coming to America

1820-1914

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,With conquering limbs astride from land to land;Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall standA mighty woman with a torch, whose flameIs the imprisoned lightning, and her nameMother of Exiles. From her beacon-handGlows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes commandThe air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

 

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries sheWith 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!"

Emma Lazarus, 1883

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,With conquering limbs astride from land to land;Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall standA mighty woman with a torch, whose flameIs the imprisoned lightning, and her nameMother of Exiles. From her beacon-handGlows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes commandThe air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

 

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries sheWith 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!"

Emma Lazarus, 1883

End of Civil War to World War IEnd of Civil War to World War I

1865 - 19141865 - 1914

Over 25 Million Immigrants came to

US.

Over 25 Million Immigrants came to

US.

WHY?WHY?

Conditions that drive Conditions that drive people from their people from their

homes or homeland.homes or homeland.

Conditions that drive Conditions that drive people from their people from their

homes or homeland.homes or homeland.

Conditions that attract immigrants to a new

country.

Conditions that attract immigrants to a new

country.

Push Factors for Immigration

Pull Factors for Immigration

•Famine (Ireland)

•War/Revolution

•Religious Persecution (pogroms against Russian Jews)

•Political Persecution

•Scarce Land

•Farm jobs lost to invention of new machines

•Poverty (no hope of improving standard of living)

•Promise of freedom and equality under the law

•Economic Opportunity (raise standard of living)

•Jobs available (factories)

•Friends or family have already settled in America

70 % of all immigrants came through New York City at...

70 % of all immigrants came through New York City at...

Ellis Island, NY

Arrival: into the Great Hall…

• 1892-1954 was headquarters of U.S. immigration.

• At least 16 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island

Italians wait their turn…

• All immigrants riding in “steerage” had to pass through inspection at Ellis Island: medical exam and then interview

• Chalk marks used to single out immigrants with medical problems:

BackBack

• If all their papers were in order, and they passed the medical exams, the typical time through Ellis Island was 3-5 hours

Passed through and waiting to depart for New York…

Who came to America?Who came to America?

“Old vs New” Immigrants“Old vs New” Immigrants

OLDOLD

NEWNEW

First Wave (Old): 1820-1880First Wave (Old): 1820-1880

• Irish

• English

• Scottish

• German

• Irish

• English

• Scottish

• German

“Old Immigrants” from Northern & Western Europe

“Old Immigrants” from Northern & Western Europe

Second Wave (New): 1880-1914Second Wave (New): 1880-1914• Italy• Poland• Austrians• Hungarians• Russia• Ukraine• Norway• Sweden• Denmark• Greece• Czechs• Slovaks

• Italy• Poland• Austrians• Hungarians• Russia• Ukraine• Norway• Sweden• Denmark• Greece• Czechs• Slovaks

“New Immigrants” from Eastern & Southern Europe“New Immigrants” from Eastern & Southern Europe

Causes of rapid growth of US cities in late 1800s…Causes of rapid growth of US cities in late 1800s…•Immigrants

•Americans moving to cities (as frontier closed)

•African Americans (prejudice, hard times)

•Immigrants

•Americans moving to cities (as frontier closed)

•African Americans (prejudice, hard times)

Rapid growth of cities in US leads to:Rapid growth of cities in US leads to:

•Poor Living Conditions (tenement slums)

•Ethnic Neighborhoods

•Poor Living Conditions (tenement slums)

•Ethnic Neighborhoods

Nativists:

•Opposed immigration. Wanted to preserve America for native-born, white protestants.

•Saw foreigners as threat (job competition)

Nativists:

•Opposed immigration. Wanted to preserve America for native-born, white protestants.

•Saw foreigners as threat (job competition)

1882 – act passed to limit number of immigrants from China.

1882 – act passed to limit number of immigrants from China.

Chinese Exclusion Act:

Assimilation: the process of blending into society by adopting the dominant culture.

Acculturation: learning and adapting new ways while still hanging on to old traditions.

America becomes a “melting pot” of immigrant cultures.

Assimilation: the process of blending into society by adopting the dominant culture.

Acculturation: learning and adapting new ways while still hanging on to old traditions.

America becomes a “melting pot” of immigrant cultures.