immigration. questions to think about while watching the video clip… 1.why did people want to come...
TRANSCRIPT
Immigration
Questions to think about while watching the video clip…
1. Why did people want to come to America?
2. What were they escaping from?
3. What did they hope to find?
Why the came, In a nut-shell…
• Fleeing crop failures• Food shortages• Job shortages• No land
– Cant farm or set-up homes
• Increasing taxes• Famine• Religious persecution
• 1860 U.S. population was 31.5 million
• Addition 30 million immigrated between 1865 - 1920
Arial view of immigration center – Ellis Island
Long boat rides. Cheapest tickets were for Steerage: large open area beneath ship deck
•No privacy, poor food, limited toilet facilities
European Immigration
At Ellis Island• Physical Exam
– If passed could enter– Could be quarantined
to prevent the spread of any diseases
– Could also be deported back to homeland
– Families were split up
Passenger documents
Angel Island
• Where detainees would be held
• Picture of barracks• Could be held for
months• Separated from
families
European Immigrant Experience
Europe:•Italy•Russia•Ireland
•Political persecution•No jobs•Poor economy•Famine•Religious persecusion
1800’s : 2-3 week journey across Atlantic
1900’s: 1 week journey across Atlantic
Ellis Island:• Physical
exam• Show
proper documents
• Find place to settle
Usually in NY or wherever they could find shelter with family
Country Why Immigrate? The Journey Upon Arrival Settlement
Asian Immigration
• Considered inferior mentally and physically
• After transcontinental railroad finished wanted to limit Asian immigration– Accepted low wages/took jobs
• 1880-Chinese Exclusion Act: excluded Chinese laborers from entering the country– Lasted until 1943
Asia:•Chinese•Japanese
•Same came for the gold rush•Recruited in mid 1800’s to work on transcontinental railroad•Worked hard labor for low wages
•Much longer across Pacific than across Atlantic
•Travel class depended on country
•Japanese were more powerful country better travel conditions
1. Physical exam
2. Prove should not be excluded
3. Documents
4. Find a home
Mostly in California and out west to work on railroads
Country Why Immigrate? The Journey Upon Arrival Settlement
Mexico •Fled Mexican Revolution & Civil War
•Violence and death pushed people out of Mexico
•Sought refuge here
No ocean journey.
Recruited to work across Southwest•Farm hands•Ranches•Mines
–Difficult jobs for cheap
Texas, Arizona, New Mexico & California
Country Why Immigrate? The Journey Upon Arrival Settlement
Immigration Restriction Act
• 1921 – law passes limiting immigration from Europe and Asia
• Labor shortages opened job opportunities for Mexicans
1. What situation is being shown in cartoon #1? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Looking at cartoon #1, what were some of the reasons why people wanted to come to the United States? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. (a) What type of people are shown standing on the dock in cartoon #2?______________________ ____________________________________________ (b) Who does the person coming ashore represent? _____________________________ (c) What do the shadows behind the men on the dock represent?_________________ ________________________________________________
4. How would you describe the situation shown in cartoon #2?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________