Immigrants in America 1865-1915

1. Immigrants in America1865-1915 Millions of immigrants moved to the United States in the late 1800’s & early 1900’s. Map of immigration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe79i1mu-mc

2. “Old immigrants” • Most immigrants before 1871 came from Northern and Western Europe (Great Britain, Ireland, Germany) “New Immigrants” • Between 1871-1921 immigrants arrived mostly from Southern and Eastern European (Italians, Russian, Greek) • Jews • Catholics • Chinese and Japanese

3. Reason to come to america • The Industrial Revolution created a need for a large labor force, willing to work for very little. • Homestead Act of 1862- Made western farmland inexpensive. • Railroads offered assistance with fares. They needed customers in the West who would buy their goods. • Many Norwegians and Germans settled the new, western territories to farm. Angel Island in the West (San Francisco)- This is where most people from Asia arrived. Arrival Ellis Island in the East (New York City)- This is where most people from Europe arrived.

4. Immigrant Contributions to the new industrial landscape • Chinese immigrants helped to build the Transcontinental Railroad • European immigrants worked in the textile and steel mills in the Northeast and the clothing industry in NYC • Slavs, Italians and Poles worked in the coal mines of the East

5. Industrial cities • Between 1865 and 1900 the percentage of Americans living in the cities doubled due to the Industrial Revolution. • Cities such as Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and New York grew rapidly. • Immigrants often lived in harsh conditions, crowded into tenements and slums. • The rapid growth of cities caused the need for new public services—sewage and water systems, public transportation (trolleys, streetcar lines and subways) Many immigrants tended to settle with others from the same country creating the ethnic neighborhoods and sections that can still be found in many big cities today.

6. Nativism Although immigrants worked hard to learn English, adopt American customs and become American citizens, some native-born Americans feared and resented the new immigrants. Their languages, religions, and customs seemed strange. They also competed for jobs. Desperate for jobs, immigrants often accepted lower wages and worse working conditions. Earlier groups considered themselves to be legitimate U.S. citizens. Many established groups viewed new immigrants as trespassers .

7. Mounting resentment led to Laws Against Immigration • 1882 Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act • Almost all Chinese immigrants were kept out of America. • Did not allow for naturalization of Chinese residents. • Limited civil rights for the Chinese already living in U.S. • 1921 & 1924 Congress passed laws that lowered the number of Europeans & Asians (Immigration Restriction Acts) • All immigrants faced prejudice upon arrival