A Nation of Immigrants. EQ What is the difference between Old and New Immigrants? What is the distinction between old and new aside from the date of arrival?

A Nation of Immigrants

EQ

• What is the difference between Old and New Immigrants?

• What is the distinction between old and new aside from the date of arrival?

• What are the push/pull factors involved in immigration?

• Which analogy is better? The Melting Pot or the Salad Bowl?

Old Immigrants• “Old” Immigrants– immigrants who came to America before 1880

• Old Immigrants came mostly from northern and western Europe:– Great Britain– Ireland– Germany– Holland– France– Scandinavia

Old Immigrants

• Most Americans welcomed Old Immigrants for following reasons:– needed as workers for factories, mines, railroads– became farmers and settlers for western lands– served in all branches of U.S. military• EX: Irish Brigade in the Civil War

Old Immigrants

• Northern Europe: Great Britain, Ireland and Germany• Many spoke the language• Most were Christians, especially Protestants• Many came looking for cheap land that was available

in the west• Homestead Act encouraged the settlement of

immigrants• The building of railroads• No laws limiting immigration

Resistance to Immigration

• Know Nothing Party (1845-55) opposed immigration for following reasons:– considered immigrants cheap source of labor who

took American jobs– believed immigrants would not assimilate into

American culture– hated Catholics

Anti-Catholicism

New Immigrants

New Immigrants

• Southern and Eastern: Poland, Greece, Austria and Russia

• Very poor• Spoke little or NO English• Many Jews included• Faced tremendous hardships in Europe• Faced resistance for Native born Americans• New Immigration laws restricting Immigration

New Immigrants

• many Americans opposed New Immigrants for following reasons:– cheap western land no longer available– therefore forced to live in cities– created ethnic ghettos and did not assimilate into

American culture – competed against Americans for factory jobs– considered mentally inferior

Why They Came

• Push Factors – Political Freedom.– Religious Freedom.– Escape horrible conditions of poverty.– The potato famine in Ireland during the 1840’s

Why They Came

– Famine caused deaths of thousands.– Job opportunities were extremely limited.–Russian Jews fled violent government,

which sponsored against them– Expansion of railroads of Europe led to

demise of traditional jobs and of farms

Resistance to Immigration• The Rise of Nativism – Nativist was very hostile towards immigrants– Nativist believed that they were superior to other

races and religions– Many nativist were known as the Know-Nothings. – Wanted stricter laws keeping immigrants out of

the country– Believed immigrants lowered the standard of

living.– Believed immigrants took many job opportunities

away from Americans

Know-Nothing Party

Nativism

Establishing A New Life

• The Process of Becoming Americanized– Immigrants faced great hardships on their initial

trip to America• Americanized– Learning to act, speak, and live like other

Americans; assimilation


• Initial Hardships– Extremely poor– City life was quite difficult to adjust too– Speaking the language was difficult– Customs and culture were different– Disgusting places to live– Faced hostility from Native born individuals


• Ethnic Ghettos– This is where the same nationality, live together in

the same neighborhood– They live together many times to cope with

problems– They speak the same language– Feel comfortable living with individuals of their

own heritage (“birds of a feather….”)– Ghettos made it difficult to assimilate


• The Assimilation of the Immigrant’s Children– Some attended school– Adults were too busy working and caring for

family to learn the language– Learning the language would have to come from

school– Easier to become assimilated for younger adults


• Assimilation– The “Melting Pot” Theory• All cultures melting into a new, unique, American

culture

– Adopting American cultures– Learning the language– Accepting different customs, for example, food


• Cultural Pluralism– This is the “Salad Bowl” theory– Each ethnic group is proud of their culture• Each individual culture blends with the others but

retains it own uniqueness

– Will not adopt American ways– Will live side by side, but will not share common

cultural values and beliefs– Will not learn language

Anti-Asian Sentiment

*Chinese Exclusion Act, 1882

*Gentlemen’s Agreement,1907

Early Restrictions (1880-1920)

• Chinese Exclusion Act {1882}:– prohibited immigration of Chinese laborers for ten

years– also denied citizenship to Chinese already in

America


• Gentleman’s Agreement Act (1907)– Japanese government promised to limit future

immigration to the United States– Japanese Protested California schools for

segregation of Japanese children– Compromise was worked out– President Roosevelt halted Segregation if Japan

limited future immigration to the United States

Emergency Quota Acts1921,1924


• Emergency Quota Acts {1921,1924}:– limited the number of immigrants each

country could send to America–eventually prohibited all Asian immigration – There were no limitations placed on immigration

in the Western Hemisphere

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 stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flameIs the imprisoned lightning, and her nameMother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows 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

Documents

A Nation of Immigrants. EQ What is the difference between Old and New Immigrants? What is the distinction between old and new aside from the date of arrival?