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?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________