Immigration: Immigration: There’s No Place There’s No Place

Like HomeLike HomeBetween 1860 and 1900, Between 1860 and 1900, almost 14 million people almost 14 million people

came to America looking for came to America looking for new opportunities and a new new opportunities and a new

home. home.

Answer the Following: “Melting Pot” or “Tossed Salad” What is America? A land of “Americans” or a

land of many different ethnic and cultural groups?

Reasons for Immigrating:Reasons for Immigrating:

Religious turmoilReligious turmoil Political turmoilPolitical turmoil Economic reasonsEconomic reasons

Immigration Waves in US HistoryImmigration Waves in US History

Before 1776

1840-1860—largely northern European, especially England, Ireland and Germany—approx. 4.5 million

1900-1920—largely Southern and Eastern European, including Polish and Russian Jews, Italian, Greek—approx. 14.5 million

Before 1776. . .Before 1776. . .

Half of all white laborers were Half of all white laborers were indentured servants who were indentured servants who were usually from England.usually from England.

Indentured servants were not slaves; Indentured servants were not slaves; however, they were not permitted to however, they were not permitted to leave their master until their debt leave their master until their debt was paid off.was paid off.

Before 1776. . .Before 1776. . . Indentured servants agreed to work in Indentured servants agreed to work in

exchange for passage to the new world.exchange for passage to the new world. Once debts were paid, servants were Once debts were paid, servants were

free to work for whom and where they free to work for whom and where they wanted. wanted. This led to a need for constant This led to a need for constant labor.labor.

Inexpensive, plentiful labor was Inexpensive, plentiful labor was available in the form of slavery. available in the form of slavery. By By 1790, 1 million African slaves were 1790, 1 million African slaves were living in America.living in America.

Immigration After the Immigration After the 1800s 1800s

Dramatic population increases in Dramatic population increases in Europe- too many people in Europe.Europe- too many people in Europe.

Spread of commercial agricultural. Spread of commercial agricultural. People with subsistence farms can no People with subsistence farms can no longer compete with large farms.longer compete with large farms. Commercial farmerCommercial farmer- a person who grows - a person who grows

surplus (extra) food to sell for profit.surplus (extra) food to sell for profit. Subsistence farmerSubsistence farmer-a person who grows -a person who grows

only enough food for himself and his family.only enough food for himself and his family.

Immigration After the Immigration After the 1800s1800s

Rise of the factory system, need for Rise of the factory system, need for inexpensive labor.inexpensive labor.

Immigrants begin to encounter Immigrants begin to encounter resistance from some Americans.resistance from some Americans.

Immigrants seen as differentImmigrants seen as different Example: Irish – resented because of Example: Irish – resented because of

Catholicism. Catholicism.

New ImmigrationNew Immigration Until 1880 most immigrants had Until 1880 most immigrants had

come from northern Europe. come from northern Europe. After 1885 new immigrants came After 1885 new immigrants came

from southern and eastern from southern and eastern Europe.Europe.

Italians were one of the largest Italians were one of the largest groups.groups.

Another large group were Another large group were European Jews.European Jews.

The NewcomersThe Newcomers Most immigrants Most immigrants

were poor, poorly were poor, poorly educated, had few educated, had few skills.skills.

Met the need of Met the need of inexpensive labor inexpensive labor force.force.

Extended families Extended families helped people feel helped people feel connected in a connected in a strange land.strange land.

New Immigrant LifeNew Immigrant Life New immigrants flocked to cities New immigrants flocked to cities Lived with people from their homelandsLived with people from their homelands Language was still spoken, and cultural Language was still spoken, and cultural

traditions still kept. traditions still kept. Established churches, clubs, newspapers, Established churches, clubs, newspapers,

and social centers to help face the and social centers to help face the challenges of their new lives in a foreign challenges of their new lives in a foreign land. land.

Neighborhood stores and markets featured Neighborhood stores and markets featured familiar foods from home.familiar foods from home.

Were they welcomed?Were they welcomed? Americans wondered if they would ever Americans wondered if they would ever

become truly American.become truly American. Workers blamed immigrants for low Workers blamed immigrants for low

wages or shortages of employment.wages or shortages of employment. A resentment of foreigners crept into A resentment of foreigners crept into

America’s attitudes. New immigrants America’s attitudes. New immigrants were easy scapegoats for the fear of were easy scapegoats for the fear of social change that many experienced social change that many experienced due to the rapid changes based on the due to the rapid changes based on the Industrial Revolution.Industrial Revolution.

Naturalization Law in US HistoryNaturalization Law in US History

• 1790 - Congress limits naturalization to whites• 1870 - Congress adds African Americans

(limited to “free white persons” & “persons of African descent”)

• Chinese Exclusion Act• Quota Act of 1921• Immigration Act of 1924• 1952 - racial prerequisite for naturalization eliminated

Immigration Restriction - Literacy TestsImmigration Restriction - Literacy Tests

Restrictions – Quota Act of 1921Restrictions – Quota Act of 1921

Limits entrants from each nation to 3 percent of that nationality’s presence in the U.S.

Population recorded in 1910!

Immigration Act of 1924Immigration Act of 1924

Based ceilings on the number of immigrants from any particular nation on 2 percent of each nationality recorded in the 1890 census

Was directed against immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe who arrived in large numbers after 1890

Barred all immigrants ineligible for citizenship on racial grounds, including all south and east Asians (including Indians, Japanese, and Chinese)

1924 – Annual Immigration Quotas1924 – Annual Immigration Quotas

• Germany - 51,227• Great Britain - 34,007• Ireland - 28,567• Italy - 3,845• Hungary – 473• Greece – 100• Egypt – 100