UrbanizationMoving to the Cities

Immigration

Europeans Flood into America 25 million Europeans immigrated to the

United States Came for jobs and various reasons▪ Escape poverty and the restrictions of social

class ▪ Wanted to avoid forced military services

The Atlantic Voyage Booked passages on a steerage▪ Cheap transportation on a steamship

Ellis Island

Tiny Island in New York Harbor Went through a processing center

after 1892 Passed through in about a day 12 million immigrants between 1892-

1954 People would be separated from their

families if they had an issues▪ Some of those people would be returned to

Europe if they did not meet the health standards.

Ethnic Cities

Immigrants made up the population of most cities New York Chicago Detroit

The cities were divided amongst nationalities Little Italy-Italians Lower east Side-Jewish

Learning English was part of the adaptation Those that had marketing skills were successful in

business.

Asian Immigration

China 430 million people▪ High Unemployment rates▪ Poverty▪ Famine

Taiping Rebellion Japan

When Japan industrialized people left for new economic opportunities.

Angel Island

Barracks that Asians lived in 1910

Mostly young men and men in their 20s

Getting entry into the United States could last for months.

Nativism Resurges

Extreme dislike of immigrants by native born people

Undermined unions Would work when other workers went on

strike Worked for low wages

Prejudice against Catholics

Irish amongst the most persecuted Men: Miners, clock hands,

ditch diggers, and factory works

Women: Cooks, servants, and mill workers

American Protective Association: Anti-Catholic Group

Restrictions on Asian Americans Chinese Exclusion Act

Banned immigrants for 10 years Prevented people already in the country to

become citizens Not repealed until 1943

Racially Segregated Schools Since 1859, schools had been segregated

Teddy Roosevelt Limit Japanese immigration if schools were

unsegregated

The Literacy Debate

Passed in 1917 Taft and Wilson vetoed this law, but

it still passed. English Proficiency Test in English

and other languages