ImmigrationImmigration and the and the “Melting Pot” (1890-1920)“Melting Pot” (1890-1920)

U.S. History

ImmigrationImmigrationReasons for Immigration –

push/pull factors◦Religious Freedom – Jews in Eastern

Europe/Pogroms◦Employment/Better Wages◦Political Freedom – Russians

ImmigrationImmigrationWho came to the United States?

◦Mid 1800’s – British/Irish (NW Europe)

◦Late 1800’s – Italians, Russian Jews, Greeks, Slavs, Armenians, Japanese, Chinese, etc.

◦VAST differences in groups that came – customs, language, religion, etc.

ImmigrationImmigrationHow did they get here?

◦Large steamships carried immigrants to the United States

◦Took roughly one week to get to the U.S. from Europe, three weeks from Asia

◦Three classes on the steamships carrying immigrants First class Second class Steerage – lower class, smelly conditions,

cheaper ticket ($30) Played cards, sang songs, or rehearsed answers for

the inspection questions with each other Learned language constantly

ImmigrationImmigrationWhat happened when an immigrant

got to the United States?◦Most went through a large naturalization

center New York – Ellis Island San Francisco – Angel Island Some went to smaller cities or ports – Savannah,

Boston, Seattle◦Had to be tested for diseases – don’t

spread unwanted diseases to rest of U.S.◦Had to have documents from other

countries◦Had to be mentally fit – intelligence tests

ImmigrationImmigrationResponse to immigrants from

mainstream U.S. society ◦Nativism – favored native-born

Americans Had problems with ethnic groups –

stagnant and downtrodden Had problems with religion – Catholics in a

Protestant Nation?Chinese Exclusion Act – Chinese

workers aren’t allowed entry from 1882 to 1943…only teachers, students, tourists, etc.

ImmigrationImmigrationWhat did most immigrants do

when they got here?◦Looked for work – closest place was

in cities◦Many families lived in extremely

cramped conditions in the city called tenements Unsanitary, no electricity, etc.

ImmigrationImmigrationReforms for immigrants

◦Many reform movements begin to pop up as a result of the plight of immigrants Settlement Houses – similar to a YMCA

Famous settlement house – Hull House in Chicago (Jane Addams)