Old Immigration & New Immigration: WHATS THE DIFFERENCE?By: Amanda Pleasant

What is “Old Immigration?”

•1800-1850• Irish, Germans, & Scandinavians•Came from Northwestern Europe

“Oldies”– Why Did They Leave?

• Immigrants left for a variety of reasons• Famine, religious persecution, bad economy…

The Irish:

• The Irish wanted to immigrate to America to get away from the potato famine...

The Germans:

•Many fought in the freedom movement and had to leave to stay out of jail.• “Freedom Fighters”

Scandinavians:

•Wanted religious freedom•Needed an escape from bad economy•Converts to Mormonism

How Were “Oldies” Treated?

• Treated fairly well• Some were

prejudiced against immigrants b/c they took away “American” jobs.• Formed the

“Nativist Party”

Some History About Know Nothings:

• "Know nothings", aka, The American Party• Originated in

1849• didn't like

immigrants because they took jobs away from "native" Americans• Didn't like

Catholics b/c they feared they'd be more loyal to the pope than the country.

What is "New Immigration?"

• Second Half of the 19th century• Austrians, Hungarians, Bohemians, Poles, Serbs, Italians, Russians, Jews.• Came from southern & eastern Europe

"Newbies"-- why did they leave?

• Austrians, Serbians, Hungarians, & Bohemians left to escape oppression

• Polish wanted to get better jobs

• Italians wanted better opportunities

• Russian/Jews wanted better lives for themselves & their families

How Were "Newbies" Treated?

• Immigrants generally weren't treated very well• Had no skills, poor, & dirty•Many Americans thought these immigrants were a waste of space

Straight To The Point: Main Differences

Old Immigration:• 1st half of 19th

century• "oldies" came from

Northwestern Europe

• Skilled, willing workers, who assimilated well

• Were treated ok simply b/c they had skills to offer, though there was still prejudices

New Immigration:

• 2nd half of 19th century

• "Newbies" came from S. & E. Europe

• Unskilled and illiterate, did not want to assimilate and wanted to keep their traditions

• Were treated badly b/c they were different & many had little to offer

The End...