Key Vocabulary
• Ellis Island
• Angel Island
• Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)
• Gentlemen’s Agreement (1907)
• Nativism
• Xenophobia
Immigration during the IR
•Why did people leave their native countries?
•How did “Americans” react to the new immigrants?
•Where did people emigrate from during the IR?
•Where were the immigrants processed?
Industrial Revolution Immigration—East Coast
1870—1920: 20 million Europeans came to US
“Old” = people who came before 1890, mostly from Western & Northern Europe
“New” = people who came after 1890, mostly from South & East Europe
1880—1920: 260,000 people from Latin Am and Caribbean.
Reasons for Emigration from Europe
People came to US to escape:
•Extreme poverty (ex: Irish Famine)
•Too many people, not enough jobs
•Religious/political persecution (ex: treatment of Jews)
•Forced military service
IR Immigration—West Coast
1850—1883: 200,000 Asians came to US
•Came during California Gold Rush (1849)
•Worked on Railroads and in new towns in the West.
•Faced discrimination because of job competition and different culture
Reasons for coming to US
1. JOBS and economic opportunities of the Industrial Revolution
3. Chance to own land in the West
2. Religious and political freedom
Ellis Island (NYC)
•Processing station in East.•Checked for disease, literacy, ability to work, etc.
•2 % turned away
Angel Island (San Fran)
•Processing station in West.•Dirty, crowded, prison -like conditions
•Much more severe than Ellis Island—longer time, harsh questioning
Discrimination
Nativism = native born Americans belief that immigration should be restricted and that jobs should go to Amer 1st. (based on racism, jobcompetition, etc.)Increased feelings of Xenophobia
•Led to: -- Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)--Gentleman’s Agreement (1907)--Racial conflicts across US
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