Immigration in 2nd Industrial

Revolution

Why would people want to come here?

• Many immigrants were small farmers, and farm workers.

• These farmers couldn’t support their families

• They moved to America in search of jobs or any way to support their family.

• Called Push Factors

• Situations that push people out of their country

Countries push out many.• In Russia: if anyone criticized the

government - they faced jail or exile (getting kicked out of the country)

• Russian government supported Pogroms, or organized massacres of the Jews.

• The potato famine swept through Ireland. Many families came to America to avoid starvation.

• In Italy and Hungary, overcrowding and poverty

• Farmers in Serbia and Croatia could not support families

• Major crop failures in Sweden. Technology put workers out of a job

The Draw of America• The thought of freedom drew

many to the U.S.

• Many people would send back stories of finding riches in the United States.

• “The Streets Are Lined With Gold”

• Jobs also drew people to the U.S. Industry jobs were prevelent.

• Factory owners sent agents to Europe and Asia to hire workers at low wages.

Can you?

• Talk with someone next to you and compare reasons why people immigrated to the US to something in the room?

New Immigration• In mid 1880s “New

Immigrants” came from eastern and Southern Europe:

• Greeks, Russians, Hungarians, Italians, Turks, and Polish.

• Many were Catholic and Jewish. Few spoke English which made it hard to blend into American society.

The trip• The journey to the US was often very difficult

• Many had to travel hundreds of miles through other countries to get to ports.

• Then came the 12 day voyage to the US across the Atlantic or several weeks across the pacific.

• Immigrants usually could only afford the cheapest tickets which put them in the cramped lower decks of the ships.

Getting to America• Most immigrants landed in

NYC and were greeted by the Statue of Liberty.

• At the Base of the Statue of Liberty, a poem by Emma Lazarus:

• “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Can You

• Write a 4-6 line song describing the trip to America?

Ellis Island• Most came through Ellis Island.

On West Coast - Angel Island in San Fran.

• Immigrants were met by examiners who recorded their names. Sometimes shortening them. New immigrants also given health exams. Immigrants with contagious illnesses could be refused permission to enter.

• Virtual Ellis Island

• Please click on the link and tour

Looking for Work• Hardest part for “new

immigrants” was finding work

• Some were recruited, but many had to seek employment

• Most were hired in booming industries like steel or in garment sweatshops

• “We started work at 7:30 AM and during the busy season we worked until nine o’ clock in the evening. They didn’t pay any overtime and didn’t give you anything for supper money. At times they would give you...a little apple pie...for your supper.”

Can You?

• Predict why it was so beneficial for factory owners to hire New Immigrants.

Adjusting to a new culture

• Immigrants tried to retain their own culture while accepting parts of American Culture. Assimilation.

• Many immigrants spoke their own language at home while kids spoke English at school.

• Many had to settle in cities because of their factory jobs. They found people of similar background to form separate communities in the same communities. Think, Chinatown, Little Italy. Communities usually formed around the church.

“American” Reaction to new immigrants• Nativists - Native born Americans

that hated/were afraid of the new immigrants.

• They feared they would take jobs from them for lower wages.

• New immigrants were blamed for an increase in crime rates in the cities.

• Nativists called for restrictions in immigration.

• 1882 - Chinese Exclusion Act

• Law extended twice

• Immigration Act of 1917 - reading and writing requirement to immigration into US.