U.S Immigration

Immigration
in the United
States during
the turn of the

Century

The term: Immigration

A process through
which individuals
become permanent
residents or citizens
of another country

Multiple Choice

What is immigration?

• A process through which individuals become permanent residents or citizens of their own country

• A process through which individuals become permanent residents or citizens of another country

• A process through which individuals become temporary residents or citizens of another country

• A process through which individuals become temporary residents or citizens of their original country

Importance of Immigration in shaping U.S History

●Big Changes in United States: Economy,
Culture, and Politics

●Immigrants have played an important role in
the Industrialization Revolution. Immigrant
workers have worked in skilled trades,
mining, and as peddlers, merchants, and
laborers in urban areas.
○Immigrants and their children were the
majority of workers in the garment
sweatshops of New York, the coal fields of
Pennsylvania, and the stockyards of
Chicago.

Importance of Immigration in shaping U.S History

● By 1960, almost 20% of Americans who voted

were part of or descendants of the immigrants
during this time period (late 1800s-early 1900s).
Many lean towards liberal (the left) ideals.

Importance of Immigration in shaping U.S History

●

Immigrants and their descendants were
also important in the development of
popular American culture and in
creating the positive image of
immigration in the American mind.
○

Example: Immigrants and their
descendants have written, directed,
produced, and acted in American
films and plays for most of the first
half of the 20th century

Open Ended

What are some examples of Immigrants role in developing the United States?

Push and Pull Theory

“Push” Factor (Bad)

A. Push factors are circumstances
or conditions that cause people to
leave their homeland.

B. Various push factors have led to
the immigration of racial and ethnic
groups to the United States, such
as famines, wars, persecution, and
political instability.

“Pull” Factors (Good)

A. Pull factors are circumstances
or conditions that attract people
to a new place.

B. Economic wealth, religious
freedom, and the promise of
better life opportunities are some
examples of pull factors that have
drawn various racial and ethnic
groups to the United States.

Multiple Choice

What is a Push factor of Immigration?

• Circumstances or conditions that attract individuals to a new place

• Circumstances or conditions that cause individuals to leave their homeland

Multiple Choice

What is the Pull factor of immigration?

• Circumstances or conditions that attract individuals to a new place

• Circumstances or conditions that cause individuals to leave their homeland

Immigration Stations

Ellis Island (Atlantic Ocean)

●New York Harbour, 1895-1954

●Over 12 million immigrants,
mostly from Europe came
through this station

●Many immigrants would first
see the Statue of Liberty when
coming to the US

●Processing took a few hours
per immigrant to be health
check and registered.

●1-3% were denied entry

Angel Island (Pacific Ocean)

●San Francisco Bay, 1910-1940

●Over 500,000 immigrants, mostly
from Asia came through this
station

●Processing took a few days to
even months to be health
checked and registered

●The longest was almost 2 years

●18% were denied entry

●Discrimination was seen mostly
to those who were from China

Multiple Choice

How many immigrants came through Ellis Island (1895-1954)?

• 12,000

• 12 million

• 120 million

Multiple Choice

How long did processing take for most immigrants at Angel Island?

• A few hours

• Many Years

• A few days to months

Irish Immigrants

●Irish immigration began in the late 1700s
and continued through the mid-1800s.

●Push factors: severe poverty, overpopulation,
and the Irish Potato Famine that led to mass
starvation and death.

●Pull factors were the promise of land and job
opportunities in America.

●Irish immigrants faced discrimination and
anti-immigrant sentiment, mainly due to
being Catholic.

Multiple Select

What is a push factor for Irish Immigrants? (Check all that apply)

• Severe Poverty

• Job Opportunities

• Economic Depression

• Potato Famine

German Immigrants

●

German immigration began in the early 1800s
and continued through the late 1800s.

●

Push factors: political unrest, economic
depression, and crop failure.

●

Pull factors: the availability of cheap land, job
opportunities, and religious freedom.

●

German immigrants were generally more
economically successful than other
immigrant groups, but they faced
discrimination during times of economic
uncertainty.

Chinese Immigrants

●

Chinese immigration began in the mid-1800s
during the California Gold Rush.

●

Push factors: poverty, famine, and political
unrest in China.

●

Pull factors: the promise of work in
agriculture, mining, and railroad construction
in America.

●

However, Chinese immigrants faced
discrimination and violence that led to the
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, banning the
entry of Chinese laborers to the United States.

Multiple Choice

When did Chinese Immigration began?

• Late 1700s

• Mid 1800s

• Early 1900s

Italian immigrants

●

Italian immigration started in the late 1800s
and peaked in the early 1900s.

●

Push factors: poverty, poor working
conditions, and political instability in Italy.

●

Pull factors: job opportunities, particularly in
mining and construction, and the hope for a
better life for their families.

●

Italian immigrants experienced discrimination
and hostility, particularly during times of
economic uncertainty.

Mexican Immigrants

●

Mexican immigration began in

the early 1900s and continues to this

day.

●

Push factors: political instability, drug violence, and poverty in
Mexico.

●

Pull factors: job opportunities and the promise of a better life in
the United States.

●

However, Mexican immigrants face discrimination and tension
related to issues of race, language, and religion.

Multiple Select

What is a pull factor for Mexican Immigrants? (Check all that apply)

• Political Instability

• Job Opportunities

• A promise of a Better Life

• Drug Violence

Challenges face by immigrants upon arrival

A. Immigrants faced challenges such as
language barriers and discrimination upon
arrival.

B. Strategies for success and accommodation
included building communities and conforming
to mainstream culture.

C. Some examples of discrimination include the
Chinese Exclusion Act, formation of
anti-immigrant political parties, The Know
Nothings, and ethnic slurs against Italian and
Irish immigrants.

Conclusion

A. Immigration has brought diversity and contributed
to U.S. society, culture, and economy.

B. It is important to appreciate immigrants'
contributions and to promote policies that support
their successful and peaceful coexistence with
citizens.

Multiple Select

What challenges did immigrants face upon arrival?

• Job Opportunities and financial stability

• Language barriers and discrimination

• Fair treatment and easy adjustment

• Political Groups called the The Know Nothings advocating anti-Immigration policies

What were some of the push and pull factors that led to immigration in the past? Do these factors still exist today?