Immigration (1880 - Present)

• Immigrant = a person who moves into a country.

• Emmigrant = a person who moves out of a country.

• Migration = permanent move to live in another place.

• 1881 - 1920 = 23.5 million “New Immigrants” Southern & Eastern Europe.

• Ellis and Angel Island.• Chinese came to the

West Coast during Gold Rush.

“ The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,With conquering limbs astride from land to land;Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall standA mighty woman with a torch, whose flameIs the imprisoned lightening, and her nameMother of exiles…“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries sheWith silent lips. “ Give me in your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.Send these the homeless, tempest-tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

To what extent has America welcomed immigrants?Has America lived up to the ideals in the poem?How has our immigration policy been restrictive at times?

• Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) - prohibited Chinese laborers from entering the U.S.

• Literacy Test (1917) - required all immigrants to show they could read and write. Also excluded any Aliens who were unable to meet minimum mental , moral, physical, and economic standards.

• Emergency Quota Act (1921) - the number of aliens of any nationality admitted to the U.S. in a year could not exceed 3% of the number of foreign-born residents of that nationality living in the U.S. in 1910.

• Immigration Act (1924) - quotas were based on desirability of nationalities;

• Immigration Act (1965) - quotas based on nationality ended. Visas available first-come, first served basis.

Push vs. Pull Factors

• Push Factors• Environmental problems

and natural disasters.• Social/Political unrest• Economic problems• Poverty/Famine• Human rights

violations(religious & political persecution)

• War

• Pull factors• Work• Reunite with family

members• Opportunity -

education and the possibility of a better life

• Land

Positive & Negative Aspects of Immigration

• Positive

• Infusion of new ideas and different approaches to problems.

• Stronger bonds between countries.

• Increased exposure for all citizens to different cultures.

• Diligent work ethic.

• Negative• Take away jobs from

Americans(?)• Cost of health and

education benefits(?)• Possible terrorist

networks(?)• Racial tensions(hate

crimes)

Discussion Questions

• 1. Should immigration be limited?• 2. How should limits be decided?• 3. How many should be admitted? Should they be

restricted by country?• 4. What positive contributions have immigrants made?

What negative impact has immigration had? Would your answers be different if you considered immigrants from 1890 and 2010 separately?

• 5. How should illegal immigration be controlled? What changes would you make, if any, in the current policy?