ImmigrationCh 15.1 & 2

New ImmigrantsNew Immigrants

immigrants had come from northern Europe since before the American Revolution– United Kingdom (England, Scotland, & Irish)– Germany– Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway, & Finland)

fewer immigrants came from these countries– they already had industrialized countries

New ImmigrantsNew Immigrants

southern & eastern Europeeastern Mediterranean

much of these areas controlled by – Russian Empire– Austro-Hungarian Empire– Ottoman (Turkish) Empire

New ImmigrantsNew Immigrants

reasons for leaving:– overpopulation– lack of jobs– mistreatment by government

America offered:– jobs– opportunity– freedom

Crossing the OceanCrossing the Ocean

steamships were safer & faster steamships didn’t have to worry about winds steamships could operate on any schedule

cheap passage available– single men could come to America for a few

months or years & go home

Ellis Island: Gate to AmericaEllis Island: Gate to America 1886: Statue of

Liberty in New York Harbor

1892: Ellis Island opened as immigration center

What happened at Ellis Island?

Medical CheckupsMedical Checkups

checked for diseases & other health impairments

depending on the disease, an immigrant could be– turned away– kept on the island until improvement

ProcessingProcessinginspectors might ask immigrants:

– Name?– Occupation?– Who paid your fare?– Can you read & write?– How much money do you have?– Have you ever been in prison or the

poorhouse?– Where are you going?

Name ChangesName Changes

during this processing, names often changed

names that were difficult to pronounce or spell were changed

American-sounding names

Immigrants SettledImmigrants Settledsettled where there was work

– mines– mills– factories

beginning of 1900s half of all immigrants settled in four states– New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts,

& Illinois

Immigrants SettledImmigrants Settled

most immigrants ended up where relatives were located– many immigrants had relatives in America

pay their way

most immigrants ended up doing similar jobs to what their relatives did

Living conditions in USLiving conditions in US

For the poor—– TENEMENT buildings– Overcrowded, dark, unventilated apartments – 10-12 family members living in a 1-2 BR apt– Disease spread quickly, no windows– High rent for small space

Working conditions

-Many women and children worked to support the family-“Newsies” was about the plight of child newspaper boys-Poorly lit, not properly ventilated factories-long hours

Meanwhile…the rich lived well!

-Houses that looked like castles-Factory owners-Fashionable

Vanderbilt estate

Carnegie Mansion

Rockefeller mansion