A New Wave of Immigration

Section 4

A New Wave of Immigration

The Big Idea A new wave of immigration in the

late 1800s brought large numbers of immigrants to the United States.

8.12.7

New Immigrants

Main Idea 1: The late 1800s brought a wave of new immigrants

from southern and eastern Europe and Mexico.

New Immigrants

Old Immigrants Arrived before 1880s Mostly from Britain,

Germany, Ireland, and Scandinavia

Mostly Protestants, but some Catholics

Many were skilled workers who spoke English.

Settled in rural areas and became farmers

New Immigrants Came after 1880 From southern and eastern

Europe; included Czechs, Greeks, Hungarians, Italians, Poles, Russians, and Slovaks

Included Eastern Orthodox Christians, Roman Catholics, and Jews

Wanted job opportunities in cities

New Immigrants

Immigrants faced a difficult journey, usually traveling in steerage: the area below the ship’s deck.

Immigrants get off of a boat Immigrants traveling in the steerage

New Immigrants

Ellis Island in New York opened in 1892; millions of immigrants came through its center over the next 40 years. Officials in processing centers interviewed

immigrants to determine whether to let them enter the country.

Immigrants exit the boat after arriving at Ellis Island in New York

Ellis Island, New York – the first stop for most immigrants in the early 1900s

New Immigrants

Many immigrants moved into neighborhoods with others from the same country.

They could hear their own language, eat familiar foods, and keep their customs.

Many immigrants lived in tenements—poorly built, overcrowded apartments.

Little Italy in New York in the early 1900s

New Immigrants

Many immigrants were farmers in their homelands, but had to find jobs in cities in the United States. Had to take low-paying, unskilled jobs in garment or steel

factories and construction Some worked long hours for little pay in small shops or

mills called sweatshops.

New Immigrants

Some immigrants saved, shared, or borrowed money to open small businesses.

Some Mexican immigrants worked on large commercial farms in Arizona, Texas, and California. Thank you

come again.

Opposition to Immigration

Main Idea 2: Some Americans opposed immigration and tried to

enact restrictions against it. Get out.

Opposition to Immigration

Anti-immigrant feelings grew with increases in immigration.Some unions feared

immigrants would take their jobs.

This anti-immigrant poster shows how some Americans felt about the Chinese.

Opposition to Immigration

Americans called nativists held racial and ethnic prejudices.Thought immigrants’

poverty and presumed lack of education might harm American society

Some were violent toward immigrants.

Opposition to Immigration

Some nativists worked to pass laws limiting immigration.Congress passed the Chinese

Exclusion Act in 1882.Nativists in Boston founded

the Immigration Restriction League in 1894.