Chapter 7Immigrants and Urbanization

Section 1The New Immigrants

Through the “Golden Door”

• Millions of Immigrants– Some seek better lives; others temporary Jobs.

• Europeans:– 1870 – 1920 = 20 million– Push Factors: religious persecution (Jews), Lack of Jobs, political

instability, and little to no rights. – Pull Factors: Land, Gold, Freedom, Jobs, and a better way standard

of living.

• Chinese and Japanese:– 300,000 Chinese / 200,000 Japanese– Why: Gold Rush, multitude of job opportunities (worked for less $$)

(RR, Farms, mines, domestic service, and business)

• The West Indies and Mexico:– 260,000 from West Indies / 700,000 from Mexico– Why: political turmoil, industrial jobs, and National Reclamation Act

(Draws Mexican farmers)

Life in the New Land

• A Difficult Journey:– Almost all immigrants travel by steamship (Steerage)

• Ellis Island:– Chief U.S. immigration station (New York City)– Immigrants must pass a physical exam (if failed they were turned

away)– 1892 – 1924 = 17 million immigrants processed at Ellis Island. – Ellis Island

• Angel Island:– Immigrant processing station in San Francisco. – Immigrants endure harsh questioning and long detention.

• Cooperation for Survival:– Immigrants must create a new life (home, work, new way of living)– Many seek people from their own ethnic background. – Friction develops b/w “hyphenated” Americans (native-born)

Immigration Restrictions

• The Rise of Nativism: – Melting Pot: the blending of many people and the different cultures. – Nativism: the overt favoritism toward Native-Born Americans.

• Anti-Asian Sentiment:– Nativism finds foothold in labor movement (fear Chinese Immigrants

who work for less)– 1882, Chinese Exclusion Act = bans entry to most Chinese / sharp

decline in Chinese immigration in 1883-1884.

• The Gentlemen's Agreement: – San Francisco segregates Japanese schoolchildren– Gentlemen’s Agreement: Japan limits emigration (it decreased

Japanese immigration) / U.S. repeals segregation.