Immigration in the U.S. Early 20th Century

Section 15*1p. 460

January 21, 2010

Lesson Objectives

1. Describe the journey immigrants endured and their experiences at United States immigration stations.

1. Examine the causes and effects of the nativists’ anti-immigrant sentiments.

European Immigration 1870-1920

• Mainly Eastern and Southern Europeans

• Motivated by religious freedom, political freedom, and economic opportunities

• Most arrive in the East through Ellis Island

Ellis Island

An Immigrant’s Journey

Stop 1: The Arrival • New arrivals were taken

by ferry to the main building at Ellis Island.

• The first immigrant to arrive was a 15-year-old girl from Ireland named Annie Moore to join her parents in New York City.

Did You Know?

Over 12 million immigrants were admitted to the U.S. through Ellis

Island

Stop 2: The Baggage Room

• The Baggage Room is where immigrants entered the main building.

• Immigrants with heavy luggage left it here until they were finished.

Did You Know?

Over 40% of all Americans can trace their roots back to Ellis

Island

                                                                                                     

Stop Three: Stairs to the Great Hall

• As the immigrants climbed the stairs to the Great Hall, doctors stood at the top and watched. They were looking for anyone having difficulty coming up the steps. examination.

The "six second The "six second medical exam.“medical exam.“

Stop Three: Stairs to the Great Hall

• If a medical problem or disability was suspected, 1 of 17 different chalk marks was put on the person's clothing. They were then sent for a full physical

Did You Know?

Children were a common sight at Ellis Island. During its 62 years in operation, 355 babies were actually born on the

island!

Stop Four: Medical Exam • Medical exams were

used to find people with contagious diseases

• If their problem was curable, immigrants were sent to the island's hospital. If it was not, the steamship company that brought them would have to pay to send them back

Stop Five: The Great Hall • Immigrants waited here

for their interviews with legal inspectors after finishing their medical exams.

• Process took 3-5 hours• Some families stayed

for days on Ellis Island, others for weeks, and still others for months.

Did You Know?

The dining hall for detainees could seat up to 1,200. The menu featured beef

stew or baked beans, and extra crackers and milk were provided at each meal for women and children.

Stop Six: Legal Inspection • Immigrants had to

prove they could legally come into America.

• They had to prove their country of origin and where they expected to live and work once they entered the country.

Stop Six: Legal Inspection• Inspectors rejected any

immigrant with a criminal record or those suspected of being indentured servants.

• By 1921, immigrants had to pass a literacy test and show a passport and visa

Stop Seven: Money Exchange • Immigrants could

exchange the money of their homeland for dollars, and purchase any train tickets they needed.

• Laws passed in 1909 required each immigrant to have at least 25 dollars before they were allowed to enter America.

Stop Eight: The Journey’s End• 2/3 of the new

Americans then boarded a ferry to New Jersey, where the next leg of their American journey would begin.

• 1/3 took the ferryboat to Manhattan to begin their new life in New York City, only one mile away.

Staff members referred to this spot as the kissing post because of all the

emotional reunions that were witnessed

there.

Asian Immigration 1851-1883• Chinese arrived to

work on railroads

• Japanese arrive when US annexes Hawaii

• Arrive on West Coast through Angel Island

Life in the New Land

• Adjust to language and culture

• Many immigrants settle in isolated communities

• Immigrant organizations formed to help each other

Immigration Restrictions

• Nativism:– Formation of Anti-Immigrant groups– “Quotas” put into effect

• Prejudice– Segregation in San Francisco – Gentleman’s Agreement of 1907-

1908

Immigration Restrictions

• Chinese Exclusion Act - 1882– Backlash against Chinese laborers – Act banned most immigrants from

China