What was life like in the land of the free?

Chapter 1 (Fiehn)

Coming to America

1850- 1914 over 40 million left Europe for the USA

Voyage difficult, expensive, poor conditions

The Isle of Tears Upon arrival to New York (USA) migrants

sent to Ellis Island and registered

Medical tests conducted to prove full health of migrant

Literacy assessments conducted as were means tests

Names altered as a result of language barriers

The Isle of Tears

Old, ill, illiterate and undesirable returned to Europe from Ellis Island.

In 1911 2% migrants not allowed entry into the states

Why America?

Pull Factors Push Factors

Space: Vast plains, room for expansion

Overcrowding: shortage of land, difficult to acquire land/ space for family/ business

Wages: Improved from those in Europe

Unemployment: few work opportunities as a result of economic trough/ machinery

Land of the Free: Freedom of religion, speech, press

Lack of opportunity: Society still class dominated, difficult for poor social classes to improve their situation- no opportunity for movement across system

Natural Resources: oil, timber, minerals and land was cheap

Economic Opportunity: Labour needed, as well as room for enterprise (personal business)

Persecution: Many fled as a result of religious, political reasons

The Melting Pot

Immigration contributed to a mixed American society

By 1920 103 different nationalities- assimilation the intention

Reality for migrants: worst job, poor pay

The Melting PotOLD IMMIGRANTS:

British, Germans, Scandinavians = best jobs, most money, most political power(WASPS – White Anglo Saxon Protestants)

SOUTHERN/ EASTERN EUROPEANS

Late 19th century most new migrants come from southern and

eastern Europe.

NATIVE AMERICAN INDIANSOriginal inhabitants of the US, though gradually forced off land. By 1917 many live in reservations, others assimilated

ASIANSWest coast, growing number of Chinese and Japanese; they helped create many cities and railroads

BLACK AMERICANS18TH and 19th Century Africans brought to USA as slaves. By

1920 11 Million black people lived across the USA

HISPANICSCentral America, Mexico and South America. Speak Spanish, work as cowboys on ranches