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Irish ImmigrationIrish Immigration 1830 1830

From 1820 -1860, .9 million Irish arrived after the Potato famine struck.

Most went to cities such as Boston, Philadelphia and New York, mill towns in Massachusetts, and railroad or canal construction sites along the east coast.

Protestant owners of textile mills hired the new low-wage workers; other Irish Catholic women took jobs as maids.

Large numbers of unemployed Irish Catholics lived in squalid conditions in the new city slums.

NATIVISM NATIVISM Targeting the Targeting the IrishIrishPrejudice against Irish Catholics reached a peak in the mid-1850s when the Know-Prejudice against Irish Catholics reached a peak in the mid-1850s when the Know-Nothing Party tried to oust Catholics from public office. Nothing Party tried to oust Catholics from public office. drinking, fighting, ignoring their children, and gambling in crowded poorhouses were drinking, fighting, ignoring their children, and gambling in crowded poorhouses were widespread images of Irish in America.widespread images of Irish in America.

German Immigration 1830German Immigration 1830From 1840-1880 Germans were the From 1840-1880 Germans were the

largest group of immigrants, many largest group of immigrants, many political refugees from the political refugees from the revolution of 1848 in the German revolution of 1848 in the German states.states.

The cities of Milwaukee, Cincinnati, St. The cities of Milwaukee, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Chicago, New York and Louis, Chicago, New York and Baltimore were favored Baltimore were favored destinations of German destinations of German Immigrants. Milwaukee was known Immigrants. Milwaukee was known as the “German Athens.”as the “German Athens.”

Half of the Germans established farms Half of the Germans established farms in the Midwest from Ohio to the in the Midwest from Ohio to the Plains states.Plains states.

German Americans established the German Americans established the first kindergartens in the US, first kindergartens in the US, introduced the Christmas tree, introduced the Christmas tree, originated foods such as hot dogs originated foods such as hot dogs and hamburgers, and also and hamburgers, and also dominated beer brewing.dominated beer brewing.

SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION 1830SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION 1830

SWEDENSWEDENAfter the Civil War, 1.3 million After the Civil War, 1.3 million

Swedes immigrated to the US to Swedes immigrated to the US to escape religious persecution, escape religious persecution, social conservatism, and class social conservatism, and class snobbery. The American snobbery. The American Midwest was praised as an Midwest was praised as an earthly paradise of religious and earthly paradise of religious and political freedom and undreamed political freedom and undreamed of opportunities.of opportunities.

Most immigrants became classic Most immigrants became classic pioneers, clearing and cultivating pioneers, clearing and cultivating the prairies of the Great Plains.the prairies of the Great Plains.

NORWAYNORWAYNorwegian immigration began out of Norwegian immigration began out of

religious persecution, especially religious persecution, especially for Quakers.for Quakers.

Early Norwegian settlements were in Early Norwegian settlements were in Pennsylvania and Illinois, but Pennsylvania and Illinois, but moved westward into Wisconsin, moved westward into Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and the Dakotas. Iowa, Minnesota, and the Dakotas.

The majority of Norwegian Farming The majority of Norwegian Farming settlements developed in the settlements developed in the “Homestead Act Triangle,” “Homestead Act Triangle,” between the Mississippi and between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.Missouri Rivers.

SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION 1830SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION 1830

SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION 1830SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION 1830

DENMARKDENMARKDanish immigrants were farmers and Danish immigrants were farmers and

unskilled laborers, displaced by the unskilled laborers, displaced by the industrial revolution and large farms in industrial revolution and large farms in Denmark.Denmark.

Most Danes settled in the farming regions Most Danes settled in the farming regions of Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, of Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. Skilled in Nebraska, and the Dakotas. Skilled in dairy farming, Danish Americans dairy farming, Danish Americans became the major producers of dairy became the major producers of dairy products in the Midwest, including the products in the Midwest, including the famed Wisconsin cheeses.famed Wisconsin cheeses.

Many Danes became Mormons and by the Many Danes became Mormons and by the 1860s half of the Danish immigrants 1860s half of the Danish immigrants were headed to Utah. were headed to Utah.

A Scandinavian melting pot existed in A Scandinavian melting pot existed in urban areas among Norwegians, urban areas among Norwegians, Swedes, and Danes.Swedes, and Danes.

CHINESE IMMIGRATION 1830CHINESE IMMIGRATION 1830Immigration of Chinese laborers began after the Immigration of Chinese laborers began after the

Opium Wars. By 1848, the numbers Opium Wars. By 1848, the numbers increased due to the California Gold Rush. increased due to the California Gold Rush. By 1880, 105,000 immigrants were living on By 1880, 105,000 immigrants were living on the West Coast. the West Coast.

Contributions of Chinese Americans:Contributions of Chinese Americans:Building Transcontinental Railroad Building Transcontinental Railroad Chinese American FoodChinese American FoodIntroducing East Asian culture (religion, Introducing East Asian culture (religion, martial arts)martial arts)

Most Chinese immigrants were young males Most Chinese immigrants were young males with low education levels, who left their with low education levels, who left their wives and children behind. Most intended wives and children behind. Most intended on staying in America only temporarily. on staying in America only temporarily.

The Chinese immigrants neither spoke or The Chinese immigrants neither spoke or understood English, nor were familiar with understood English, nor were familiar with western culture. Many experienced culture western culture. Many experienced culture shock in what to them was a strange shock in what to them was a strange country. Assimilation was also difficult country. Assimilation was also difficult because the men were unable to return to because the men were unable to return to China if their Cue (long braid) had been cut.China if their Cue (long braid) had been cut.

NativismNativism Targeting theTargeting the Chinese ChineseThe Chinese experienced racism from The Chinese experienced racism from

European Americans from the outset of European Americans from the outset of their arrival. Racism Included their arrival. Racism Included everything from job discrimination to everything from job discrimination to violence. Racism increased violence. Racism increased continuously to the turn of the century, continuously to the turn of the century, and prevented the Chinese from and prevented the Chinese from assimilating into mainstream American assimilating into mainstream American society.society.

Most Chinese men did not bring their Most Chinese men did not bring their wives or families to America because wives or families to America because they too would have been subjected to they too would have been subjected to the same racial violence and the same racial violence and discrimination the men had faced.discrimination the men had faced.

Chinese Laborers were banned from Chinese Laborers were banned from Immigration in 1882 due to job Immigration in 1882 due to job competition.competition.

In 1888, All Chinese were banned from In 1888, All Chinese were banned from immigrating. The ban was not lifted immigrating. The ban was not lifted until 1943. Chinese immigration until 1943. Chinese immigration continued to be heavily restricted.continued to be heavily restricted.

IMMIGRATION THROUGH ELLIS IMMIGRATION THROUGH ELLIS ISLANDISLAND

Ellis Island was the principal federal immigration station in the United States from 1892 to 1954.

More than 12 million immigrants were processed here. It is estimated that over 40 percent of all citizens can trace their ancestry to those who came through Ellis Island.

In its early years, when the greatest number of immigrants entered the country, Ellis Island mirrored the nation's generous attitude and open door policy.

After passage of immigration laws After passage of immigration laws in the 1920s, Ellis Island was in the 1920s, Ellis Island was used more for "assembly, used more for "assembly, detainment, and deporting detainment, and deporting aliens," and symbolized a aliens," and symbolized a closing door. closing door.

Immigrants were required to pass Immigrants were required to pass a series of medical and legal a series of medical and legal inspections before they could inspections before they could enter America. enter America.

The actual experience of going The actual experience of going through inspection or through inspection or detainment on Ellis Island was detainment on Ellis Island was often nerve wracking. often nerve wracking.

Those who did not pass these Those who did not pass these inspections were returned to inspections were returned to their country of origin on the their country of origin on the boats that brought them here. boats that brought them here.

Even though only 2 percent of Even though only 2 percent of those coming to America were those coming to America were turned away at Ellis Island, that turned away at Ellis Island, that translated to over 250,000 translated to over 250,000 people whose hopes and people whose hopes and dreams turned to tears.   dreams turned to tears.  

MEDICAL INSPECTIONMEDICAL INSPECTION

Women Patients: Many immigrant women were frightened by the clinical routine followed on Ellis Island. For a woman who had never been touched by a man other than her husband, being examined by a male doctor could be a traumatic experience. In 1914 two women doctors were appointed to the medical staff,

Trachoma: Trachoma, a highly contagious eye infection that could cause blindness, was a common disease in southeastern Europe but relatively unknown in the United States. it appeared as inflammations on the inner eyelid. Doctors checked for the disease by raising the eyelid with either their fingers, a hairpin, or a buttonhook--a painful, but quick procedure. Since trachoma is difficult to cure, sufferers were generally isolated and sent back to their ports of embarkation.                                                        

MENTAL TESTINGMENTAL TESTINGSome immigrants were marked with an Some immigrants were marked with an

"X" during a line inspection and were "X" during a line inspection and were sent to mental examination rooms for sent to mental examination rooms for further questioning.further questioning.

During this primary examination, During this primary examination, doctors first asked the immigrants to doctors first asked the immigrants to answer a few questions about answer a few questions about themselves, and then to solve simple themselves, and then to solve simple arithmetic problems, or count arithmetic problems, or count backward from 20 to 1, or complete a backward from 20 to 1, or complete a puzzle. puzzle.

Out of the immigrants held for this Out of the immigrants held for this "weeding out" session, some would "weeding out" session, some would be detained for a secondary session be detained for a secondary session of more extensive testing.of more extensive testing.

They asked questions. "How much is two They asked questions. "How much is two and one? How much is two and two?" and one? How much is two and two?"

In 1985, a women who Immigrated from In 1985, a women who Immigrated from Poland in 1917 recalled:Poland in 1917 recalled:

““One young girl, also from our city, went One young girl, also from our city, went and they asked her, "How do you and they asked her, "How do you wash stairs, from the top or from the wash stairs, from the top or from the bottom?" She say, "I don't go to bottom?" She say, "I don't go to America to wash stairs." America to wash stairs."

Can you draw a diamond?Can you draw a diamond? Doctors found that this test, which required Doctors found that this test, which required

immigrants to copy geometric shapes, immigrants to copy geometric shapes, was useful only in the examination of was useful only in the examination of immigrants who knew how to write or immigrants who knew how to write or were used to holding a pencil.were used to holding a pencil.

In addition to using standard tests, Ellis In addition to using standard tests, Ellis Island doctors devised many of their own Island doctors devised many of their own tests to help diagnose mental defects. tests to help diagnose mental defects. Puzzles and mimicry tests were favored Puzzles and mimicry tests were favored because they did not have to be because they did not have to be explained to an immigrant through an explained to an immigrant through an interpreter; nor did an immigrant have to interpreter; nor did an immigrant have to know how to read or write in order to know how to read or write in order to solve them. solve them.

Literacy Test:Literacy Test:

NativistsNativists had been trying to impose a had been trying to impose a literacy test since the 1880s as a means literacy test since the 1880s as a means of restricting immigration. They finally of restricting immigration. They finally succeeded with the Immigration Act of succeeded with the Immigration Act of 1917, 1917,

passed over President Woodrow Wilson's passed over President Woodrow Wilson's veto. This law required all immigrants, 16 veto. This law required all immigrants, 16 years or older to read a 40-word passage years or older to read a 40-word passage in their native language. in their native language.

After the medical inspection, each immigrant After the medical inspection, each immigrant filed up to the inspector's desk for his or filed up to the inspector's desk for his or her legal examination, an experience that her legal examination, an experience that was often compared to the Day of was often compared to the Day of Judgment. Judgment.

To determine an immigrant's social, To determine an immigrant's social, economic, and moral fitness, inspectors economic, and moral fitness, inspectors asked rapid-fire series of questions, such asked rapid-fire series of questions, such as: Are you married or single? What is as: Are you married or single? What is your occupation? How much money do your occupation? How much money do you have? Have you ever been convicted you have? Have you ever been convicted of a crime? of a crime?

The interrogation was over in a matter of The interrogation was over in a matter of minutes after which an immigrant was minutes after which an immigrant was either permitted to enter the United either permitted to enter the United States or detained for a legal hearing. States or detained for a legal hearing.

Manifest Sheets:Manifest Sheets: In 1893, the United States required In 1893, the United States required

steamship companies to record in steamship companies to record in manifests the vital statistics of all manifests the vital statistics of all passengers.passengers.

The manifest sheets listed the names of the The manifest sheets listed the names of the passengers and their answers to a series passengers and their answers to a series of questions regarding nationality, of questions regarding nationality, marital status, destination, occupation marital status, destination, occupation and other personal information. and other personal information.

When a ship arrived in New York, the When a ship arrived in New York, the manifests were turned over to Ellis Island manifests were turned over to Ellis Island Inspectors and used as a basis for cross-Inspectors and used as a basis for cross-examining each immigrant. examining each immigrant.

LEGAL INSPECTION

Political Language: CartoonsPolitical Language: Cartoons