Immigration in the U.S. Early 20th Century

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Immigration in the U.S. Early 20th Century

• Section 151
• p. 460
• January 21, 2010

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Lesson Objectives

• Describe the journey immigrants endured and their
  experiences at United States immigration
  stations.
• Examine the causes and effects of the nativists
  anti-immigrant sentiments.

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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

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Ellis Island

• An Immigrants Journey

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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.

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Did You Know?

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

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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.

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Did You Know?

• Over 40 of all Americans can trace their roots
  back to Ellis Island
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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 medical exam.
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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

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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!

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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Stop Eight The Journeys 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.
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Asian Immigration 1851-1883

• Chinese arrived to work on railroads
• Japanese arrive when US annexes Hawaii
• Arrive on West Coast through Angel Island

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Life in the New Land

• Adjust to language
• and culture
• Many immigrants settle in
• isolated communities
• Immigrant organizations formed to help each other

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Immigration Restrictions

• Nativism
• Formation of Anti-Immigrant groups
• Quotas put into effect
• Prejudice
• Segregation in San Francisco
• Gentlemans Agreement of 1907-1908

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Immigration Restrictions

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