19th Century Immigration Flashcards
a problem that causes people to immigrate to another place; war, famine, economic problems in their home nation
push factors
an attraction that draws immigrants to another place; promise of a better life, better jobs, etc.
pull factors
land that is suitable for growing crops; driving factor for immigrants from Europe in the late 1800s was that there was a lack of this in their home country.
arable
organized anti-Jewish attacks that forced many Jews to leave Russia
pogroms
people that originate from the nations of Sweden, Denmark, Norway; these groups of people immigrated to the United States in large numbers in the latter half of the 1800s.
Scandinavians
letters from immigrants in the United States to friends and relatives in the old country, which spurred further immigration
“American Letters”
the open area below a steamship’s main deck, where most immigrants lived during the Atlantic crossing
steerage
the location in New York Harbor in which new European immigrants passed through before being allowed into the country;
Ellis Island
a forced return of immigrants to their home country
deportation
an immigrant who signed a contract in Europe to work for an American employer, often to replace a striking worker; controversial for how these workers were used to replace striking workers.
contract laborers
a community center that provided a variety of services to the poor, especially to immigrants; Hull House
settlement houses
powerful leaders who ran local politics in many cities, providing jobs and social services to immigrants in exchange for political support; Boss Tweed in NYC
political bosses
the assimilation of immigrants into American society, a goal of some patriotic groups who feared that increased immigration threatened American society and values
Americanization
the policy of favoring the interests of native-born Americans over those of immigrants; gained more notice in the late 1800s
nativism
an 1882 law prohibiting the immigration of Chinese laborers for 10 years and preventing Chinese already in the country from becoming citizens; the first U.S. immigration restriction based solely on nationality or race
Chinese Exclusion Act
