Immigration & Urbanization Flashcards
Old Immigration
1820-1890
Immigrants from western & northern Europe
a. Great Britain
b. Ireland
c. Germany
New Immigration
1890-1920
Immigrants from southern & eastern Europe
a. Italy
b. Austria-Hungary
c. Russia
Reasons for Immigration to the US?
A. Poverty/Famine/Land Shortages
B. Religious or Political persecution
What was the average Immigrant’s journey
Traveled by steam ship-cost $25 (equal to $150 today)
1. From Europe took from a week to 3 weeks
2. From Asia took 3 to 4 weeks
B. Miserable Conditions (for 3rd class travelers)
1. Traveled in cargo holds
2. Dark, crowded, poor sanitation, lacked fresh air, & unable to exercise
3. Diseases spread easily
Ellis Island
NY Harbor
Immigration processing center for east coast
Peak 11K immigrants per day
Requirements to migrate to the US
Pass literacy test in native language
Prove able to work
Show at least $25
Angel Island
Immigration center for the west coast
Chinese and Japanese
Typical life on an Immigrant or challenges
Culture shock-new way of thinking/acting
Con artists took their $
Difficulty finding place to live & job
Difficulty learning American language & customs
In order to cope-sought out people with similar culture & formed ethnic communities
Nativism
Favoritism toward native-born Americans.
Led to immigrant restrictions
Chinese Exclusion Act
Banned entry to all Chinese except students, teachers, merchants,
tourists, and government officials.
10 years
Gentlemans Agreement
Handshake deal
Japan’s government agreed to limit emigration of unskilled workers to the United States in exchange for the repeal of the San Francisco segregation order
The New Colossus
Poem written by Emma Lazarus to raises money for the podium for the statue of liberty
Kickbacks
Illegal payments for preferential treatment or services
Why did people move to cities?
Cheap & convenient
Offered jobs for unskilled labor (mills & factories)
Social support system for immigrants
Excitement & entertainment
Urban problems encountered by Immigrants
Poor housing-tenement houses
Dirty water - cholera & typhoid
Poor sanitation - Horse manure on street, Raw sewage in gutters, No trash removal, Factory pollution, Unsanitary outhouses
Fires - No good water supply, Tenement houses made
of wood, Use of kerosene & candles
Crime - organized crime and Pick pockets
