U1 - Immigration USA 1918-1968 Flashcards
America had an ‘open door policy’ towards immigration when?
Before 1920
From 1892, many immigrants were taken where?
Ellis Island before they were allowed to enter the USA
Where did other immigrants sail to that didn’t go to Ellis Island?
- Boston
- Philadelphia
- Baltimore
- Miami
How many of Americans today can trace their roots to Ellis Island
Over 40%
How many people hoped to become Americans at this time?
Over 12 million
What did each immigrant go through before entering America?
A medical exam - These were called ‘six-second physicals’. The doctor marked on a person’s back 1 of 17 chalk marks
What was the second test that immigrants faced before entering America?
Inspectors asked immigrants 29 questions like:
- Have you any money?
- Do you have any relatives in America?
- Do you have a job waiting for you?
Who was denied entry into America?
Criminals and those who were thought to be indentured servants
What happened if the immigrant passed both tests?
They were given a landing card which made them American. They would be transported by ferry to New York
What percentage of people were denied entry after failing the tests?
2% (over a thousand people a month during peak immigration years)
What year did immigration into America peak?
1900s - 8.2 million
Old Immigration
- 1820s - 1880s
- Mostly Protestants from Northern Europe (sweden,
UK, Germany) - Mostly white anglo saxon Protestants (WASPs)
- By 1890 more Irish in New York than Dublin (Catholic)
- Catholic go to church so need to build their own
churches - Seperate schools P v C
New Immigration
- 1880s - 1920s
- Poor and illiterate people from eastern and Southern
Europe (Italy, Spain, Poland, Russia) - Tend to be Jews and Catholics`
What was 1884 Immigration Restriction League?
When America was in danger of being swamped by lesser breeds
What was the Chinese Exclusion Act 1882?
The chinese were banned in 1882
When did the chinese come to America?
1848 - 1849 for the ‘Gold Rush’
When was the Chinese Exclusion Act 1882 repealed?
Not until 1943
What happened in 1917 with Asian Immigrants?
Thye were all barred except for the Japanese and Filipinos
What did ‘The California Alien Land Law of 1913’ prohibit?
“Aliens ineligible for citizenship” (i.e all Asian immigrants) fromowning land or property but permitted 3 year leases.
Who did ‘The California Alien Land Law of 1913’ affect?
Chinese, Indian, Japanese, and Korean immigrant farmers in California
What did the Immigrantion Restriction League (IRL) propose?
A literacy test to be part of the bill
Immigrantion Act 1917
- Barred most Asians
- Introduced a literacy test
- Increased the head tax - more money when arriving
Immigration Act 1921
- 80% from Northern Europe
- Therefore mostly WASPs
- Quota 350,000 a year
immigration Act 1924
- 85% WASPs
- Banned oriental immigration
- Limit now 150,000
- Mexians still needed
What were native immigrants many fears about the immigrants influence on society
- City Slums - Poverty
- Crime - Drunkenness
- Disease - Political influences
By 1850 immigrants made up how much of the population
Almost half and in states such as New York, Chicago, Detroit, and San Francisco