Unit 8 Lesson 3: European Immigration Flashcards
What was Ellis Island
Ellis Island, an island in Upper New York Bay where many immigrants were processed before entering the U.S.
How many Europeans came to America through Ellis Island
Starting in 1892, over 12 million European immigrants came through Ellis Island.
People leaving their home countries came to the U.S. in waves. Describe the first wave
The first waves, during the time of frontier expansion, brought people from northern and western Europe. As the U.S. began to industrialize, the flow of people from northern and western Europe remained about the same, while immigration from southern and eastern Europe substantially increased.
First Wave of Immigrants
Original Region: northern and western Europe
RElgion: Protestant
Push Factors: poverty and religious and political persecution
Destination:Midwestâfarms and small towns
Occupation: farmers
Second Wave of Immigrants
Original Region: southern and eastern Europe
Religion: Catholic and Jewish
Push Factors: poverty and religious and political persecution
Destination: northeast citiesâethnic enclaves
Occupation: unskilled labor
What countires did immigrants from northen and weatern Europe come from
Germany, Great Britain, Sweden, and Denmark
What was it like for Immigrants from northern and western Europe
Immigrants from northern and western Europe, particularly Germany, Great Britain, Sweden, and Denmark, were relatively well-off. They arrived in the U.S. with some money. They often moved to the newly-settled western territories
What countires did immigrants from southern and eastern Europe come from
Italy, Greece, Russia, Poland, and Hungary
What do immigrants from southeren and eastern european countires come to America
In contrast, newer immigrants from southern and eastern European countries such as Italy, Greece, Russia, Poland, and Hungary came over due to push and pull
What were push factors for Souther Easteren European countries
Many were pushed from their countries by a series of ongoing famines. Others were pushed out by the need to escape religious, political, or racial persecution. They also left to avoid compulsory military service.
What pulled immigarnts to come to America
They were pulled by the promise of consistent, wage-earning work, often in factories. They hoped that freedom and opportunity in the United States would bring prosperity
How did the American dream provide a pull factor
The idea of the American dreamâthat there are no barriers to success to those who are willing to work hardâwas attractive to immigrants who didnât have the same freedoms in their home countries
Northwestern Europe:
In the late 1800s, most immigrants coming to the U.S. were from northwestern Europe. Many of them Protestant, these migrants sought to escape poverty and religious persecution. Many northwestern European immigrants moved to the Midwest, where they settled in small towns and on farms.
Central Europe:
Many of them were political or religious refugees. They settled in cities and accepted low wages for difficult and dangerous jobs. Immigration from this region had declined considerably by 1920.
Eastern Europe:
At the turn of the century, the U.S. saw a gradual increase in immigrants from eastern Europe. Many of them were Jewish refugees seeking freedom from poverty and religious persecution. By 1920, though, this region was contributing fewer migrants to the U.S. than any other European region.
Southern Europe
Between 1900 and 1910, the U.S. saw a dramatic increase in migrants coming from southern Europe, a region that was experiencing intense poverty. Immigrants from this region settled in ethnic communities with others from their homelands in northeast cities such as New York.
What were the charartersitcs of the second wave of immigrants
The second wave of immigrants pushed and pulled to America arrived with lower levels of education. They didnât have the finances of the earlier waves of immigrants to seek their fortunes in the West. They tended to settle in the port cities where they arrived.
How did immigrants affect port cities population
Port cities rapidly changed with this influx of new settlers. By 1890, over 80 percent of the population of New York would be either foreign-born or children of foreign-born parents. This was due in large part to Ellis Island being the primary port of entry for European immigrants arriving in the United States. Other port cities saw similar spikes in immigrant populations.
What resulted in immigrants settling in ethnic enclaves
Immigrants processed at Ellis Island entered the country through the streets of New York. Many were unable to speak English. They were totally reliant on finding those who spoke their native tongue
What are Ethnic enclaves
ethnic enclaves, or neighborhoods, within larger cities.
