7-1+USH

Abby Regan 1/9/12 USHCP Mr. Masterson

Key Words: Old Immigrants: Immigrants who came to the USA before 1880, mostly Protestants from northwestern Europe. New Immigrants: Immigrants who came to the USA between the 1880s-1910s, mostly from southern and eastern Europe. Steerage: The poorest accommodations on a ship, which were below the ships deck near the steering mechanisms and were cramped and had little ventilation. Benevolent Societies: Formed by the residents of many cities in order to help the immigrants in cases of sickness, unemployment, and death. Chinese Exclusion Act: Denied citizenship to people born in China and prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers. Immigration Restriction League: An organization formed in 1894 by wealthy Bostonians who wanted to impose a literacy test on all immigrants.

Key People: Denis Kearney: The leader of the Workingmen's Party of California. Grover Cleveland: 22nd president of the United States who denied the imposing of literacy tests on immigrants.

Summary:

The Lure of America:
 * Millions of immigrants came to America in search of opportunity and a better life.

A New Wave of Immigrants:
 * From 1800-1880, more than 10 million immigrants came, and from 1891-1910, some 12 million immigrants came over to the USA.
 * Like the old immigrants, the new immigrants also came to the USA to avoid poverty and prosecution.

The Journey
 * Most immigrants learned of available transportation and opportunities from railroad and steamship company promoters, who usually advertised a false picture of the USA as a land of unlimited opportunity.
 * Most immigrants traveled on steerage accommodations.

Arriving in America
 * Most of the new immigrants first arrived on Ellis Island in New York, or Angel Island in San Francisco Bay, two of the main immigration stations.
 * Ellis Island opened in 1892, and it was where many caught sight of the promising Statue of Liberty.
 * All immigrants who came to Ellis Island had to have a physical exam and a background check, and if they didn't pass they were sent back.
 * The Chinese immigrants who came to Angel Island faced strict immigration laws, which limited entrance to only certain skilled worker groups and individuals who could show that their parents were born in the USA.
 * Some immigrants who didn't meet the criteria for restrictions were sent back, and others were kept on the island to await a ruling on their cases.

A New Life
 * Although the USA had better living conditions than the immigrants' homeland, they weren't much better.

Immigrant Communities
 * The immigrant communities were close-knit, and helped the immigrants bear the conditions both financially and culturally.

Religious Institutions
 * Local worshiping areas (churches, temples, etc.) helped the immigrants to keep a sense of identity and community, and provided many services such as day care, reading classes, and social clubs.
 * The benevolent societies helped immigrants get education, heath care, and jobs.

Cultural Practices
 * The immigrants were encouraged to become part of the American mainstream, which the younger generations did, but the older ones preferred to stay true to their original culture.

The Immigrant Worker
 * The immigrants had to do America's hardest and dirtiest work.
 * The jobs were difficult and exhausting, and hours were long and wages were low.
 * Even the immigrants who had a decent pay had a hard time making a living,

The Nativist Response
 * Native-born Americans blamed immigrants for social problems and for spreading disturbing political ideas.
 * Nativists also thought that because the immigrants were willing to work for a low wage, they kept the American born citizens from getting jobs and lowered their wages.

Chinese Exclusion
 * For years the Chinese had been tolerated in the United States, but when unemployment swept the nation, Americans became less tolerant.
 * The Leaders of the California Chinese community wanted protection from the authorities, but didn't get any.
 * In 1882 Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, explained above.

Immigrant Restriction League
 * Although their were many efforts to place restrictions on immigration, it continued, and the immigrants made positive contributions to society.