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Immigration Waves in American History

Here is a draft letter in response to the prompt: Dear Mother and Father, I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to tell you about my journey and first impressions of America. The voyage across the ocean was long and difficult, as we traveled in cramped steerage with little comfort. However, we have now arrived safely in New York Harbor. When we passed through Ellis Island, the officials examined us for illness and asked about our backgrounds. Thankfully, we passed their inspections and were allowed to enter the country. I am overjoyed to now call America my home. So far, I am staying with cousins who live in a neighborhood filled with others from our homeland. While it

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17 views10 pages

Immigration Waves in American History

Here is a draft letter in response to the prompt: Dear Mother and Father, I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to tell you about my journey and first impressions of America. The voyage across the ocean was long and difficult, as we traveled in cramped steerage with little comfort. However, we have now arrived safely in New York Harbor. When we passed through Ellis Island, the officials examined us for illness and asked about our backgrounds. Thankfully, we passed their inspections and were allowed to enter the country. I am overjoyed to now call America my home. So far, I am staying with cousins who live in a neighborhood filled with others from our homeland. While it

Uploaded by

api-384083823
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

THE TRANSFORMATION OF

AMERICAN SOCIETY

The Growth of immigration


OLD IMMIGRANTS VS. NEW IMMIGRANTS

1800 1880 more than 10 million immigrants came to the US.


Old Immigrants Protestants from North Western Europe (Irish,
Scottish, French, English, German
1891 1910 more than 12 million immigrants came to the US.
New Immigrants from Southern or Eastern Europe (Czech, Greek,
Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Russian, and Slovak.
Most were Catholic, Greek Orthodox, or Jewish.
Arabs, Armenians, Chinese, French Canadians, and Japanese
So large an increase that by the early 1900s, 60% of the people living in the
12 largest cities were foreign born
THE JOURNEY AND ARRIVAL
Many immigrants learned of new opportunities from RR and
Steamship companies.
Companies painted a tempting yet false picture of what life
was like in America
Most immigrants had to travel in the poorest
accommodations
Steerage below deck, near the steering mechanisms,
cramped, no privacy, little ventilation
Immigrants came to the country through either Ellis or Angel
Island
IMMIGRATION STATIONS

Ellis Island
Opened in 1892 in New York Harbor
Immigrants were subject to physical exams
Mentally disabled, contagious diseases and other health problems were sent away
Background checks were done
Criminal records or without the means to support themselves were sent back.
Angel Island
Opened in 1910 in San Francisco Bay
Mostly immigrants from China, some from Japan
Faced strict immigration laws
Limited entrance to certain skilled groups or if they could show their parents were born in the US
Some were deported, others waited on the Island until their case was decided
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES

Immigrants settled in close-knit communities with immigrants of their


own ethnicity/ background
Many spoke the same language and followed customs of their old
country
Cities became a patchwork of ethnic neighborhoods with numerous
pockets of diverse immigrant communities
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES CONT.

Elderly immigrants cherished their heritage and traditions while


younger immigrants embraced American life and culture
Americanization
Neighborhood churches provided a community center that helped
immigrants maintain a sense of identity and belonging
Benevolent Societies formed by residents to help immigrants in
cases of sickness, unemployment and death
Helped immigrants obtain an education, health care, and jobs
Offered loans, set up insurance plans
IMMIGRATION ACTIVITY

Youre an immigrant that recently came to the US.


After reading the examples, write a letter home.

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