Immigration to the USA

1. Immigration to the USA

2. Aims: • Identify the main groups who arrived in the USA between 1870 and 1920. • Examine the difference between ‘Old’ and ‘New’ immigrants.

4. Old and New Old and New Immigrants • The first wave of immigrants arrived from Britain, Ireland, Germany and other northern European countries from the mid 1800s to late 1800s. These were called ‘Old Immigrants’ • The second wave came from countries in Southern and Eastern Europe such as Italy, Poland and Russia and were known as ‘New Immigrants’

5. Growing Tension Growing Tensions • Overall, the population of America was increasing dramatically in the late 1800s and early 1900s. • In 1870 the US population was 40 million by 1920 this had risen to 106 million. • This increase in population led to competition for jobs and houses. • The lack of integration between different groups led to tensions between ‘old’ and ‘new’ immigrants.

6. Tasks: • Copy down the heading ‘Where the Immigrants Came From?’. • Complete Activities 1-3 on pages 16-17. • Complete Activities 1-2 on page 18. • Complete Activities 1-2 on page 19. • Extension – Effects of Immigration. Activities 1-4 on page 20.

7. “The Roaring Twenties” • America in the 1920s seemed like an exciting and modern country. • Skyscrapers were built, radio and cinema spread new forms of music and dance to a mass audience. • It was a period of great social change and modernisation.

9. Times Sure Do Change It was also a period of liberation for women who could vote, work and enjoy more freedom

10. Prohibition • Prohibition: From January 1920 the sale and consumption of alcohol was banned throughout the USA. • Illegal bars called speakeasies appeared, alcohol was imported or manufactured illegally. Bootlegging

11. St Valentine’s Day Massacre • It was also a time when violent gangsters got away with murder. • Police and government took bribes. • The most famous gangster was Al Capone.

12. American Dream • None the less many people were driven by poverty, and persecution to leave their own countries to go to America in the hope of living “the American Dream”. • Immigrants travelled to America in the hope they would find a better standard of living, get a better job and give a better start in life to their children. • No matter what your background was you could make a fresh start in America and if you worked hard you would be successful.

13. Effects of Immigration Aims: Examine the divisions which existed between the different groups who had emigrated to the USA.

14. Old and New The first wave of immigrants arrived from Britain, Ireland, Germany and other northern European countries from the mid 1800s to late 1800s. These were called ‘Old Immigrants’ The second wave came from countries in Southern and Eastern Europe such as Italy, Poland and Russia and were known as ‘New Immigrants’ Old and New Immigrants

15. Effects of Immigration In 1920 the US President Wilson described the USA as a ‘Melting Pot’ – different immigrant groups mixed well together and became ‘Americans’. However other people did not believed immigrants mixed well together. They described America as a ‘Salad Bowl’ – immigrants became Americans but they still tried to keep their old cultures alive. Some people were concerned that this was causing growing tension between immigrants.

16. The Reality of Life for Migrants Despite promises that life in America was going to be a huge improvement, many migrants faced many hardships.

18. Effects of Immigration Complete Activities 1-2 on page 21 of your workguide. Write down the heading ‘The Immigrant Experience’ Complete Activities 1-2 on page 22.

19. Immigrant Tensions Aims: Understand the meaning of the ‘WASP’ hierarchy. Examine the problems faced by new immigrants living in the USA.

20. Effects of Immigration Old Immigrants Lived in the USA for several generations. From countries such as Britain, Germany, Ireland. Saw themselves as the ‘Founders of America’. English speaking Mainly rich and wealthy Also known as WASPs New Immigrants • Spoke little English • Stayed with relatives or friends from their ‘old’ country • From countries such as Italy, Poland, Russia. • Rarely mixed with other groups

21. WASPs White Anglo Saxon Protestant Old immigrants were usually WASPs. They were some of the most successful people in America. They thought they were better than everyone else. This contributed to the ignorance and prejudice between groups.

22. Source A is from a letter to the Boston News in 1910. We created this nation by our sweat and blood. We made this country a Protestant nation. We came from countries in Europe that shared an Anglo Saxon tradition of hard work. Now we must suffer the arrival of the dirty, unwashed crowds from lazier countries. People with brown skins and yellow skins arrive daily. Catholics and Jews spread their superstitious beliefs in this Protestant country. Power in America should be in the hands of the ‘WASP’ people who made it great.

23. The WASP Hierarchy

24. WASPs Copy down the diagram of the ‘WASP’ hierarchy. Complete Activities 1-3 on page 24. Copy down the heading ‘Different Ethnic Groups’. Complete Activities 1-3 on page 26.

25. Growing Tension Mexicans Moved North from Mexico to escape poverty and war. Many were Catholic and had a coloured skin. Orientals Came from Asian countries e.g. China, Japan. Many found work building the railways. They were regarded as ‘yellow’ people.

26. Growing Tension Red Indians Original inhabitants of the USA. Now called Native Americans. By the 1900s they had been defeated in wars with the US Government. Allocated land known as reservation. Blacks At the bottom of society. Until the middle of the 1850s most had been slaves. Largest minority group - mainly concentrated in Southern states. Discriminated in schools, workplace and legally.

27. Slums and Immigrants Many immigrants crowded into the growing cities. New York was the city most immigrants poured into after coming into the USA at Ellis Island. Slums quickly developed in overcrowded cities. People lived in terrible conditions where disease spread easily and crime rates for high. Many new immigrants settled next to family or friends from their old countries – areas such as ‘Little Italy’.

28. Activities Read pages 27-28 from your workguide. Complete questions 1-5 from pages 28-29.