An Immigrant’s Journey to America

1. An Immigrant’s Journey to America Unit 3 – A nation Transformed

2. Reasons for Immigration • Why did people immigrate to America? • 1. Escape oppressive governments • 2. New Opportunities • Jobs • 3. Religious Freedom • 4. Adventure

3. The Journey Ellis Island – New York City The Statue of Liberty The New Colossus – By Emma Lazarus Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

4. Urbanization • Why did cities (“urban” areas) grow? • Migration of African-Americans north • Improved transportation • Railroads are old news – cars?!  • Immigration • LARGE amounts of immigrants coming to the US • Industrialization • Factories grew • Rural -> urban migration • People move from farms to cities

5. Living Conditions • What were living conditions like in urban areas? • Overcrowded • Tenements • A building where rooms are rented • Apartment? • Ghettos • Specific neighborhood where a minority group lives; usually in poverty

10. Political Machines • “Greeted” immigrants at Ellis Island • Offered favors • Housing • Food • Jobs • In return, expected political support (and votes) • Worked with owners of factories, contractors, sweat shops • Corrupted the political system

11. William “Boss” Tweed Tweed was convicted for stealing an amount estimated by an aldermen's committee in 1877 at between $25 million and $45 million from New York City taxpayers through political corruption, although later estimates ranged as high as $200 million. He died in the Ludlow Street Jail

12. Treatment of Immigrants How were immigrants treated when they first came to America? What was American policy towards immigrants?

13. Nativists • What is a “Native”? • Who do you think a NATIVIST is? • Fought to preserve the US for native-born American citizens ONLY • Argued that the new immigrants would not assimilate because of language, religion, and customs • Immigrants took away jobs from Americans. • Immigrants were associated with violence, crime and anarchy

14. Chinese Exclusion Act • West Coast = strong feelings against Chinese • Drove Chinese from cities, sometimes killing them • US law was passed to exclude Chinese laborers • First law limiting immigration based on nation of origin • Repealed in 1943

15. Gentleman’s Agreement with Japan Japan agreed not to issue passports for Japanese citizens wishing to work in the US In exchange, the US agreed to accept Japanese immigrants already residing in America. US would allow wives, children and parents of the immigrants already in U.S.

16. Reforms • How did individuals work to change these conditions? • Jacob Riis: • Exposed poor living conditions in urban areas • Photograph essay How the Other Half Lives

18. How the Other Half Lives, By Jacob Riis The immigrant family above is pictured with all of the family’s possessions.

19. How the Other Half Lives, By Jacob Riis A blind beggar sells cigars on the street, hoping to make enough money to pay for a meal and a bed.

20. How the Other Half Lives, By Jacob Riis This photograph shows children moving trash one wheelbarrow at a time – exposing child labor.

21. How the Other Half Lives, By Jacob Riis These children are sleeping outdoors – huddled together for warmth.

22. How the Other Half Lives, By Jacob Riis Often, children would huddle together near grids on the street hoping to be warmed by the vents.

23. From How the Other Half Lives, by Jacob Riis “Bodies of drowned children turn up in the rivers right along in summer whom no one seems to know anything about. When last spring some workmen, while moving a pile of lumber on a North River pier, found under the last plank the body of a little lad crushed to death, no one had missed a boy, though his parents afterward turned up.”

24. How the Other Half Lives, By Jacob Riis The poor were frequently found drunk or ill to the point of death on the streets. Freezing to death was entirely possible.

25. How the Other Half Lives, By Jacob Riis This man is spreading his sleeping tic on top of two barrels – the basement will very likely flood.

26. How the Other Half Lives, By Jacob Riis Frequently, low paid workers would try to save money by sharing a room. Overcrowding bred disease.

27. How the Other Half Lives, By Jacob Riis Riis asked his readers to consider: Does the poor baby in this photograph inherit justice and equality? Or does the United States need to take action to insure that working people can provide for the basic needs of their families?

28. Reforms • How did individuals work to change these conditions? • Jane Addams: • Settlement Houses • The Hull House

29. Social Settlement in Chicago Social Settlement with men and women residents Public baths in Chicago Public playground in Chicago Gymnasium for the public in Chicago Little theater in the United States Citizenship preparation classes Public kitchen in Chicago College extension courses in Chicago Group work school The HULL-HOUSE was the FIRST . . .

30. Jane Addams’ funeral at Hull House. The streets are crowded with people who admired her and who were helped by her.

31. Hull House as it is today.

32. Think about it What were some contributions of Immigrants?

33. Contributions of Immigrants Religious Diversity Food New Words Customs Source of Labor