Immigrants came to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for several reasons, including escaping religious persecution, rising populations in Europe, and lack of work. They came from many regions, including Southern and Eastern Europe arriving on the East Coast, and China and Japan arriving on the West Coast. The journey was difficult, with immigrants traveling in cramped cargo holds of ships and facing harsh conditions at processing stations like Ellis Island and Angel Island. While most immigrants were allowed to enter, some faced discrimination and nativist opposition from groups that favored Anglo-Saxons and objected to certain religious and ethnic groups. This led to the passage of restrictive immigration laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act.

1. The New ImmigrantsChapter 7 – Section 1Video

2. Why did they come?Escape religious persecutionRising population in EuropeIndependent lives in AmericaShortage of work in homeland

3. Where did they come from?Southern and Eastern EuropeEast CoastChina & JapanWest CoastWest IndiesEastern and Southeast StatesMexicoWestern States

4. A Difficult JourneySteerageCargo hold of ship

5. Ellis IslandNew York HarborOpen 1892-1924 Chief immigration station for East coast2% denied entryProcessing took about 5 hoursPhysical examGovernment inspector – easy questioning17 million immigrants passed through

6. VideoEllis Island

7. Angel IslandSan Francisco BayOpen 1910-1940 Chief immigration station for West coastProcessing took weeks to monthsLived in filthy buildingsPhysical examGovernment inspector - harsh questioningApproximately 50,000 Chinese passed through

8. Angel IslandVideo

9. NativismFavoritism toward native born Americans

10. What did they believe?Anglo-Saxons superiorImmigrants from“right”countries OKImmigrants from“wrong”countries caused the problemsObjected to religious beliefs of Jews and Roman CatholicsImmigration restrictions

11. Nativism GroupsAmerican Protective AssociationVicious anti-Catholic attacksImmigration Restriction LeaguePushed for literacy testsVideo

12. Chinese Exclusion Act Banned entry to all Chinese exceptStudentsTeachersMerchantsTouristsGovernment officialsNot repealed until 1943Video

13. Gentleman’s AgreementJapan agreed to limit emigration of unskilled workers to USIn exchange for repeal of San Francisco segregation orderLocal government segregated Japanese children in separate schools

14. Main IdeaTaking NotesCreate a diagram such as the one below. List two or more causes of each effect.Cause?????????EffectImmigrants leave their home countries.Immigrants face hardships in the United States.Some nativists want to restrict immigration.

15. Main IdeaTaking NotesCreate a diagram such as the one below. List two or more causes of each effect.CausePovertyReligious persecutionShortage of landLack of jobsForeign cultureInterrogationDetentionDiscriminationUrban lifeIntolerancePrejudiceEconomic depressionEffectImmigrants leave their home countries.Immigrants face hardships in the United States.Some nativists want to restrict immigration.