Immigration to the United States increased dramatically in the late 19th century, with over 1.5 million immigrants arriving between 1840-1850, nearly half of whom were Irish fleeing the potato famine. By the early 20th century, most new immigrants originated from Southern and Eastern Europe, settling in ethnic enclaves in major cities. However, many native-born Americans grew wary of the cultural changes brought by immigration and blamed newcomers for issues like low wages and overcrowded living conditions. Laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act aimed to stem the flow of immigrants.

1. Immigration
in the late
19 th Century
By Brad Harris,
Grand Prairie HS
SE: US 3B, 3C, 3D

2. “Old Immigration”
When the 13
colonies were
Ireland
England
established, most
immigrants
coming to
France America were
from England.
Between 1840-1850, 1.5 million immigrants came to
America. Nearly ½ were from Ireland due to a potato
famine. Most settled in New York City or Boston.

3. “New Immigration”
By 1920, most
immigrants coming
to the United States Russia
were from Southern
Poland
Hungary
and Eastern Europe
Most immigrants
Italy came from Italy or
Greece were Slavic, and
many were Jews

4. New Immigration

6. A Land of Hope
The Statue of Liberty
in New York Harbor
was the symbol of
America to many
immigrants looking
for a new life
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
the wretched refuse of your teaming shore. Send these, the homeless, the
tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
-- Statue of Liberty

7. Ellis Island
Immigrants
coming into
New York
were stopped
at Ellis Island
Incoming immigrants were
given a physical to check for
diseases and their criminal
record was checked

8. Immigration_Waves

9. Ethnic Cities – Little Italy
Little Italy, New York City,
circa 1901
By 1900, immigrants made up a great portion of the country’s
largest cities, including New York City, Chicago and Boston

10. Ethnic Cities - Chinatown
Chinatown, New York City
Immigrants lived in their own separate
neighborhoods – like Little Italy or Chinatown –
and kept many of their former traditions.

12. Tenement dwellings
Immigration led to a massive increase in the
number of slums in U.S. cities.

13. Tenement dwellings
Tenements – cheaply built apartment buildings – were
often overcrowded and lacked many necessities.

14. Tenement dwellings
Cities could not keep up with the massive rise in
population, leading to poor city services.

22. The Rise of Nativism
The flood of immigrants into
the U.S. worried many
Americans who felt their way
of life could be changed.
Nativism is an extreme dislike
for foreigners by native-born
people and a desire to limit
immigration.

23. The Rise of Nativism
Workers blamed
immigrants for low wages
or shortages of
employment. A resentment
of foreigners crept into
America’s attitudes.
New immigrants were
blamed for many of the
nation’s problems that
were brought on by the
Industrial Revolution

24. Immigrants_Face_Hard_Times

25. Asian Immigration
During the late 1800s, the
west coast (California)
saw a boom in the
amount of immigrants
coming from Asia.
Most Chinese immigrants came
to America because over-
crowding in China; many
Chinese settled in Los Angeles
and in San Francisco

26. Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act was the law passed by
Congress in 1882 that greatly reduced the amount of
Asian immigrants coming to America

27. Chinese Exclusion Act
The law barred Chinese immigration for 10 years and
prevented the Chinese from becoming U.S. citizens.

28. The_Chinese_Exclusion_Act

29. Summary
• Beginning in the late 1800s, most immigrants coming
to the U.S. were from southern and eastern Europe
• Immigrants lived in their own separate neighborhoods
and kept many of their former traditions.
• Immigration led to a massive increase in the number
of slums and tenement buildings in U.S. cities.
• Workers blamed immigrants for low wages or
shortages of employment. A resentment of foreigners
crept into America’s attitudes.

30. Coming
up
next…
Child Labor during
the Gilded Age