Immigrants formed ethnic neighborhoods in places like New York City's Little Italy and Lower East Side in the late 1800s/early 1900s. While they recreated customs from their homelands, Americans questioned if they could adapt. Chinese immigrants also faced unfair treatment - they worked for low wages but white workers blamed them for lowered wages. This led to the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, the first law to restrict immigration to the US by ethnicity which banned Chinese immigration for 10 years.

1. Immigration and the Growth of Ethnic Neighborhoods, and the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 By Joey, Josh, Hannah, and Taylor

2. Immigration and the Growth of Ethnic Neighborhoods In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, many people immigrated from their home countries to the US, with the majority coming from central and eastern Europe When these people came to the US, they formed places called “Ethnic Neighborhoods”. These neighborhoods existed mostly in New York City, and had names such as “Little Italy” and the Jewish “Lower East Side.”

3. Neighborhoods revolved around many traditional customs Re-created many things, which included: churches, synagogues, clubs, and newspapers of their homeland but changed them to the new environment of New York City Huge arrival of immigrants cause special social problems Since they lived in their own neighborhoods, practiced their own traditions, and spoke a variety of different languages, Americans wondered if they could ever fully adapt to American life Many people, mostly workers, blamed the immigrants for their low wages

4. Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 Chinese suffered unfairness in America, too The discovery of gold in 1849 and the request for cheap labor first brought the Chinese into California Found work in gold fields and on construction projects By 1852, there were approximately 25,000 Chinese men, women, and children living on the Pacific Coast

5. The Chinese came to the US at a rate of 4,000 a year At the end of the 1870’s, there were 75,000 Chinese living in California Their ability to work for low-wages caused a violent anti-Chinese movement among the majority of the white workers in California These feelings grew during the tough economic times In the midst of the Panic(Depression) of 1873, jobless workers in California came together and attacked the Chinese

6. American’s requested that the Chinese immigrants be excluded from the US 1879-Congress no longer allowed foreign workers to enter the country and become employed This was mainly aimed at the Chinese 1882-Congress answered to the western states, and banned all immigration from China for 10 years

7. Bibliography Artist not Available. “Persons Obtaining Legal US Resident Status By Region of Origin 1820-2008.” Tahpdx: Great Decisions in US History. 9 May 2010. http://www.upa.pdx.edu/IMS/currentprojects/TAHv3/Content/Graphics/Immigrant_Region_1820-2008_Graph.jpg Artist not Available. “Chinese Exclusion Act.” www.ourdocuments.gov. 9 May 2010 http://www.ourdocuments.gov/document_data/document_images/doc_047_big.jpg Artist not Available. ‘Immigrants leaving China for California.” www.apa.si.edu. California Historical Society. 9 May 2010. http://apa.si.edu/ongoldmountain/gallery1/1HOWTHEC_20.jpg Author not Available. “American History from 1885 to Modern Times” Glencoe.com