American History
Unit 18:
Immigration (1840-1920)
Why America?
I. Why America?
A. Improved living conditions
B. Better-paying jobs
C. To escape religious persecution.
Flood of Immigration Chart
Where Did the Immigrants Come From?
When
Who
Situation
Why Emigrate?
1840s-1850s
Irish
Famine resulting
from failure of potato
crop.
To find food
1840s-1880s
Germans
Unemployment; wars
To find jobs; to get
away from wars.
1870s-1900s
Norwegians,
Danes, Swedes
Shortage of farmland
To find new farmland
1880s-1920s
Poles
Poverty; an outbreak
of cholera
To find jobs; escape
illness.
1880s-1920s
Jews from
Eastern Europe
Religious
persecution
To be able to
worship freely.
1880s-1920s
Austrians, Czechs,
Hungarians,
Slovaks, Italians
Poverty;
overpopulation
To find jobs
1910-1920s
Mexicans
Unemployment; wars
To find jobs; to get
away from wars.
Immigration to America between 1600-1850
I. Most immigrants arrived from Western Europe.
A. English, Scotch, German, Irish, and Scandinavians.
B. Between 1600-1870, about 20 million immigrants arrived.
1. The United States was young and growing.
a. Immigrants welcomed to help develop cities, build roads, construct
canals, and farm fields.
Immigration to America between 1870-1899.
I. Large number of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe.
A. Austrian, Greek, Czech, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Jewish, and Russian.
B. Between 1870-1899, about 10 million immigrants arrived.
1. By 1870, the United States was overflowing with immigrants.
a. There was no more free land in the West.
b. Illiterate immigrants were willing to work cheap.
1b. Often stole jobs because they were willing to work for next to nothing.
c. Immigrants were easy prey for corrupt politicians.
d. Too many languages, customs, and cultures.
Protests Against Immigrants
Immigrants to the United States, 1870-1910
United States and It’s Attempts to Restrict Immigration
I. Beginning in the 1880's, laws were passed to keep immigrants out.
A. Criminals, paupers (beggars), insane, and diseased individuals.
B. 1882, immigrants from China and the Orient were forbidden to arrive in
America.
C. In 1917, immigrants had to pass a Literacy Test.
II. National origins quota laws.
A. Emergency Quota Act of 1921.
1. Set the total number of immigrants each country could send to America
each year.
B. Immigration Quota Law of 1924 and the National Origins
Act of 1929.
1. Limited immigration to a total of 150,000 individuals each year.
a. A formula of proportion was established for each country around the
world.
C. Immigration Act of 1965.
1. Abolished the previous quota acts.
a. Immigration from Western Hemisphere set at 170,000.
b. Immigration from other countries set at 120,000.
How to Become a Citizen of the United States?
I. In order to acquire citizenship, an applicant must:
A. File a petition for naturalization.
B. Demonstrate the ability to read, write, and speak everyday English.
1. Exceptions: Persons physically unable to do so and people over
50 years old who have lived in the United States for 20 or more years.
C. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of
United States history and government.
D. Present two reliable American citizens to serve as witnesses to the
applicant's character, residence, and loyalty.
E. Renounce any allegiance to his/her former country and take an oath
of allegiance to the United States.
Additional Notes About Naturalization:
I. Naturalized citizens:
A. Have the same rights as native-born citizens.
B. May hold public office except the Presidency or Vice-president.
II. Children born to foreign parents while in the United States are considered nativeborn citizens.
Urban American Society (1865-1900)
I. The Rise of American Cities
A. Geography of Urban Growth
1. Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, & Omaha-Industry
2. New York & Chicago-Industry and Transportation
II. Patterns of Urban Growth-Series of Rings
Center Ring- Central Business District
Second Ring- Apartments occupied by the poor
Third Ring- Middle class housing
Outer Ring- "Suburban" occupied by the Wealthy
Upper Class
Technological Breakthroughs (Skyscrapers)
I. Skyscrapers (Steel Skeleton) - William Le Baron Jenney
A. Home Insurance Bldg. in Chicago-1885
Technological Breakthroughs (Elevators)
I. Elevator invented by Elisha Otis-1857
A. First electric elevator-1889
Technological Breakthroughs (Steel-Cable Bridges)
I. Brooklyn Bridge- Steel Cabled Suspension Bridge
A. John & Washington Roebling-1883
Technological Breakthroughs (Mass-Transit)
I. Mass Transit- a way to transport large numbers of people
A. Elevated Railroad in New York-1870
B. Cable Car in San Francisco-1873
C. Trolley Car in Richmond, Virginia-1887
D. Subway in Boston-1897
Mass transit enabled people to move
away from the inner-city to suburban
areas and commute to places of
employment.
Providing City Services
I. Providing City Services
A. Modern Sewer Systems & Water Treatment Plants
1. Poor Sanitation & Disease (Cholera, Tuberculosis, & Influenza)
B. Dr. Carlos Finlay- Yellow Fever spread by the mosquitoes
C. Improved Street Lighting
D. Paid Fire Dept. with Hydrants & Steam Fire Engines
Concepts to Know
Describe where groups of immigrants came from and why they wanted to
immigrate to America.
Explain America's views toward immigrants between 1600-1850.
Explain America's views toward immigrants between 1870-1899.
Describe some ways the United States used to restrict immigration.
Explain the process an immigrant must do to become a naturalized citizen.
Describe the patterns of urban growth (series of rings).
Describe some technological breakthroughs and city services that assisted with
urban growth.