IMMIGRATION
Four Types of Immigration People moved around the United States in four different directions during the 1800 s. Movement to the U.S. from a foreign nation Birds of Passage young men working for a short time, sending remittances home. Movement to the cities from rural areas Movement to the western frontier
OLD IMMIGRATION before 1870 NORTH WEST EUROPE British Isles: England, Scotland, Ireland Germany Scandinavia: Norway, Sweden AND WEST AFRICA
U.S. immigration patterns changed during the late 1800s as new immigrants arrived from Europe, Asia, and Mexico. Old Immigrants Arrived before 1880s Mostly from Britain, Germany, Ireland, and Scandinavia Mostly Protestants, but some Roman Catholics Many were skilled workers. Some settled in rural areas and became farmers. New Immigrants Came after 1880 From southern and eastern Europe; included Czechs, Greeks, Hungarians, Italians, Poles, Russians, and Slovaks Diverse cultures and religious backgrounds. Wanted job opportunities in cities
Immigration Centers East Coast Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the busiest East Coast center. Opened in 1892 Millions of immigrants came through its center over the next 40 years. Fewer than 2% of arrivals were denied entrance into the country. West Coast Angel Island near San Francisco Opened in 1910 Entrance for many Chinese immigrants By law, only Chinese whose fathers were U.S. citizens were allowed into the country. South El Paso, Texas had the main processing center for immigrants from Mexico. Most settled in the Southwest. Found work in construction, steel mills, mines, and on large commercial farms
NEW: AFTER 1870 SOUTHERN AND EASTERN EUROPE SOUTHERN ITALY and SICILY --unification of Italy RUSSIAN JEWS -- pogroms, absorption of Russian Pale and attempt to defuse revolutionary ideas in Russian Empire by using Jews as scapegoats AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN EMPIRE, POLAND, CHRISTIAN RUSSIANS
Serfdom in Western Europe ended 15 th century Serfdom in Easter Europe ended 19 th century --serfdom had been strongest east of the Elbe River because of the profit of the vast wheat fields. Now the peasants were being thrown off the land because landlord profits were undercut by American wheat.
Prnjavor, Bosnia
Chinese breakup of Manchu Dynasty (Ch ing)
Excluding Asians Chinese Exclusion Act 1882: prohibited Chinese laborers from entering the country if they did not already have family here Gentlemen s Agreement 1907: compromise with Japan to end segregation of Japanese students in San Francisco s schools in exchange for Japan to stop issuing passports to laborers.
President McKinley assassinated by the son of Polish immigrants Catholic, but many thought he was Jewish.
U.S. Limits Immigration 1918-1921: Red scare aggravates fear & anti-immigrant reaction. 1921-1924: Quota Law Limits immigrants to 2% of their national group in 1890, thus against south & east Europeans No Asians or Africans. No limit on Americans. Border Patrol created; Mexican border becomes a tangible reality, though still permeable.
Mexican immigrants 1900-1910: 49,000 immigrants enter, 50% are Mexicans. 1920s: 500,000 Mexicans emigrated Seen as temporary, not staying 1930s Depression: more people leave US than come, Mexicans subject to repatriation. 1940s WWII: Bracero program to encourage Mexicans 1950s: Operation Wetback to discourage
Post WWII History of Immigration Early 1950s Puerto Ricans come as citizens 1959: Cuban Revolution 1965 Immigration Act: ends national quotas. Western Hemisphere and Eastern hemisphere quotas (Cubans get majority of Western visas). 1982 Supreme Court rules children must be educated, regardless of immigration status. 1986: makes it a crime to hire an illegal immigrant. 1990: Immigration numbers vary. Preference given to families, refugees and professionals
Categories Ceilings 2012 Admissions Relatives 680,799 Immediate Relatives of United States Citizens Unlimited 478,780 Unmarried Adult Children of United States Citizens 23,400 20,660 Spouses and Unmarried Adult Children of Residents 114,200 99,709 Married Adult Children of United States Citizens 23,400 21,752 Siblings of United States Citizens 65,000 59,898 Employment Preferences 140,000 143,998 Priority Workers 40,040 39,316 Professionally Exceptional 40,040 59,959 Skilled and Unskilled Workers and Professionals 40,040 39,229 Special Immigrants 9,940 7,866 Investors 9,940 6,628 Other 225,247 Lottery 55,000 40,320 Refugees 90,000 105,258 Asylees Unlimited 45,086 Miscellaneous 16,170 Legal Immigrants, Total 1,031,631 http://www.fairus.org/issue/annual-immigration
Rise in # of legal immigrants 1950s: 2.5 million 1960s: 3.3 million 1970s: 4.5 million 1980s: 7.3 million 1990s: 9.1 million biggest decade