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Immigration
US History
Definition
 Immigrant:
A person who
comes to another
country for the
purpose of living
there.
Old Immigration
 1830’s-1880’s
 Most came from
North and
Western Europe
1840-1850
 Large Irish population
came to the US
because of a potato
famine in Ireland
 They would settle in
US ports and cities
like New York and
Boston
1840’s
 A large number of
Germans came to the
US because of crop
failures
 Others left for
religious or political
freedom
 They would settle in
Midwest farms and
cities (Cincinnati,
Milwaukee, and St.
Louis)
1850’s
 Chinese immigrants
settle in the West
because of the
Gold Rush
How were immigrants treated?
 In some areas
immigrants were
welcomed because
workers were needed
badly.
 In other areas,
immigrants were
resented because
they dressed and
sounded different, as
well as practiced
different religions.
New Immigration
 1885-1910
 Most immigrants
were from central,
southern, and
eastern Europe.
Italians and Sicilians
 Italians and
Sicilians came in
large numbers
because they
needed to leave a
poor economy and
overpopulation.
Eastern Europeans
 Eastern European
Jews were fleeing
because of
discrimination and
poverty.
 In many European
areas, Jews were not
allowed to own land,
move, or work.
Slavs
 Slavs are people from
Eastern Europe that
have a similar
language and customs.
 They came to the US
for political freedom
and a better economy.
Common Characteristics of Immigration
 New immigrants
typically flock to
cities because of
more jobs, housing,
and services.
 They formed ethnic
neighborhoods where
they often live
together in areas
(Little Italy,
Chinatown, etc.)
More common characteristics
 Often immigrants
would face public
resentment
 Many worried that
immigrants would
never assimilate
(adapt to the culture
one lives in)
 Many blamed
immigrants for low
wages and loss of jobs