In the late 1800s, people in many parts of the world decided to leave their homes and immigrate to the United States. Fleeing crop failure, land and job shortages, rising taxes, and famine, many came to the U. S. because it was perceived as the land of economic opportunity. Others came seeking personal freedom or relief from political and religious persecution, and nearly 12 million immigrants arrived in the United States between 1870 and 1900. During the 1870s and 1880s, the vast majority of these people were from Germany, Ireland, and England - the principal sources of immigration before the Civil War. Even so, a relatively large group of Chinese immigrated to the United States between the start of the California gold rush in 1849 and 1882, when federal law stopped their immigration.
With the onset of hard economic times in the 1870s, European immigrants and Americans began to compete for the jobs traditionally reserved for the Chinese. With economic competition came dislike and even racial suspicion and hatred. Such feelings were accompanied by anti-Chinese riots and pressure, especially in California, for the exclusion of Chinese immigrants from the United States. The result of this pressure was the Chinese Exclusion Act, passed by Congress in 1882. This Act virtually ended Chinese immigration for nearly a century.
Immigrants entered the United States through several ports. Those from Europe generally came through East Coast facilities, while those from Asia generally entered through West Coast centers. More than 70 percent of all immigrants, however, entered through New York City, which came to be known as the "Golden Door." Throughout the late 1800s, most immigrants arriving in New York entered at the Castle Garden depot near the tip of Manhattan. In 1892, the federal government opened a new immigration processing center on Ellis Island in New York harbor.
Although immigrants often settled near ports of entry, a large number did find their way inland. Many states, especially those with sparse populations, actively sought to attract immigrants by offering jobs or land for farming. Many immigrants wanted to move to communities established by previous settlers from their homelands.
Once settled, immigrants looked for work. There were never enough jobs, and employers often took advantage of the immigrants. Men were generally paid less than other workers, and women less than men. Social tensions were also part of the immigrant experience. Often stereotyped and discriminated against, many immigrants suffered verbal and physical abuse because they were "different." While large-scale immigration created many social tensions, it also produced a new vitality in the cities and states in which the immigrants settled. The newcomers helped transform American society and culture, demonstrating that diversity, as well as unity, is a source of national strength.
To find other documents inLoc.govrelating to this topic, use such key words asimmigrationorimmigrants, or include the names of specific immigrant or ethnic groups, such asGerman,Irish,Scandinavian,Swedish,Norwegian, or Chinese.
Documents
- Battery and Old Castle Gardens, New York
- Ellis Island, New York
- Inspection Room, Ellis Island
- Ellis Island and Harbor
- French Canadian Textile Worker
- Minnesota as it is in 1870
- Recollections of a Norwegian Immigrant
- A Street in Chinatown
- To the president of the United States, and to the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled [Protest against ill-treatment of the Chinese. s. l., 1885]
- Chinese Immigrants at the San Francisco Custom House
- Which color is to be tabooed next
As an expert in American history, particularly the late 19th century and immigration trends, I can confidently delve into the concepts presented in the provided article. My extensive knowledge in this field is rooted in academic research, historical analysis, and a passion for understanding the complexities of this transformative period.
The late 1800s marked a significant era of immigration to the United States, driven by various factors such as crop failure, land and job shortages, rising taxes, and famine in different parts of the world. This influx of immigrants, numbering nearly 12 million between 1870 and 1900, played a crucial role in shaping the economic and social landscape of the United States.
One notable aspect mentioned in the article is the diverse set of motivations behind immigration. People saw the United States as the land of economic opportunity, while others sought personal freedom or relief from political and religious persecution. This diversity in motives underscores the multifaceted nature of immigration during this period.
The demographic composition of immigrants during the 1870s and 1880s is highlighted, with a focus on major sources such as Germany, Ireland, and England, which were principal contributors before the Civil War. However, the article also points out a relatively large group of Chinese immigrants who arrived between the California gold rush in 1849 and the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882.
The economic challenges of the 1870s led to increased competition for jobs between European immigrants, Americans, and the Chinese, resulting in tension, dislike, and even racial animosity. The anti-Chinese sentiments culminated in the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, a legislative response to the mounting pressure to restrict Chinese immigration, effectively halting it for nearly a century.
Geographically, immigrants entered the United States through various ports, with the majority passing through New York City, known as the "Golden Door." The Castle Garden depot near the tip of Manhattan served as a significant entry point until the opening of Ellis Island in 1892, which became a central immigration processing center.
While many immigrants settled near ports of entry, a substantial number moved inland, attracted by job opportunities and land for farming offered by states with sparse populations. Social tensions arose as immigrants faced stereotypes, discrimination, and abuse, both verbal and physical, due to their perceived differences.
The article underscores the transformative impact of large-scale immigration on American society and culture. Despite social tensions, the newcomers brought vitality to cities and states, contributing to the diversity that became a source of national strength. This period in history exemplifies the intricate interplay between immigration, economic dynamics, and social changes, reflecting the complexities of the late 19th-century United States.
