American Immigrants

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Motivations

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Immigrant groups had many motivations to venture to America. In

Europe, they had no say in government affairs, because elites and noblemen ran European governments.

In addition to political freedom, immigrants also sought religious

freedom because some churches in Europe refused to tolerate different faiths. Immigrants also desired to acquire as much land as possible, because the ruling class controlled much of the land in Europe. Many

people seeking new opportunities in America were optimistic that they could control their own property.

The Irish

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Irish immigrants came to America to escape the Great Famine that plagued Ireland and resulted in death and sickness. Many Irish

Catholics settled in coastal areas on America’s East Coast. Most

immigrants had little money and minimal skills to aid them in

procuring jobs. Even though they were unskilled, they found jobs to start their new lives in the United States. Irish immigrants had great

pride in their heritage and continued to embrace their

heritage in the United States.

The Italians

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Italian immigrants came to America after years of political unrest in un-unified Italy. In addition, southern

Italy was a region of grinding poverty. This was the area in which

most Italian immigrants to the United States had lived. Many of

those who came to the United States were artisans who wished to ply

their trade in America. They introduced new crafts and artwork to

the United States. Many of these immigrants only stayed in the

United States for a short time before earning enough money to help their

families and to return to Italy. Italians were known as hard

workers. They worked long hours at their jobs to aid their families in

America and abroad.

Italian immigrants arrive in New York.

The Germans

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German immigration to America was immense between 1840 and 1880.

Germany experienced much political and social turmoil, as did many other countries in Europe at this time. The

German Revolution had supporters that traveled (known as the “Forty-Eighters

because they arrived in America in 1848) to America with various political

beliefs. German immigrants brought their cultural backgrounds with them and conversed in their native German language. Many German immigrants found jobs working as carpenters, as

well as toiling in factories that promoted growth in the lumber and oil

industries.

A German family arrives in America.

The Chinese

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Chinese people chose to leave China because of wars and rebellions, as

well as disease. Because of their low incomes, many Chinese immigrants

had to work for years to pay their debt for the passage to the United States. Immigrants from China primarily

made the West Coast of the United States, particularly California, their home. They embraced the American culture, participating with Americans in celebrations such as California’s

admittance into the Union. They maintained their native culture in the

United States, founding the Kong Chow Association to support their

heritage.

Most of the Chinese who arrived were men looking to strike it rich during the

California Gold Rush.

Jewish Immigrants

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Jewish immigration occurred during two separate periods in the nineteenth century. Those of Jewish descent were unable to acquire their own land in

Europe, and many European governments restricted their freedom. Another set of

immigrants came after the German Revolution of 1848. Jewish people focused on earning money

for their families through jobs as merchants, artisans, and shopkeepers. They were known for

starting their own businesses and became increasingly successful as time passed. In

addition, they maintained their Yiddish culture and introduced Yiddish literature to the United

States.

Most Jews who arrived in America during the late nineteenth century came

from eastern Europe.

Political Machines

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Political machines evolved in the late nineteenth century. They were a

fixture in American cities such as Chicago and New York. They were usually headed by a “boss” whom business owners, politicians, and

immigrants supported. Earning the boss’ support was a rite of passage in the United States for immigrants. The boss would help them if they

voted to keep his political machine in power. In some instances bosses

used nefarious tactics such as loaning money to immigrants as a bribe to ensure immigrants would vote for the political machine’s

candidates.

The Irish successfully used the patronage system to gain power and

influence in the United States.

Congregating in Cities

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When immigrants came to America, they often lived alongside people of their own nationality. Eventually, these large groups of immigrants

formed neighborhoods. Each ethnicity had its own part of town, especially in New York City. For example, immigrants of Italian

descent primarily could be found in Little Italy; and Chinese immigrants lived in Chinatown. Conditions in ethnic neighborhoods in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century were often horrendous.

Many families were cramped into tight living conditions without

sewage systems, which led to the rampant spread of disease.

Today, nearly every major city in the United States has a Chinatown. Newly arrived Chinese immigrants still settle in these areas as they adjust to life in

America.

Discrimination

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Some native-born Americans objected to immigration in the late nineteenth century.

Catholics were targeted as “Nativists” desecrated and ruined Catholic churches

and places of worship. German immigrants were disliked because they retained their German language. The

Nativists believed all immigrants should learn to speak English. Immigrants

sometimes discriminated among themselves. For example, the Irish

attacked the Chinese during the construction of railroads in the American West. Chinese immigration was restricted

through the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

Returning Home

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Many immigrants came to America with purposes besides settling and forming a new life. They came to

America to make enough money to return home and enjoy a better life

with their families. Immigrants who came from overseas were often men,

who left their families behind for more plentiful jobs in the United

States. Immigrants would be gone for one to two years before returning to their homelands to start over. There were cases where opportunities were

so vast in America that the men would pay for the passage for their

entire family to venture to the United States.