Immigration in the U.S.

I. Waves of Immigration Colonial Immigration: 1600s - 1700s

“Old” Immigration: 1787-1850

“New” Immigration: 1850-1924

A. Where they came from Old Immigration

Northern and Western Europe (Ireland, Germany, Scandinavia)

New Immigration Southern and Eastern

Europe (Italy, Poland, Russia)

East Asia (China, Japan)

B. Reasons for Immigration Economic opportunity Irish: famine Germans: political

revolution

Italians: economic opportunity

Russian and Polish Jews: escape anti-Semitism, religious persecution

C. Areas of Settlement Irish: Northeastern

cities (Boston, New York)

Germans and Scandinavians: Midwest

Eastern and Southern Europeans: Eastern cities, centers of industry

Asians: West coast

D. Nativism: Belief in the superiority of one’s home country; desire to restrict immigration and the rights of immigrants

Know Nothing Party: discriminated against Catholics

“Irish need not apply”

Chinese Exclusion Act – limited Chinese immigration

Gentlemen’s Agreement – limited Japanese immigration

II. Theories of Immigration “Melting Pot” Theory – people from

various cultures formed a unique American culture. Individual groups aren’t easily distinguishable.

Assimilation – Immigrant cultures disappeared into an already existing American culture

Pluralism (Salad Bowl Theory) – Groups do not lose their distinctive characteristics. Each group contributes in different ways to society.