Immigration Explosion During the Progressive Era

Looking Critically at Data

Reading Graphs and Images:

Images and graphs from respectable websites and documents may provide information to help us understand history and draw conclusions. Draw a smiley face on the board with your initials next to it. Graphs help us create a context for history and give us a different perspective on data and information. Use the following graphs and images to better understand immigration, Ellis Island, the “melting pot” phenomenon, and immigration restrictions.

1. When was the biggest “spike” in immigration admitted to the U.S.?

2. What was the reason for this spike? (Use the entire image to find the answer.)

3. Why do you believe there was a spike in 1910?

4. Why do you think immigration has been steadily climbing since 1950?

Use this image for the upcoming questions.

1. What role do you believe this advertisement in a magazine played in immigration?

2. Why do you think it was beneficial to live close to a railroad?

3. How much was the land per acre?

4. Would you have been willing to move west if you would have seen this offer? Defend your answer.

Use the graph to the right to answer the following questions.

1. How many million people lived in cities in 1870?

2. How many million people lived in cities in 1920?

3. What caused this jump in urban population?

4. Why do you think there are so many people living in cities today?

Examine the anti-immigration cartoons to answer the following questions.

A. Why did so many Americans not want immigrants to enter the country? Use the images to find at least three reasons.

a.

b.

c.

B. What role do you believe political cartoons play in American society? Write at least two sentences to defend your answer.