US Immigration

Immigration in America
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Slide 1: Slide
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This lesson contains 27 slides, with interactive quizzes, text slides and 3 videos.

Items in this lesson

Immigration in America

Slide 1 - Slide

Immigrant Waves
Immigrants came to America in waves.  At the end of this lesson, you will know more about these waves and how America came to be the big Melting Pot it is today. Take notes of the information you think you should know. 

Slide 2 - Slide

What do we mean when we talk about the American Melting Pot?

Slide 3 - Open question

First wave: 1607-1776
The first immigrants settled along the East Coast. The first immigrants were: slaves, Scots-Irish, Germans, and others that were discriminated against by the English. 

Slide 4 - Slide

Why did people emigrate to America?
A
For religious purposes
B
To get more space/get away from crowded cities
C
For economic purposes
D
To meet relatives already there

Slide 5 - Quiz

First wave: Reasons
The early immigrants came for a variety of reasons:
  • Religious freedom: in this period European governments had state churches. Persecution of dissenters (vervolging andere geloven) caused refugees to flee to America. 
  •  Economic opportunity: many Europeans had little chance to better their fortunes (lot), this caused refugees to find jobs in America. Some Europeans couldn't afford the passage to America so they entered a contract to work for a master for 4-7 years. These people were called indentured servants.
  • Slavery: 

Slide 6 - Slide

First wave: Reasons continued
The early immigrants came for a variety of reasons:
  • Slavery: as indentured servants completed their contracts, Southern plantation owners replaced them with African slaves. By 1790, one in five Americans were slaves. 

Slide 7 - Slide

First wave: Acceptance?
The first immigrants were, generally, accepted for several reasons:
1.  Most of the immigrants shared a religion with the Americans. 
2. As America was a quickly expanding country, they needed labor.

Slide 8 - Slide

Fact: first Treasurer of State (Alexander Hamilton) was an immigrant

Slide 9 - Slide

Second wave: 1820-1890
The second wave of immigrants were mostly Irish, Chinese, and German. They became the first groups to experience hostility (vijandigheid) and opposition. 

During the second wave about 15.3 million immigrants arrived. 





Slide 10 - Slide

Second wave: Reasons
Immigrants had never arrived in large numbers in America. Until 1830 only 6,000 immigrants came per year. But, in 1832 there was a sudden increase to 50,000 immigrants, and in 1854 428,000 immigrants arrived. 
  • Transportation improvements: the development of ships and railroads speeded travel and lowered the cost of the passage. 
  • Europe's wellbeing: war, famine (hongersnood) and industrialization drove many Western Europeans to America.

Slide 11 - Slide

Second wave: reasons
The 'American Dream': America gained a growing reputation as a safe haven for immigrants and a land of opportunity for those willing to work hard. 

Slide 12 - Slide

Second wave: Acceptance?
The enormous wave of immigrants led to America's first organized anti-immigrant backlash. This opposition to immigrants was influenced by many differences between the existing population and the newcomers:

Slide 13 - Slide

Video
On the following  slide, you will see a video about Chinese railroad workers. Take notes on a piece of paper and make a picture or copy the notes in the slide after the video. 

Slide 14 - Slide

Slide 15 - Video

The notes I took during the video:

Slide 16 - Open question

Third wave: 1890-1921
The third wave immigrants were Italians, Poles, Hungarians, Mexican, Russians, Czechs, Greeks, Portuguese, Syrians, Japanese, and Filipinos. 
They were mostly younger, unmarried, and traveling alone.
Most of the third wave immigrants started working in factories. 

Slide 17 - Slide

Third wave: Reasons
The third wave of immigrants came because:
Push factors (drove them to leave their country)
  • Lack of jobs
  • Lack of food and farmland
  • Religious persecution (vervolging) 
Pull factors (attracted immigrants to the US)
  • Freedom of religion
  • Available land and blooming industries.

Slide 18 - Slide

Third wave: Acceptance?
As the third wave grew in numbers, there was a new backlash against immigration. The immigrants were accused of:
1. Taking jobs away from Americans
2. Being difficult to Americanize
3. Being racially inferior 

Slide 19 - Slide

Slide 20 - Video

Fourth wave: 1965-present
The current wave of immigration is the largest in American history. Most immigrants can be placed into a group:
1. Sponsored by family or employer. These immigrants receive a green card. 
2. Diversity visa: 50,000 immigrants are allotted by lottery every year. In 2017, 20 million people applied. 
3. Special groups: for example, Iraqis who worked for the US government during the war in Iraq. 

Slide 21 - Slide

Fourth wave: 1965-present
'Push factors' that drive immigrants from their countries are:
  • Rising population pressures
  • Poverty
  • Government repression (onderdrukking)
'Pull factors' are:
  • Economic opportunity
  • The 'American Dream'

Slide 22 - Slide

Slide 23 - Video

What are some problems facing American immigrants today?

Slide 24 - Open question

Current issues of immigration
Deportation: President Trump increased deportation of illegal immigrants.
Mexican border: a wall is built (not yet finished) between Mexico and the US.
Travel bans: visitors from certain countries banned from entering the US. 

Slide 25 - Slide

Slide 26 - Slide

Take a picture of the notes you took during this lesson!

Slide 27 - Open question