US Immigration

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 3

Immigration in America

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. 

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

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. 

Why did people emigrate to America?

1. For religious purposes
2. To get more space/get away from crowded cities
3. For economic purposes
4. To meet relatives already there

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: 

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. 

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.

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

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. 

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.

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. 

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:

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. 

The notes I took during the video:

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. 

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.

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 

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. 

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'

What are some problems facing American immigrants today?

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. 

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