Ellis Island and Federal Immigration Regulation

The late 19th and early 20th centuries marked a significant period in U.S. immigration history. Key developments included:

1. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which banned Chinese laborers from entering America.
2. The establishment of Ellis Island as a federal immigration station in 1890.

Highlight: Over 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island between 1882 and 1954, undergoing medical and legal inspections.

This era saw a shift in Einwanderer USA Herkunftsländer, with more immigrants arriving from Southern and Eastern Europe. Factors driving this wave of immigration included:

• Rapid industrialization and urbanization in the U.S.
• War, drought, famine, and religious persecution in Europe

Example: Over 2 million Jews fleeing religious persecution entered the United States during this period.

The outbreak of World War I led to a decline in immigration. Subsequently, the Immigration Act of 1924 introduced a quota system, restricting entry to 2 percent of the total number of people of each nationality in America as of the 1890 national census.

Definition: Quota system - a method of regulating immigration by setting limits on the number of immigrants from specific countries or regions.

Push & Pull Factors in Immigration

Understanding the forces that drive immigration is crucial to comprehending the Immigration USA Geschichte. These forces are often categorized as "push" and "pull" factors:

Push Factors: These are conditions that force people to leave their homes, often due to distress or hardship. Examples include:

• Unemployment
• Insecurity (terrorism, violence, high crime levels)
• Political instability
• Drought and famine
• Poor medical care

Definition: Push factors are negative circumstances in the country of origin that motivate people to emigrate.

Pull Factors: These are the positive aspects that attract people to move to a certain area. Examples include:

• Better job opportunities
• Religious freedom
• Political freedom
• Fertile land
• Environmental safety (areas free from natural disasters)

Definition: Pull factors are positive attributes of a destination country that attract immigrants.

The Statue of Liberty stands as a powerful symbol of America's historical openness to immigrants. Its famous inscription reads:

Quote: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

This iconic statue has long represented the USA as a welcoming and caring country for immigrants seeking a better life.

Colonial and 19th Century Immigration to the USA

The early history of immigration USA began in the colonial era, with European settlers arriving in search of religious freedom and economic opportunities. A tragic aspect of this period was the forced immigration of enslaved people from West Africa.

Highlight: Between the 17th and 19th centuries, an estimated 650,000 Africans were forcibly brought to America as slaves.

The mid-18th century saw a major wave of immigration, primarily from Northern and Western Europe. This period of Einwanderung in die USA seit 1820 included:

• 4.5 million Irish immigrants fleeing famine
• 25,000 Chinese migrants drawn by the California Gold Rush

Example: The Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s led to a massive exodus, with millions of Irish immigrating to the United States.

Anti-immigrant sentiment grew during this time, as newcomers faced discrimination and were often viewed as competition for jobs. This xenophobia, particularly directed at Catholic immigrants, foreshadowed future challenges in American immigration policy.

Vocabulary: Xenophobia - fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers.