The New Immigration, 18801930

European Expansion in the Modern Age

By 1914, 250 million people of European descent lived outside the continent
Western Hemisphere Asian, Middle Eastern and African Imperial possession 1830-1930: The century of immigration

What Makes post 1880 immigration new?

Larger Volume Ethnic composition
Central, Eastern, Southern Europe Asia Immigration

Note the dramatic increase of immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe

Why did so many immigrants come to the US, 1880-1930?

Push Factors
Population pressures
Demographic Transition promotes population explosiondeclining infant mortality, delayed drop in fertility

More push factors

Commercialization of Agriculture in Europe
Population growth, Influx of US Wheat forces reorganization of tradition-bound European Agriculture

European Industrialization
Undermines rural artisans Promotes rapid urbanization in Europe

Religious Persecution
Pogroms in Russia

Pull factors attracting people to the US

Land
Homestead Act, Settlement of the Plains in 1880s

Religious and Political Freedom Openness of American Life Industrial Jobs

Deskilling process in American mfg

Immigrant motives shape mobility patterns

Temporary and circular migration
Birds of Passage 25-60% of immigrants return home
Why?
Immigration part of life course strategies

Reinforcing effect of return migration

Creates inertia propelling more immigration Example of Southern Italty Immigration changes local economy

Immigrants and American Society

Problems of Adjustment
Urban villages as means of recreating community, protecting culture Chain Migration Mutual Support Organizations sponsored by more established immigrants
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society Industrial Removal Organization (IRO) Ethnic bankingItalian-American Banks (Bank of America) Centrality of religious institution
Jewish temples, Catholic Churches

Immigration Policy
Highly selective, expressed fears of certain immigrants
1882 The Chinese Exclusion Act 1880s Alien Contract Labor Laws 1891 Ellis Island Inspection Station opens 1924 National Origins Act
Preferences for immigrants from northern & western Europe. Quotas limit all others. Virtually no legal non-European immigration Depression, War, and Restriction make the US a native-born country by 1950. Renewed immigration after 1968 immigration reforms