Unit 3: Immigrants and Urbanization

These flashcards cover critical vocabulary terms related to the study of immigration and urbanization in the U.S. They depict push and pull factors, immigration experiences, and relevant concepts like citizenship, nativism, and social policies.

Push Factor

Condition that drives people away from their homeland.

Pull Factor

Condition that attracts people to a new area.

Fleeing Persecution

A push factor where individuals escape from oppression, particularly in their country of origin.

Russian Jews

A group of immigrants who came to America escaping persecution.

Famine

A severe shortage of food that drives individuals to migrate, specifically noted for Irish and Chinese immigrants.

Political Turmoil

A push factor characterized by instability in a country that leads individuals to leave, such as Mexicans during certain historical periods.

Lack of Farmland

A push factor for Irish and Italians, driving them to seek better opportunities elsewhere.

Promise of Freedom

A pull factor that entices immigrants seeking a better life.

Join Family and Friends

A pull factor where immigrants are drawn to areas where they have relatives or acquaintances.

Available Jobs

A significant pull factor, particularly in factories and mines, that attracts immigrants.

Cheap Land and Passage

An appealing pull factor for immigrants coming to America.

Ellis Island

Site in New York where approximately 22 million immigrants entered the US from 1892 to 1924.

Angel Island

West Coast immigrant processing station in San Francisco, CA, known for its strict regulations.

Old Immigrants

Immigrants arriving in America from Northern and Western Europe between 1840-1860.

New Immigrants

Immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe who arrived in America between 1870-1920.

Tenement

Cramped apartment buildings where many poor immigrants lived, lacking basic amenities.

Melting Pot Theory

The idea that immigrants from diverse backgrounds blend to create a unified American culture.

Assimilation

The process of adapting to and blending into a new culture.

Salad Bowl Theory

Concept where immigrants retain their unique cultural traits while coexisting in a new society.

Acculturation

The process of adopting the American culture while maintaining original customs.

Immigrant

A person who moves from their homeland to another country.

Migrant

A person who frequently moves from one place to another for work or better living conditions.

The New Colossus

A poem by Emma Lazarus welcoming immigrants, famously inscribed on the Statue of Liberty.

Potato Famine

A disaster in Ireland (1845-1849) causing mass immigration to the U.S. due to starvation.

Pogrom

An organized massacre of a particular ethnic group, particularly of Jews in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Refugee

A person forced to leave their country to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.

Citizen

A legally recognized member of a country.

Naturalized Citizen

Someone who becomes a citizen through legal processes rather than by birth.

Law of Soil

Principle determining citizenship based on birth location.

Restrictive Immigration Policy

Government policies that limit the number of immigrants allowed to enter a country.

Nativism

A policy favoring the interests of native-born inhabitants over those of immigrants.

Chinese Exclusion Act

An 1882 law prohibiting all Chinese immigrants due to anti-immigrant sentiment.

Yellow Journalism

Sensationalized news reporting that prioritizes headlines over factual reporting.

Settlement Houses

Community centers that provide assistance to immigrants in areas like welfare and education.

Skyscraper

A tall building with multiple stories, typically found in urban areas.

Green Card

A permit allowing a foreign national to reside and work permanently in the U.S.

Suburb

A residential area located outside a city.

Urban

Area characterized by high population density and significant infrastructure.

Rural

Countryside areas with lower population density, often used for agriculture.

Census

An official count or survey of a population.

Quota

A fixed share or limit of something that individuals or groups are entitled to.

Steerage

The section of a ship where the poorest passengers stay, often very crowded.