History revision - USA

Exam on Tuesday the 2nd of June

What are the push factors (why people wanted to leave their own country)

over-production, not many jobs, political persecution, religious massacres like the Russian Pogroms, poverty, get away from war.

What are the pull factors (what attracted people into America)

Better jobs, better land, plenty of employment opportunities, basic human rights, the land of opportunities, “land of the free”, cheap land & property, adventure, promise of the “American Dream”, plentiful land, a high demand for industrial workers.

What was the open door policy? - extra detail?

A policy that was designed to make entry into the USA as easy as possible. “Old” immigrants came to the USA from Western and Northern Europe from countries such as Britain, Ireland, and Germany in the early 19th century. Between 1870 and 1919, over 40 million “new” immigrants arrived from Southern and Eastern Europe (Italy, Poland, and Russia)

What was the “Melting Pot”

The USA welcomed immigrants to “blend” together into a new American identity.

How much Immigrants arrived at Ellis Island around this period?

More than 70% of immigrants arrived at Ellis Island near New York. During busy periods, as many as 5,000 people a day were processed.

Who were the WASPs?

White Anglo-Saxon Protestants

What was the WASPs attitude?

Established Americans, often White Anglo-Saxon Protestants (WASPs), began to resent “new” immigrants who were often poor, illiterate, and from different religious backgrounds (Roman Catholic, Jews)