Immigration and Cultural Change in the US

Immigration

  • Definition: Immigration refers to the movement of people from one country to another with the intention of living there permanently.

Ethnic Group

  • Definition: An ethnic group is a community or population made up of people who share a common cultural background or descent.

Ellis Island

  • Historical Significance: Ellis Island served as an immigration station in the United States from 1892 to 1954.

  • Location: It is located in New York Harbor.

  • Role: The island acted as a gateway for millions of immigrants arriving in America, becoming a symbol of hope and opportunity for those seeking a better life.

Push Factors

  • Definition: Push factors refer to conditions that drive people away from their homeland, influencing them to emigrate.

Nativist

  • Definition: A nativist is a person who favors those born in his or her country and is opposed to immigrants.

Pull Factors

  • Definition: Pull factors are attributes of a destination that attract immigrants. These include opportunities such as jobs, freedom, and quality of life.

Angel Island

  • Historical Significance: Angel Island is an island in San Francisco Bay that served as an entry point for many Asian immigrants to the United States beginning in 1910.

Chinese Exclusion Act

  • Legislative Background: The Chinese Exclusion Act was enacted in 1882.

  • Significance: This law barred Chinese people from entering the United States, reflecting the nativist sentiments of the time.

New Immigrants

  • Definition: New immigrants are those who arrived in America during the Gilded Age.

  • Origins: They mostly came from Southern or Eastern Europe, including countries such as Italy, Poland, Russia, and the Balkans.

Old Immigrants

  • Definition: Old immigrants are those who came to America before the Civil War.

  • Origins: They primarily arrived from Northern and Western European countries, including England, Germany, and Ireland.

Quota System

  • Definition: A quota system refers to a limited or fixed number or amount of people or things, particularly regarding immigration.

  • Statistical Example: The quota system regulated immigration from Europe with a cap of 3% based on previous census figures.

Gentleman's Agreement

  • Definition: The Gentleman's Agreement was an informal agreement between the United States and Japan established in 1907.

  • Terms: Under this agreement, Japan agreed not to issue passports to working-class emigrants to the United States; in return, the US allowed Japanese professionals and businessmen to enter the country.

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

  • Event Overview: The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire was a tragic factory fire that occurred in New York City, resulting in the death of 145 workers.

  • Impact: This disaster brought widespread attention to the dangerous conditions prevalent in sweatshops and led to a series of laws and regulations aimed at improving worker safety.

Melting Pot

  • Definition: The melting pot is a metaphorical concept describing a place where a variety of people, cultures, or individuals assimilate into a cohesive whole.

US Census

  • Definition: The US Census is an official count of every resident in the United States, conducted every 10 years.

  • Data Collected: It collects demographic data including factors such as age, sex, and race to provide a snapshot of the nation's population.

Emigrate

  • Definition: To leave one's country to settle in another; for example, many individuals emigrate from their home countries seeking better opportunities.

Assimilation

Definition: The process by which immigrants adopt the customs, values, and behaviors of a new country, often leading to a blending of cultures. 

Sweatshop

Definition: A factory or workshop, especially in the garment industry, where employees work long hours under poor conditions for low wages, often associated with the exploitation of immigrant labor.

Child Labor

  • Definition: The practice of employing young children in various forms of work, often in hazardous environments, depriving them of their childhood and education, frequently seen in industries that exploit cheap labor.

Migration

  • Definition: The movement of people from one place to another, often driven by the pursuit of better opportunities or conditions, which can lead to significant cultural and economic changes in both the origin and destination locations.

Klu Klux Klan

  • Definition: A white supremacist group founded in the United States during the Reconstruction era, known for using terror and violence to oppose the civil rights of African Americans and promote racist ideologies.

Naturalization

  • Definition: The legal process through which a non-citizen can acquire citizenship in a country, typically involving requirements such as residency, language proficiency, and knowledge of the nation's history and government.

Cultural Exchange

  • Definition: The process whereby individuals from different backgrounds share their cultural practices, beliefs, and traditions, fostering mutual understanding and respect.

Discrimination

  • Definition: The unfair treatment of individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, religion, or nationality, which can result in unequal opportunities and social division.

Tenement

  • Definition: A type of apartment building that was common in urban areas during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often characterized by overcrowded conditions and inadequate living standards for immigrant families. 

Prejudice

  • Definition: Prejudice: A preconceived opinion or judgment about an individual or group, often leading to discrimination and social inequality.