The United States had long been the world’s chief receiving nation for immigrants and refugees. The country has had four major periods of immigration. The first wave began in what is now the United States, with the colonists of the 1600s and reached a peak just before the Revolutionary War broke out in 1775. The second major flow of immigrants started in the 1820s and lasted until a depression in the early 1870s. The greatest in pouring of people took place from the 1880s to the early 1920s. (The World Book Encyclopedia, 1998 edition, page 81, Volume 10, Letter I, First Paragraph, Immigration to the U.S.)

During my research I found that there were two types of immigrants: new and old. In notes, given by Mr. Buck, old immigrants were said to be immigrants who moved to America in mass numbers before the civil war. These “old” immigrants were mostly from Western Europe: Great B

Most immigrants settled near ports of entry, but a large number did find their way inland. Manu states did find their way inland. Many states actively sought to attract immigrants by offering jobs or land for farming. Many immigrants wanted to move to communities established by previous settlers from their homelands. The settling of immigrants in farmland was great for farmers. They were able to fire their African American workers and hire immigrants. This would bring quality work at a cheaper price. Unfortunately, inventions such as the steel bladed plow lessened the need for laborers. (History book, The Americans, chapter 15, page 447, Migration from Country to City.)

“New Immigrants” were immigrants who moved to America after the civil war. Unlike the “old”, nearly 80 % of these immigrants were from Eastern and Southern Europe. They were fleeing from Poland, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Greece, Italy, and the Ukraine. (Mr. Buck class room notes on Chapter 15) These “new” immigrants were also of Roman Catholic or Jewish faith. Between 1870 and 1920, an astounding 29 million Europeans arrived in America.

These two entrance points, Ellis Island and Angel Island, had extreme differences; not only in the people who entered, but in the way each was run. Every immigrant had to pass inspection in order to be admitted into the United States. Depending on where you landed this inspection could be horrible. On Ellis Island, 20 % were detained before being inspected, for the rest it was a simple processing of 5 or more hours. These immigrants had to pass a physical examination by a doctor. If they were found to have a serious health problem or a contagious disease, such as tuberculosis, they were promptly sent home. Those who passed the medical exam then reported to a government inspector who checked documents and questions immigrants to determine whether or not they met the legal requirements to be admitted into the United States. The requirements included: literacy test, proving they could work, and showing that they had at least $25 in their pocket. (New Immigrant Movie)

Culture shock was a huge issue for natives and immigrants. With anxiety and confusion by immersion of cultures, neither immigrants nor natives could function. Living in a culture shocked environment, immigrants couldn’t get jobs, find place to live, or even deal with the problems of everyday life. Being so, immigrants fervently sought out like communities. (History Book, New Immigrants Movie)

With the decline in labor needs, immigrants moved from the country to the city in search of an opportunity. In the city factories and mines were eager to use immigrants as normal workers and strike breakers. Employers used very stereotypical mindsets to hire their workers. It was said that: Italians were strong but lazy, Poles were honest but dull, an

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