Who and Why They Left
Immigration that occurred in the early 1800s. Primarily from Northern and Western Europe from countries such as Ireland, Germany, and Britain.
Old Immigrants
Immigration center in New York harbor that processed most immigrants coming to the United States from Europe after 1892.
Ellis Island
Houses and buildings for the poorest of immigrants. Usually located in slums. Were usually over-crowded with many families and individuals sharing one toilet or outhouse and one faucet. Sometimes many families would live in single apartments.
Tenements
A term often used to characterize the United States, with its history of immigration and mixing of cultures, ideas, and peoples.
Melting Pot
A citizen of a country who is anti-immigration toward others.
Nativist
Immigration that occurred in the late 1800s. Primarily came from Southern and Eastern Europe from such countries as Greece, Russia, Hungary, Italy, Turkey, and Poland. Others came from parts of Asia such as Japan, China and the Philippines.
New Immigrants
West coast immigration center into the United States. Processed hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Asia coming in through San Francisco from 1910-1940.
Angel Island
Area that is densely population. A city.
Urban
Shows that featured dancing, singling, comedy and magic acts. Very popular in urban areas at the turn of the century.
Vaudeville
Law passed by the U.S. Congress that restricted and/or prohibited Chinese workers from entering the United States for 10 years. Was extended in 1892 and again in 1902.
Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)
The conditions that pushed people from their homelands and move someplace else. These conditions could be poverty, famine, politics, lack of land, lack of certain freedoms, etc.
Push Factors
Moving into a new country for the purpose of staying there and becoming a citizen of that country.
Immigration
Residential Areas that sprang up outside of the urban areas.
Suburbs
Made up of people who enjoyed a comfortable life due to an increase in "management" type jobs, but did not enjoy great wealth.
Middle Class
To become part of a singular American Culture.
Assimilate
The conditions in the United States that encouraged people to immigrate to the United States. These conditions might include: jobs, religious freedom, hope, established family, free or cheap land.
Pull Factors
The inexpensive travel quarters for passengers on a ship. It would usually be in the depth of the ship near storage rooms and engine compartments.
Steerage
Places that offered many types of services and assistance to the urban poor and immigrants. Most famous was "Hull House" in Chicago, founded by Jane Addams in 1889.
Settlement Houses
Generally thought of as a building with 10 or more stories. First one appeared in Chicago in 1884. By 1913, NYC had built the Woolworth Building that was 55 stories high. Tallest skyscraper as of 2025 is in Dubai and stands at 163 stories and 2717 feet. One World Trade Center (Liberty Tower) in NYC stands at 94 stories and 1776 feet and is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
Skyscraper
A factory defined by its poor working conditions and low wages.
Sweatshop
People who share similar culture or heritage.
Ethnic Groups
Leaving ones homeland for the purpose of living someplace else
Emigration
Poor, run-down urban neighborhoods. Often consisting of poor, immigrant ethnic groups.
Slums
Combined elements of work songs, gospel music, spirituals, African Rhythms and southern country music into an exciting new style of music.
Jazz
A type of journalism that is based on sensationalized stories and eye-catching headlines.
Yellow Journalism