How did immigration affect immigrants and other Americans around the year 1900?
You have learned about the challenges faced by immigrants to America around 1900. According to the Library of Congress, approximately 15 million immigrants, mostly from eastern and southern European countries, arrived in America during the late 1800s and early 1900s. By 1910, up to 75 percent of New Yorkers were immigrants or first-generation Americans. They came for different reasons, but new immigrants all needed jobs and housing. City services in New York and other cities across the nation were overwhelmed, and living and working conditions were often extremely poor. Nevertheless, there were schools and other types of institutions that helped immigrants adjust to their new lives in America.
Still, the increase in immigration during this time sparked a wave of anti-immigration feelings, and different types of groups formed to call for limiting or stopping immigration.
Description
For this portfolio project, you will conduct research and examine documents that show the thoughts of both immigrants and people who opposed immigration. You will use the research and primary documents to write an essay in which you answer the question: How did immigration affect immigrants and other Americans around the year 1900?
Your final product will describe the feelings of immigrants in America and people who opposed immigration in America. Your essay should incorporate information from the primary source documents as well as information you researched.
Your portfolio assignment has 3 steps:
1. Research information.
2. Analyze your research.
3. Write your essay.
Step 1
Conduct the following research to complete your assignment:
After it opened in 1892, the immigration station at Ellis Island, in New York Harbor, was the busiest entry point in the country for immigrants. Millions of immigrants, including many from southern and eastern Europe, first set foot on American soil on this island. To begin learning about the immigrant experience around 1900, find out what immigrants found when they arrived at Ellis Island. Further your investigation by finding out what immigrants did once they were processed through the immigration station at Ellis Island and settled into American life.
Think about these topics regarding the immigrant experience of this time.
Research Source of Information
challenges of immigration
future hopes and dreams of immigrants
acclimating to life in America
discrimination of immigrants
acceptance of immigrants
Modification
Alternatively, conduct a safe search on the Internet or at your local library for information about Ellis Island and immigration in the late 1800s to early 1900s.
In addition, six primary documents should be used for this portfolio assignment. Perspectives from both immigrants and Americans opposed to immigration are represented in the primary documents. Analyze these documents for a firsthand perspective of immigration in America.
When analyzing the primary sources, think about the following questions:
1. What factual information is conveyed in this source?
2. What opinions are related in this source?
3. What is implied or conveyed unintentionally in the source?
2. What is surprising or interesting about the source?
3. How might others at the time have reacted to this source?
4. How does this source compare to the other primary sources?
5. How does this source compare to the other research you conducted?
Keeping these questions and answers in mind as you conduct your research will help you when you write your essay.
Step 2
Before you write your essay, reflect on the information you learned while researching immigration in the early 20th century. Note your thoughts to the following questions:
1. What challenges did immigrants face upon arrival in America?
2. What you think these immigrants imagined for their future?
3. What dreams did they hold? Were the dreams the same for each group?
4. What steps do you think these immigrants would need to take in order to adjust to life in America?
5. How would immigrants learn to live in a nation with a culture different from their own?
Step 3
Now it’s time to consider all of the evidence and viewpoints and draw your own conclusions. Use your research and analysis of the primary documents to write an essay on the following topic:
How did immigration affect immigrants and other Americans around the year 1900?
Before you begin writing, review the Migration and Immigration in the Early 20th Century Portfolio Rubric.
Writing your Essay
In writing your essay, make sure that you:
• Clearly state your view in a strong topic sentence.
• Use a logical organization, including an introduction and a conclusion.
• Use evidence from at least three primary source documents. Clearly identify which documents you are using.
• Use information from at least two other sources. Correctly cite your sources.
• Support your viewpoint with relevant facts.
• Use standard spelling, grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation.
• Use social studies terminology correctly.
• Read and revise your essay before submitting it to your teacher.
Grading
Your portfolio assignment will be graded on the following criteria:
1. Ideas/Purpose – Clearly state the main idea of your essay in your introduction. All supporting ideas should be relevant and support your main idea.
2. Organization – Your essay should have a clear and effective organizational structure that includes an introduction and conclusion. The ideas should be logically organized.
3. Conventions – As you write, ensure that you are using proper punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.
4. Analysis – Ensure that your analysis of the research is complete and developed enough that it can help you write your final essay.
5. Accuracy of facts – You should ensure that the things that are known to be true are represented factually. For example, immigrants on the East Coast were processed at Ellis Island.
Around the year 1900, immigration had a significant impact on both immigrants and other Americans. Immigrants faced numerous challenges upon arrival in America, including language barriers, adapting to a new culture, finding housing and employment, and often experiencing discrimination. Many immigrants came to America with hopes and dreams of a better life, seeking economic opportunities and escape from political or religious persecution in their home countries.
Immigrants had to adjust to a new way of life in America, which included learning the customs, laws, and social norms of their new country. They had to navigate through the complexities of American society and find ways to integrate themselves into their new communities. Schools and other institutions played a crucial role in helping immigrants acclimate to their new lives in America.
However, not all Americans were welcoming of the influx of immigrants around this time. Anti-immigrant sentiments were prevalent, and various groups formed to call for restrictions on immigration. Some Americans feared that immigrants would take away their jobs, lower wages, and disrupt the social fabric of American society. Discrimination against immigrants, based on their ethnicity, religion, or perceived threat to American values, was also widespread.
The conflicting perspectives on immigration around 1900 highlight the complexity of the issue and the challenges faced by both immigrants and other Americans. While immigrants sought a better life and opportunities in America, they encountered obstacles and prejudices that shaped their experiences. On the other hand, some Americans viewed immigration as a threat to their way of life and called for restrictions to protect their interests.
In conclusion, immigration around the year 1900 had a profound impact on immigrants and other Americans. Immigrants faced challenges, discrimination, and the need to adapt to a new way of life in America, while anti-immigrant sentiments led to calls for restrictions on immigration. The interplay between these different perspectives shaped the immigrant experience and the broader social dynamics of American society during this time.
You're welcome! If you have any more questions or need further assistance in the future, feel free to ask. Good luck with your assignment! :)
6. Use of Evidence – Your essay should incorporate evidence from at least three primary source documents and at least two other sources. Make sure to correctly cite these sources.
7. Integration of Sources – Make sure to effectively integrate the information from your research and primary sources into your essay to support your argument.
8. Language Use – Use social studies terminology correctly and effectively to demonstrate your understanding of the topic.
9. Revision – Make sure to read and revise your essay before submission to ensure clarity and coherence.
10. Overall Impact – Your essay should provide a comprehensive analysis of how immigration affected immigrants and other Americans around the year 1900, drawing conclusions based on the evidence presented.
By following these guidelines and conducting thorough research, analysis, and writing, you will be able to effectively answer the question of how immigration affected immigrants and other Americans around the year 1900. Good luck with your assignment!