Migration and Immigration in the Early 20th Century Portfolio Directions
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.
In the early 20th century, immigration had a significant impact on both immigrants and other Americans around the year 1900. As approximately 15 million immigrants arrived in America during this time, they faced numerous challenges upon arrival. Immigrants coming through Ellis Island, the busiest entry point in the country, had to navigate the immigration process and adjust to their new lives in America. Many immigrants found themselves in overcrowded cities with poor living and working conditions, struggling to find jobs and housing.
Despite the hardships they faced, immigrants held onto hopes and dreams for a better future in America. They imagined opportunities for a better life, economic prosperity, and social advancement for themselves and their families. However, these dreams varied among different immigrant groups, depending on their backgrounds and experiences. Immigrants had to take steps to acclimate to life in America, such as learning the language, adapting to American customs, and finding ways to support themselves and their families.
Immigrants also experienced discrimination and prejudice from some Americans who opposed immigration. Anti-immigration groups formed, calling for restrictions or bans on immigration, leading to a wave of anti-immigrant sentiments. These groups believed that immigrants were taking jobs away from American citizens, driving down wages, and contributing to social problems in America. Despite these challenges, immigrants found support from schools and other institutions that helped them adjust to their new lives in America.
Overall, immigration in the early 20th century had a complex impact on immigrants and other Americans. While immigrants faced numerous challenges and discrimination, they also held onto hopes and dreams for a better future in America. Anti-immigrant sentiments among some Americans led to calls for restrictions on immigration, highlighting the tensions and controversies surrounding immigration during this time period. The experiences of immigrants and the reactions of Americans opposed to immigration shaped the social, economic, and cultural landscape of America around the year 1900.