Immigration Compare and Contrast

Essential Question

Asian Immigration

European Immigration

Experience Upon Arrival

Experience Upon Arrival

Contributions to American Society

Contributions to American Society

Push/Pull Factors

Push/Pull Factors

Compare and Contrast

Immigration

Experiences

Timeline of Chinese Immigration and Exclusion

Experience upon Arrival

Chinese immigrants faced racial discrimination upon arrival and were segregated into ethnic enclaves like Chinatown in San Francisco. Many were forced into labor-intensive jobs, especially on the railroads, and later in agriculture. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 severely limited their ability to immigrate and integrate into American society.

• Faced racial discrimination and segregation into Chinatowns.
• Worked low-wage jobs in railroads, agriculture, and small businesses.
• Restricted by laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.
• Endured strict inspections and detentions at Angel Island, often facing longer and harsher processing than European immigrants.

The Transcontinental Railroad’s Dark Costs: Exploited Labor, Stolen Lands

Contributions

• Played a key role in building the Transcontinental Railroad.
• Developed agriculture, especially in California, introducing new crops and techniques.
• Opened small businesses, such as laundries and restaurants.
• Contributed to the economic development of Western states through labor and entrepreneurship.

Contributions to American Society

Chinese immigrants played a crucial role in the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, as well as in agriculture, mining, and small business development. Despite exclusionary laws, Chinese immigrants were instrumental in shaping the economic landscape of the American West and contributed to the cultural diversity of cities like San Francisco.

Reasons for Leaving China

Push/Pull Factors

Many Chinese immigrants were pushed out by poverty, political instability, and natural disasters in China. They were drawn to the U.S. by the Gold Rush and the prospect of working on the Transcontinental Railroad, which promised higher wages than they could earn in China.

• Push: Poverty, political instability, and natural disasters in China.
• Push: Limited economic opportunities in China, especially for rural workers.
• Pull: The Gold Rush in California, offering prospects of wealth.
• Pull: Job opportunities in railroad construction and agriculture in the U.S.

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Famine

Blight

Letters from America

The Potato Blight, 1847, as depicted in a painting by artist Daniel MacDonald. Credit: Fine Art Images/Heritage Images via Getty Images

Push Factors:

• The Great Potato Famine (hunger/starvation)
• Religious persecution (Catholic discrimination)
• Land shortages and poverty

• Job opportunities in urban areas (factories, construction)
• Availability of land in the U.S.
• Letters from family and friends already in America

Irish Potato Famine Images

Push/Pull Factors

The Irish faced major push factors like the Great Potato Famine in the 1840s, which caused widespread starvation and poverty. Religious persecution and land shortages were also significant. Pull factors included the promise of jobs, land, and the chance to escape oppressive conditions in Ireland.

The Transcontinental Railroad

A photo of a group of laborers at work on a line change project in Utah. Courtesy of the University of Utah J. Willard Marriott Library via Mountain West Digital Library.

Contributions

• Built critical infrastructure like railroads and canals.
• Fought in the Civil War, particularly for the Union.
• Helped shape urban political systems, gaining influence in cities.
• Opened small businesses and contributed to the growth of local economies.

Contributions to American Society

Irish immigrants contributed to the expansion of cities, particularly in labor roles such as construction, laying railroad tracks, and working in factories. Over time, they gained political power in cities like Boston and New York and played a key role in the development of the Catholic Church in America.

Key Points

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Experiences

• Faced discrimination with "No Irish Need Apply" signs.
• Lived in overcrowded, unsanitary tenements.
• Took low-paying jobs in factories or construction.
• Faced hostility due to their Catholic faith but gradually integrated.

Experiences Upon Arrival

Irish immigrants often faced intense discrimination in the U.S., being considered "less than" by many Americans. They typically settled in urban areas like New York and Boston, where they took on low-wage jobs, often in factories or construction. Their Catholic faith was a point of contention, leading to nativist movements against them.