Meghan Barry Bridget Stanford. The Great Transatlantic Migration The Transatlantic Migration was an...
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Meghan Barry Bridget Stanford. The Great Transatlantic Migration The Transatlantic Migration was an anomaly in history that took place from1870 to 1914
The Great Transatlantic Migration The Transatlantic Migration
was an anomaly in history that took place from1870 to 1914. During
this time there was an extreme spike in immigration where over 23
million migrants arrived after taking the boat trip across the
Atlantic Ocean. These migrants came to the New World, for the most
part, to improve their economic status; they came to countries that
could supply them with the opportunity and resources to do so.
Migrants sometimes came permanently with their families or by
themselves, other times men came alone to earn money only to return
to their native country; whether finding permanent residency or
flying through the immigrants made an impact on history. North
America and South American saw increased migrants due advancements
in technology or something called the chain effect. This is when
people from the same families and villages would follow other
migrants to their destinations. Another reason for the high influx
was due to the improved transportation methods which made traveling
more comfortable and reliable for the common traveler. The
dangerous sail boats were replaced with powerful steamships that
more efficient, safe, and could hold more people. Now the trip took
almost half the time, and more passengers could squeeze onto the
ships deck. Also, during this time period health regulations were
being enforced; it less likely for contagious disease to occur on
the ship, which would kill many immigrants. Now that the journey
was safer, more immigrants could finally set foot on new soil.
Slide 3
Due to the growing population of immigrants, port cities and
receiving countries had to adapt to the incoming numbers. They
enforced new sanitary regulations, ports added quarantine and
reception centers to their facilities. The immigrants passed
through receiving areas like Ellis Island, where they were
processed and checked. From the vast amount of incoming people
there was a need for jobs, things like innkeepers, porters, ticket
agents, and more. The migration was now supporting the growing
economy, by providing more job opportunities. The great migration
made increased the labor force and helped the boost various
economies. The migrants were mostly Europeans (Poles, Irish,
English, etc.) settling across the Atlantic in places like the
United States, Canada, and South America. To understand
transatlantic migration, one must understand migration within
Europe. For years Europeans have migrated from country to country
to find labor and work to support themselves; they would move from
village to village, province to province, and then across national
boundaries. These migrants then came in masses, hoping to get a
piece of the American Dream. They came for various job
opportunities such as railroad work, mining, factory work, and
construction work. A few migrants came to work on skilled trades
and services. Farming opportunities were available from northern
Argentina to northwestern Canada. The railroad infrastructure was
rapidly growing at the time, this required workers, and this is
where the migrants came in. The migrants were not always looking
for permanent work; they were more looking for work that would
supply them with money before returning back to their home
country.
Slide 4
Native Americans were hostile to the idea that migrants would
return back to their home country. They thought this to be unmoral,
to gain riches from the country and return; they believed that it
showed no loyalty. The reading stated, There was tremendous
hostilitytoward temporary or return migrants. These underlying
issues provoked imperial attitudes that immigrants were lower than
the native Americans. After inflamed tensions it was decided that
once migrants arrived they were expected to stay. Due to this
discrimination and World War II the great transatlantic migration
began to slow. America had the most vocal anti-immigrant movement,
and passed some highly restrictive legislature which slowed the
flow of immigrants. Nevertheless, The Great Transatlantic Migration
changed the world, it changed cultures and the way people lived.
These migrants took the risk to seek out an improved life; they
created a new definition for what it means to be American.
Slide 5
Immigrant migration across the Atlantic, in the late 19th
century to early 20th century, was at an all time high. These
migrants came for improved economic opportunity, that the United
States and other dominant countries in the west could offer.
Slide 6
After being taken from the docks, this masses were packed into
immigration offices were they would be questioned and inspected.
After passing through station like Ellis Island, migrants could
move deeper into the country to find work.
Slide 7
From the mass amounts of migrants, port cities became
overcrowded. New York City was greatly affected as Ellis Island was
a processing center off the shore of Manhattan. After leaving their
processing station, immigrants would reside in the port cities
until job opportunities were made available. It was said that
wherever the labor was you find immigrants. The migrants would stay
in cities for industrial work or other refined jobs, while others
ventured out west to try their hand in farming.
Slide 8
Migrants came for farming opportunity, which was a more
permanent type of occupation, meaning that the farming migrants
would be more likely to stay in their new home. Farming opportunity
was prevalent through South America through southern Canada.
Slide 9
Migrants also came to work on the railroad. During the time of
The Great Transatlantic Migration, railroad companies were growing
their infrastructure and needed labor to keep their system running.
To the migrants job opportunities like being on the railroad
provided quick money to take back home to their families in their
native countries.
Slide 10
Closer to the end of the era of the boom in transatlantic
migration, women immigrants were becoming more common. In the
beginning of the migration, mostly men were coming off the ships;
leaving their wives at home expecting to go home at some
point.
Slide 11
At first, they became domestics in their new homes and then
took on more jobs. This push for women in the workplace helped to
begin movements like feminism and women's rights. Women, in the
beginning, often came over with their children to meet their
already settled husbands.
Slide 12
The United States was not the only country to be receiving
immigrants in mass; South America also received an abundance of the
migrants crossing the Atlantic. The Spanish workers went to
Argentinian construction sites, Germans to homesteads, Chinese and
Japanese migrants often went to Hawaii, Peru, and California
Slide 13
At the time the coffee plantations were lively and needed labor
to keep up with the new demand. Italian laborers went to meet the
demand of the plantations on Brazil. An immigrants hotel was built
in So Paulo to house the incoming immigrants.
Slide 14
Not Wanted Closer to the end of the era of great migration,
concerns in America grew of the masses flocking to their nation.
People were developing feelings that as native born Americans
should receive priority over the immigrants. Birds of Passage soon
came under fire, when Americans accused them of lacking loyalty to
their new home. The great era soon came to a close due to World War
I, restriction immigration policies. The movement to restrict
immigration began earlier: Know Nothing Movement in mid- 1850s,
Immigration Restriction League of the 1890s, the anti-Asian
movements in the West, resulting in the Chinese Exclusion Act of
1882 and the "Gentlemen's Agreement of 1907.
Slide 15
Immigrants traveled across an ocean, sometimes leaving their
only family behind, to find a better life. When traveling to
America their first site of America would be the Statue of Liberty,
a sign of the American spirit. Immigrants embodied the American
spirit and believed in the American Dream. The immigrants came to
prosper, and changed what it truly meant to be an American.
Slide 16
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