Daily life in immigrant America, 1870-1920 : how the second great wave of immigrants made their way in America

The second "wave" of U.S. immigration, from 1870 to 1920, brought more than 26 million men, women, and children onto American shores. June Alexander's history of this great movement underscores the diversity of peoples who came to the United States in these years and emphasizes the important shifts in their geographic origins-from northern and western Europe to southern and eastern Europe-that led to the distinction between "old" and "new" immigrants in America. Copyright Page Table of Contents Recent Titles in The Greenwood Press “Daily Life Through History” Series Dedication Series Foreword Acknowledgments Chronology Introduction: Getting a Perspective on Immigrant Daily Life NOTE Chapter 1 - Immigration 1870 to 1920: A Historical Overview THE “OLD” VERSUS “NEW” IMMIGRATION THE OLD IMMIGRATION: SOURCES AND MIGRATION PATTERNS THE NEW IMMIGRATION: SOURCES AND MIGRATION PATTERNS NON-EUROPEAN ORIGINS WESTERN HEMISPHERE THE MIGRATION PROCESS The Transoceanic Journey ENTERING THE UNITED STATES NOTE Chapter 2 - Life on the Land: Immigrants in the American West EARLY YEARS ON THE LAND FAMILY FARMS FARMING IN AMERICA FAMILY AND COMMUNITY LIFE CHANGING CONDITIONS AND TECHNOLOGY IN HOME AND FIELD NEW IMMIGRANTS AND ASIANS ON THE LAND NOTE Chapter 3 - Life on the Job: Immigrants in the Industrial Workplace INDUSTRIALIZATION AND IMMIGRANT LABORERS LIFE IN THE WORKPLACE: IMMIGRANT WORKINGMEN LIFE IN THE WORKPLACE: FEMALE WAGE EARNERS LIFE IN THE WORKPLACE: CHILD LABOR ACCIDENTS IN THE WORKPLACE IMMIGRANTS AND WORKPLACE CONDITIONS SEASONAL LABOR NOTE Chapter 4 - Life in Urban America: Migrants and Immigrant Families URBANIZATION AND IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORHOODS TEMPORARY IMMIGRANTS AND MIGRANT WORKERS IMMIGRANT FAMILIES HEALTH IN AN URBAN-INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT NOTE Chapter 5 - Life in Ethnic Communities: Immigrant Institutions and Businesses BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND EARLY MIGRANT LIFE COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS: HOUSES OF WORSHIP COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS: NATIONALITY SCHOOLS ETHNIC INSTITUTIONS: THE PRESS IMMIGRANT BUSINESSES INFORMAL INSTITUTIONS: ENTERTAINMENT NOTE Chapter 6 - Life in a Hostile World: Immigrants in World War I America IMMIGRANTS AND AMERICAN SOCIETY ON THE EVE OF WORLD WAR IMMIGRANT LIFE DURING WARTIME: THE PERIOD OF U.S. NEUTRALITY, 1914–17 IMMIGRANT LIFE DURING WARTIME: THE PERIOD OF U.S. INVOLVEMENT, 1917–1918 WARTIME AMERICA: THE VIEW FROM WITHIN IMMIGRANT COLONIES IMMIGRANTS IN POSTWAR AMERICA NOTE Glossary Selected Bibliography GENERAL HISTORIES AND REFERENCE WORKS IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION POLICY LETTERS, INTERVIEWS, AND AUTOBIOGRAPHIES BIOGRAPHIES AND NOVELS INDIVIDUAL IMMIGRANT GROUPS, GENERAL HISTORIES, AND CONTEMPORARY STUDIES WEB SITES DOCUMENTARY FILMS About the Author

The second wave of U.S. immigration, from 1870 to 1920, brought more than 26 million men, women, and children onto American shores. June Alexander's history of the period underscores the diversity of peoples who came to the United States in these years and emphasizes the important shifts in their geographic origins-from northern and western Europe to southern and eastern Europe-that led to the distinction between old and new immigrants.

Publishers Weekly

The companion volume to James Bergquist's Daily Life in Immigrant America, 1820-1870, Alexander's book falls short of expectations. Exhaustive in its coverage and modest in its aims, the book brings together the latest scholarship about this classic period of immigration for general readers. It covers the shift of immigrants from northern, eastern and southern Europe as well as the opening of immigration from Asia, paying close attention to the anxieties and prejudices that their strangeness aroused. Alexander creates a tale of struggle, adaptation and success, but also of pain and loss. While Alexander claims to avoid an interpretive slant, she often portrays resident Americans in bad light, while laying strong and appropriate emphasis on the immigrants' geographic, occupational and economic mobility. Alexander carefully distinguishes between the customs and situations of the many nationalities that flooded the nation. Notably she examines the move to Western farms-a trend among some immigrants of avoiding cities. Although an overlooked aspect of immigrant history, Alexander often generalizes from the few particular stories she provides. However nicely written, the work lacks the color and life that it might otherwise have had.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The second wave of US immigration—from 1870 to 1920—brought over twenty-six million men, women, and children onto American shores. This in-depth study of the period underscores the diversity of peoples who came to the U.S. and highlights the significant shifts in geographic origins—from northern and western Europe to southern and eastern Europe—that occurred in the late nineteenth century and led to distinguishing between old and new immigrants. Thematic chapters provide an overview of the daily lives of these migrants, including distribution and settlement patterns, individual and family migrations, and permanent and temporary residency. Also discussed are demographics and characteristics of each ethnic group, as well as pressures to Americanize and other facets of adjusting to a new country and culture. An ideal source for students of American history and culture, this comprehensive work features over 40 engaging photos, a glossary of key terms, a chronology of events, and an extensive print and nonprint bibliography.

The second "wave" of U.S. immigration, from 1870 to 1920, brought more than 26 million men, women, and children onto American shores. June Granatir Alexander's history of the period underscores the diversity of peoples who came to the United States in these years and emphasizes the important shifts in their geographic originsfrom northern and western Europe to southern and eastern Europethat led to the distinction between "old" and "new" immigrants. Alexander offers an engrossing picture of the immigrants' daily lives, including the settlement patterns of individuals and families, the demographics and characteristics of each of the ethnic groups, and the pressures to "Americanize" that often made the adjustment to life in a new country so difficult. The approach, similar to David Kyvig's highly successful Daily Life in the United States, 19201940 (published by Ivan R. Dee in 2004), presents history with an appealing immediacy, on a level that everyone can understand. A Compelling Exploration Of The Daily Lives Of Immigrants During The Second Wave - From 1870 To 1920. Chronology -- Introduction: Getting A Perspective On Immigrant Daily Life -- Immigration, 1870 To 1920 : A Historical Overview -- Life On The Land : Immigrants In The American West -- Life On The Job : Immigrants In The Industrial Workplace -- Life In Urban America : Migrants And Immigrant Families -- Life In Ethnic Communities : Immigrant Institutions And Businesses -- Life In A Hostile World : Immigrants In World War I America. June Granatir Alexander. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [257]-268) And Index.