You’re such in deep shit
To be connected to his past and to his ancestors
To find out the history and the origin of your family
Origins :
Slaves (1870)
Ireland (1900)
China (1910-1940)
Russia (1900)
Ukraine (1900)
Poland (1940)
Beginning (1790) :
Congress passes the first law about who should be granted U.S. citizenship : the
Naturalization Act
Any free white person of “good character,” who has been living in the United States for two
years or longer, can apply for citizenship.
Citizenship includes basic constitutional protections : the right to vote, own property, or
testify in court.
Irish immigrant wave (1815–1875) :
Great wave of Irish immigrant after the end of the war with England in 1812, which lasted
until 1860
Settle in the Midwest
Steerage Act (1819) : requires better conditions on ships arriving to the country and submit
demographic information on passengers
Chinese exclusion act :
Between 1850 and 1880 : great wave of Chinese workers had immigrated to the USA, due to
a rapid period of industrialization and urbanization (gold mines, factories…)
The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) : bars Chinese immigrants from entering the United States.
Between 1880 and 1920 : more than 20 million immigrants arrive from Europe, including 4
million Italians and 2 million Jews.
Ellis Island opening :
Ellis Island (1892) : the United States’ first immigration station, opens in New York Harbor.
1907 : emigration peak
The Gentlemen’s Agreement : limit the number of Japanese immigrants, who would cause
unemployment for American people
Restrictions at start of WWI :
Because of xenophobia due to WWI, The Immigration Act of 1917 establishes a literacy
requirement for immigrants and halts immigration from most Asian countries.
The Immigration Act of 1924 limits the number of immigrants allowed into the United States
through nationality quotas and which favours Europeans.
Increase of illegal immigration (Asian)
Mexican fill labour shortage :
Bracero Program (1942-1964) : because of shortage of labour, USA allows Mexican
agricultural workers to enter the United States temporarily
The McCarran-Walter Act (1952) formally ends the exclusion of Asian immigrants to the
United States.
During cold war, USA admit refugees from the Soviet countries and Cuba
End of the quota system :
The Immigration and Nationality Act (1965) ends the system of quotas and replaces it with a
system emphasizing family reunification and skilled immigrants
In the 20th century, immigration from certain Middle Eastern countries was reduced.
LILIAN AMUNDSEN :
Finland (Ikaalinen) : mother ran the farm with 7 children and father gone to Canada
Helps in the fields
Went to school on Saturday afternoon
Learn writing and reading from the Bible
Wanted to continue to go to school
Cousin convinced her to go to the USA, so that she could send them money
Didn’t want to come back
Leave in 1922, looking forward to continue her education, to send money, not knowing
English
Cousin put her out of Ellis Island
First job : house work, time travelling of 12 hours
Then came to NY and found a job in Manhattan : doing housework
Met her husband at the Finnish Dance Hall (17yo – 1925) : carpenter
Daughter : 1927
Separation : alcoholic
Own church in the neighbourhood
Keep Finnish customs alive : Finnish Christmas
Back to Finland 1970 : buses, cars, supermarkets
2nd husband : 1952 and divorced : became citizen
