Immigration in New York
(by Julia Fischer and Marlies Göthel)
The Dutch were the first citizens to live in New York at the beginning of the 17th century, naming it 'New Amsterdam'. Trying to prevent the British and Native Americans to enter New Amsterdam they built a wall at a place that nowadays is known as the famous financial district called 'Wall Street'.
But when the British forces came with boats, bypassing the wall, the Dutch yielded the way for them and left. The wall was torn down immediately and New York got its name.
Soon many German and Irish people immigrated to the city trying to live the 'American Dream' in the smaller east village in New York. They arrived at the so called 'Castle Clinton' located at the harbor close to the city.
But the immigrants brought many diseases with them that turned out to be only hardly controllable. Therefore the spot for immigrants to arrive was moved to Ellis Island.
After the end of the Civil War in 1865, the economy in America prospered, which improved the country's image in the eyes of many Europeans. Due to this the USA became a new immigration hot spot for people from all over the world.
In the 1870s 30% of the population in New York was German. The German population increased in the following years.
But the immigrants brought many diseases with them that turned out to be only hardly controllable. Therefore the spot for immigrants to arrive was moved to Ellis Island.
After the end of the Civil War in 1865, the economy in America prospered, which improved the country's image in the eyes of many Europeans. Due to this the USA became a new immigration hot spot for people from all over the world.
In the 1870s 30% of the population in New York was German. The German population increased in the following years.
New immigrants also came from Italy and China. They mostly settled on the lower east side. Today 'Chinatown' and 'Little Italy' are hot spots for different cultures.
In order to settle down many Chinese people searched for orientation and a feeling of home in the foreign culture. That's why many gangs were founded, so called 'tongs', that later became very territorial, leading to repeated brutal fights between hatchet men.
This place in Chinatown is called 'Bloody Angle' because it used to be one of the scenes of violent conflicts.
In order to settle down many Chinese people searched for orientation and a feeling of home in the foreign culture. That's why many gangs were founded, so called 'tongs', that later became very territorial, leading to repeated brutal fights between hatchet men.
This place in Chinatown is called 'Bloody Angle' because it used to be one of the scenes of violent conflicts.
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