had an unmistakable theme, immigration. Over 20 million immigrants, mostly European, came to the United States between 1820 and 1900. They came for a variety of reasons. Most came because the economies of many European countries were in crisis and workers had a very hard time finding work. As well, some fled religious and cultural persecution. Most of them decided to come to the US because of the opportunities they had heard abounded in the US. One immigrant put it well when he said, “We are in such bad shape and in need of so much that there is nothing left for us here, we must go.” Once they arrived in the US, the immigrants were seen as second class citizens by the vast majority of US citizens. As one American put it, “I can't understand those scum, those immigrants, for they talk differently and do things differently than I do.” The flood tide of Europeans also overwhelmed the limited charitable services available at the time. One historian referred to the settlement house movement as, “effective as bailing out the ocean with a teaspoon.” Immigrants emigrated to America for the opportunity to improve themselves and found horrible working and living conditions that were a large price, although it was one they were willing to pay. Immigrants came to the US because of political persecution and economic hardships at home. Some European countries persecuted certain ethnic groups for no apparent reason. For example, both Yugoslavia and France blamed Jews for their economic problems. As the French Secretary of the Treasury put it, “Those Evil Jews who befoul our towns shall not work here, for they are second. Christians shall get the right.” Jews would get beaten by the police and as a result sought political asylum in the “land of the free”, the United States. It was also extremely difficult for many to get jobs in Europe where 50% of the workers were unemploye...
