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Why did my great grandparents, including my grandfather, leave their homeland and what were the factors that contributed to their decision to migrate to a new country?
Between 1892 and 1954, over 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island, with many seeking better economic opportunities in the United States.
The concept of "push" and "pull" factors influenced migration decisions, with "push" factors being negative conditions in the homeland (e.g., poverty, war) and "pull" factors being attractive conditions in the new country (e.g., job opportunities, freedom).
The idea of "chain migration" describes how one family member migrates, and then helps other family members to follow, creating a chain of migration.
The "ancestor's motive" theory suggests that migrants were motivated by a desire to improve their family's economic and social status.
Many migrants traveled in steerage, the lowest and most basic class of accommodation on ships, with cramped and unsanitary conditions.
The journey across the ocean could take anywhere from 10 to 30 days, depending on the route and type of ship.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many countries, including the United States, implemented restrictive immigration laws to control the flow of migrants.
The concept of "transnationalism" describes how migrants maintain connections with their home country and culture while adapting to their new host country.
The "assimilation theory" suggests that migrants gradually abandon their cultural identity and integrate into the host country's culture.
Many migrants experienced "culture shock" upon arrival in their new country, struggling to adapt to unfamiliar customs and ways of life.
The "social capital" theory suggests that migrants who have strong social connections and networks in their new country are more likely to succeed.
The concept of "migrant selectivity" describes how migrants are often positively self-selected, meaning they are more motivated, ambitious, and resourceful than those who stay behind.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, many migrants traveled with " prepaid tickets," where a family member or friend already in the new country paid for their passage.
The "grandfather clause" in the 1913 Immigration Act exempted from literacy tests immigrants who had a parent or grandparent who was a U.S.
citizen.
Many migrants experienced "hierarchy of immigrant destinations," where they initially settled in ethnic enclaves or neighborhoods with others from the same country or region.
The "minority status hypothesis" suggests that migrants who face discrimination or prejudice in their new country may experience anxiety, stress, and decreased self-esteem.
The concept of " segmented assimilation" describes how migrants integrate into the host country's society at different rates and in different ways, depending on factors like education and socioeconomic status.
The "brain drain" phenomenon describes how highly skilled migrants leave their home country, leading to a loss of human capital and expertise.
Many migrants experienced "acculturation stress," coping with the stress and anxiety of adapting to a new culture and way of life.
The concept of "long-distance nationalism" describes how migrants maintain a strong sense of nationalism and connection to their home country, even after settling in a new country.
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