Americans at the turn of the century were alarmed about what they perceived as a change in the type of immigrants entering the United States. Some of the traits they saw as distinguishing the new immigrants from the old immigrants were real; some were imagined; some were half-true. The old immigration peaked in the 1880s. The new immigration peaked in 1907. Most of the old immigrants had come over from northern or western European countries, and were protestant. They were literate and skilled, came over as families, and had some money with them. They were also quick to assimilate into society due to their fair and tall characteristics. The new immigrants usually came from southern or eastern European countries and were usually Catholic, Orthodox, or Jewish. They were also illiterate and unskilled, and came over as birds of passage. They were also poor and reluctant to assimilate into society...