Immigration and Urbanization

European Immigration By 1900 more than half of all European immigrants in the U.S. were Southern and Eastern Europeans (Italians, Greeks, Polish, Russian and Armenian). Usually took about 2 weeks from Europe to Ellis Island, NY. 90% of all European immigrants entered the U.S. through Ellis Island and settled in big cities like New York, Boston, Chicago, Detroit. Usually immigrants settled in ethnic enclaves (neighborhoods separated by nationality). Little Italy or Jewish Lower East Side

Asian Immigration First starting coming to the U.S. in mid 1800s with the discovery of Gold in California (Chinese). The Taiping rebellion killed 20 million Chinese pushing many survivors to escape to the U.S. Transcontinental railroad Settled mainly California in cities on the West Coast like San Francisco. Japanese began coming to the U.S. in the early 1900s looking for work.

Resurgence of Nativism Increased European and Asian immigration led to increased feelings of Nativism. Americans wanted to limit the number of immigrants entering the U.S. Originally Nativism was hostile towards Irish immigrants in the mid 1800s, now it was hostile towards Southern/Eastern European immigrants, Asian and Jewish immigrants.

Reasons for Nativism Many “new” immigrants were Catholic and American Protestants feared the Catholic church would gain too much influence in U.S. government. Take American jobs for less pay. Nativism led to groups forming anti-immigrant organizations that eventually influence government to pass laws. One law passed prohibited convicts and mentally disabled people from immigrating. Another law barred the immigration of the Chinese and prevented the Chinese already in the U.S. from becoming citizens.

Chinese Exclusion Act Barred the immigration of the Chinese and prevented the Chinese already in the U.S. from becoming citizens in Chinese protested that white Americans did not make laws preventing white Europeans (Italians, Irish, German, Russian, etc.) The law caused the Chinese population to significantly decrease over the next 50 years. Law was not repealed until 1943.

Angel Island Opened in 1910 to process Asian immigrants Island off the coast of San Francisco Asian immigrants were kept in a barracks and slept on bunked (stacked 2 or 3 high) cots for several weeks to months awaiting to enter the into the U.S.

Urbanization Cities became overcrowded with people and ran out of room to expand further. Instead buildings were forced to expand upward rather to accommodate all the people. Created the Skyscraper building. First skyscraper was built in Chicago. NYC had the most skyscrapers in the world because NYC had limited areas of land to expand and was forced to build up instead of out.

Chicago’s Home Insurance Building

Transportation Overcrowded cities needed to transport people around the cities. New York used railroad cars pulled by horses San Francisco used the cable car Congestion in the cities were so bad that Chicago built the first railroad system elevated above ground NYC and Boston built the first underground subway system

Political Machines City pollution such as horse manure and garbage were left on the streets. Ash an smoke from chimney rained on the streets. Political machines developed to met the demands of the big city problems. Political machines were groups designed to gain and keep power in the big cities. In return for votes, political bosses would return the favor by awarding certain people jobs.