Immigrants and Urbanization Chapter 7

Section 1: The New Immigrants

Why Did The Immigrants Come Here? Between 1870 & 1920, about 20 million Europeans immigrated to the U.S. 1. Escape religious persecution 2. Improve their economic situation (jobs) (Birds of passage) 3. Experience greater freedom in the U.S. 4. Escape difficult conditions (famine, land shortages – from rising population)

Ellis Island: Most European immigrants to the U.S. arrived in New York and had to pass through immigration station located on Ellis Island in New York Harbor Immigrants were carefully health screened and could only bring 100lbs of belongings Ellis Island - NY

Passing Inspection: Officials at Ellis Island decided whether the immigrants could enter the country. 1. Check for serious health problems 2. Document checks

What Were the Requirements for Admission? 1. Proving they had never been convicted of a felony. 2. Demonstrating that they were able to work. 3. Showing that they had some money: at least $25 (1909 standard) Let’s look at an example:

Here Are The Exact Questions Used: 1.What is your name? 2. Have you ever been to the America before? 3. Do you have any relatives here? If the answer was yes, then asked where they lived. 4. Is there anyone who came to meet you at Ellis Island? 5. Who paid for your passage? 6. Do you have any money? ( If the answer was yes then immigrant was told: Let me see it.) 7. Do you have a job waiting for you in America? 8. Do you have a criminal record?

Edward Ferro: An Italian Immigrant: “The language was a problem of course, but it was overcome by the use of interpreters…It would happen sometimes that these interpreters – some of them – were really softhearted people and hated to see people being deported, and they would, at times, help the aliens by interpreting in such a manner as to benefit the alien and not the government.” (I Was Dreaming to Come to America)

Angel Island: Not all immigrants came through Ellis Island Angel Island - Immigration station for the Asian immigrants arriving on the West Coast- San Francisco. Inspection process more difficult than on Ellis Island. (filthy conditions, harsh questioning) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CExKjlPUyjA

“La Torre de la Libertad” aka “Freedom Tower”

Immigration Restrictions: America started to be called a MELTING POT - Many cultures & races had blended But, many immigrants refused to give up their culture.

The Rise of Nativism: Some Americans didn’t like so many immigrants living in the U.S. NATIVISM- preference for native-born Americans. Nativism 1. Gave rise to anti-immigrant groups 2. Led to a demand for immigration restrictions.

Anti-Asian Sentiment: Chinese immigrants worked for low wages – this took jobs from native born Americans Labor groups pressured politicians to restrict Asian immigration. CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT 1882 - Banned all but a few Chinese immigrants Not lifted until 1943.

Section 2: The Challenges of Urbanization:

Urban Opportunities: Many immigrants settled in cities in the early 1900’s – work Cities began to become overcrowded Urbanization - the rapid growth of cities. Farmers also moved into the city – new technology = less farming jobs

Americanization Movement: Our government wanted to help immigrants learn more about the USA Americanization Movement – Was designed to assimilate people of wide-ranging cultures into the dominant culture. Schools taught them English, American history, and government.

Urban Problems: There became serious shortages in housing. New types of housing were created 1)Row house – apartment type homes 2)Tenement – Multifamily urban houses often overcrowded & unsanitary Sanitation was a problem

Mass Transit: Transportation also became a huge issue. Cities developed Mass Transit – transportation systems designed to move large numbers of people along fixed routes. More were needed to keep up with demand

Urban Problems: Sanitation Cities had hard time supplying safe drinking water. People threw garbage out their windows. Horse manure piled up on the streets Sewage flowed in streets. By 1900, many cities built sewers & created sanitation departments.

Crime Problems: Pickpockets and thieves flourished (stealing to survive) NYC police was relatively small and didn’t make much impact on crime.

Fire Problems: The city had limited supply of water. Most city apartments were made of wood People also used candles and kerosene lamps for lighting. Paid fire departments were first created in 1853 (Cincinnati) The automatic fire sprinkler was also created in 1874.

The Great Chicago Fire: 1871 Fire burned for 24hrs. An estimated 300 people died 100,000 were left homeless More than 3 square miles of the city center was destroyed. Property loss was estimated at $200 million. 17,500 buildings were destroyed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ9u-qJzmbk

Reformers Help the Poor: Social Gospel movement - Early reform program Leaders preached that people reached salvation by helping the poor They established Settlement Houses - Community centers located in slums that helped & friendship for poor & immigrants.

Section 3: Politics in the Gilded Age

Political Machines: Since cities were so crowded, the local government couldn’t control everything During late 1800’s, many cities were run by a Political Machine - an organized group, headed by a city boss, that controlled activities in a city. Offered services to voters & businesses in exchange for political or financial support.

The Role of the Political Boss: What else did the bosses do: 1. Controlled access to jobs 2. Built parks, sewer systems, and waterworks. 3. Gave money to hospitals, schools, and orphanages. So that…..people would vote for them!!

Immigrants and Bosses: The immigrants liked the idea of political machines and bosses. Why? 1. Many of the bosses were immigrants themselves– they spoke their language and battled the same hardships. 2. They helped the immigrants with Naturalization – full American citizenship. 3. Helped them get jobs and houses And in return – VOTES!!!

Election Fraud and Graft: Many Bosses got rich through GRAFT-the illegal use of political influence for personal gain. Example: By helping a person find work on a construction project for the city, a political machine could ask the worker to bill the city for more than the actual cost of materials and labor. The worker then “kicked back” a portion of the earnings to the machine. The NY City Courthouse was built using Graft money

The Tweed Ring: Boss Tweed (William M. Tweed) became the head of Tammany Hall- NYC’s powerful Democratic political machine. Between 1869-1871 Boss Tweed led a group of people (Tweed Ring) in defrauding the city for millions of dollars.

What Did Tweed Do? – Story Time! The NYC Courthouse was being built. The project cost tax payers $13 million, while the actual cost was only $3 million! The difference went to the Tweed Ring. It is estimated that the Tweed Ring stole between $30-$200 million dollars from NYC.

Eventually…They Got Busted! http://www.travelchannel.com/video/the-story-of-boss-tweed Eventually…They Got Busted! In 1871 the ring was broken. Tweed was indicted on 120 counts of fraud and extortion and was sentenced to 12 years in jail. His sentence got reduced to 1 year but he got in trouble again and was arrested.

What is the significance of the word LAW on the torn piece of paper? What affect do you think Nast wanted to have on his audience?

Patronage: National politics were also corrupt – It’s all about who you know. Patronage: giving of government jobs to people of the same party who had helped a candidate get elected.

Civil Service: Civil Service- Government jobs Reformers proposed that civil service jobs would go to the most qualified, regardless of political views.

President Hayes: President Rutherford B. Hayes (19th president) attempted to reform civil service Some members of Republican party objected He decides not to run for re-election (no support)

Garfield’s Assassination: Stalwarts (a political faction) opposed change in patronage system. Reformers supported changing the system New President James Garfield (20th president) attempts to reform the patronage system and is assassinated (by Charles J. Guiteau) Chester A. Arthur Garfield’s VP - Becomes the new President (21st president) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6USyilfk6w

Chester A. Arthur in Action: Arthur’s first message to the Congress was to pass the Pendleton Civil Service Act - Created a civil service commission to give government jobs based on merit, not politics This caused politicians to turn to big businesses for money