Immigration and Urbanization, Late 19th century

Immigration Changing patterns, late 19th C. Increasing scale – biggest in relative terms More diverse origins Increasingly from E. Europe, S. Europe Growing contrast w/ W. European roots Catholics, Orthodox, Jews Latin-based and Slavic languages Cyrillic alphabets Increasingly wage workers more than farmers

Immigration Changing patterns, late 19th C. Large numbers of “sojourners” Return migrants, sometimes cyclical Did not intend to stay permanently Majority of some groups Slavic immigrants, for example Goal: social mobility back home U.S. one of many endpoints in Americas Argentina: 2/3 of Italian emigrants Labor shortage in industrializing countries

Sources of Immigration from Europe, 1860-1900

Immigration Two main historical myths/models Melting Pot Mosaic

Immigration “Melting Pot” model/myth Changing definition Today: emphasizes diversity 19th century: emphasized assimilation 19th century “nativist” idea Immigrants merge with native-born Immigrants blend into Amer. society Differences disappear, the sooner the better “American” = English speaking, W.A.S.P.

Immigration “Melting Pot” model/myth Changing definition of “white”/“American” Irish and Germans become white Italian Americans created Columbus Day In contrast to “more foreign” immigrants Assumes: some more “foreign” than others Assumes: some more “radical” than others Policy: accept the easily assimilated, reject the un-assimilable

Immigration “Mosaic” model/myth Immigrants reproduce their origins Maintain difference, resist assimilation Chinatown, Little Italy, Little Manila Representatives of home country Differences add to diversity over time Reality: enormous pressures to change Reality: large generational differences Reality: immigrants not representative

Immigration Neither model completely accurate Enormous generational differences Both assimilation AND distinction Not just top-down cultural dominance (melting pot) Not just cultural independence (mosaic) Most common: cultural hybrids “Exotic”  mainstream Spaghetti, hot dogs, pizza, tacos Ethnic holidays  national holidays St. Patrick’s Day, Columbus Day

“A National Menace,” 1903

Urbanization Incr. percentage live in cities Cities getting bigger 1920 U.S. Census: 50/50 urban/rural split (“urban” = 10,000 people)

Urbanization Some of densest population in history 1890, NYC south of Wall Street: 1.5 million people “Urban planning” in infancy Few municipal agencies in 1890 No blanket coverage of police, fire, sanitation Sometimes private police and firefighters Poor sanitation NYC in 1900: 100,000 horses 2.5 millions pounds of manure daily “Clean” streets = neat piles Replaced by cars, buses, trains

Urbanization “Urban planning” in infancy Few zoning laws, building regulations Running water, sewer optional Unregulated living conditions Services dependent on neighborhood politicians Traffic control a novelty 1000’s of deaths annually from horse vs. pedestrian accidents

Downtown Chicago, 1909

Urbanization Urban problems a main focus of the Progressive movement, 1890-1917 New professionals and experts Social work “Clean up” the cities Sanitation Politics Municipal services

Urbanization and Technological Change Stronger, cheaper steel Skyscraper architecture Shift from stone and brick to steel frames Steel stronger, lighter, more flexible than stone Entirely new shapes and scale for buildings Mass-produced bicycles, automobiles Suspension bridges – Brooklyn Bridge Elevators Social change: higher floors are better Before elevators: lower floors are better Electricity