Immigration, Urban Growth & Urban Reform

Patterns of Immigration 1840-1870: “Old Immigrants” Mainly originated from Northern Europe Many became farmers and moved west Some Asians arriving on the west coast 1870-1914: “New Immigrants” Tended to be darker and poorer Originated from Mexico, Asia and Southern and Eastern Europe Tended to be non-Protestant: Catholic, Jewish Highest volume of legal immigrants 15% of the population was foreign born In the cities 30% were foreign born

Arguments over Immigration The frontier closed and there was no more free or cheap land American industry had sufficient labor and new immigrants took jobs away from natives New immigrants were difficult to assimilate New immigrants were inferior Political machines They did assimilate as well as Old immigrants Both the migrants from the farms and immigrants contributed to urban problems More workers were necessary New immigrants contributed to American life

Urbanization 1860-1890 Shift to urban/industrial society Evident in shifting statistics Created a distinct urban culture Ethnic enclaves Explosive urban growth Frederick Jackson Turner Trade had fueled early urban centers

Causes of Modern Urban Growth By late 19th century railroads fueled city growth Elevators Streetcars Replaced mule drawn streetcars SF—cable cars Exploration of subways Mass transit allowed for sprawl—growth of the suburbs

Problems of Urbanization Tenements Jacob Riis Dumbbell tenement Sanitation and public health issues Disease Higher death rate Cities provided limited public services Increase in crime Overcrowding Corrupt police Laissez faire policy meant little planning for urban growth

Politics Political machines existed in most cities--these varied from place to place Harnessed voting power of immigrants City bosses--goal: to win votes for their political organization Used many approaches to do this: Machine supporters were often rewarded with jobs in city government, agencies or transit system Graft and corruption allowed them to make money Positive achievements:

Boss Tweed Leader of Tammany Hall in the 1860s NYC Democratic Party Famous for taking kick-backs Brought down by Political Cartoons Gilded Age boss: George Washington Plunkitt Ultimately political machines need to adapt to changing politics

Investigative Journalism Muckrakers Exposed corruption, dishonesty, graft Attacked the social ills of the age (slums, prostitution) Examples: Ida Tarbell—A History of Standard Oil Lincoln Steffens—The Shame of the Cities Jacob Riis—How the Other Half Lives Upton Sinclair—The Jungle Passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act—1906 Mass circulation of newspapers and magazines Yellow journalism

Progressivism: Social Democracy Not a single cohesive movement Mid-way between laissez-faire and socialism Socialist party is active in the United States public ownership of utilities destroy capitalism Corrective measure--reduce abuses Did not threaten corporate dominance or alter capitalism Optimistic view of the state--use for social and economic betterment

Progressive Reform Efforts in the Cities: Social Reform Heart of progressivism Assumes that people misbehave because of experience in society Change experience not the individual Moral reform efforts Campaign to end prostitution “White slavery” Effects of the campaign

Women led Reform Efforts Jane Addams—led the settlement house movement Women taught classes in children’s health vocational training fought for sanitation, public health and improved labor conditions Social Housekeeping