Coming to America

Coming to America “Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.” This poem by Emma Lazarus is on display at which American landmark? Are the ideas accepted by all Americans?

Ellis Island: Arrival point for new European immigrants Angel Island: Arrival point for new Asian immigrants

New European Immigrants Ellis Island Processing

Immigration Prior to 1871, most immigrants to America came from northern and western Europe (Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden). During the half-century from 1871 until 1921, most immigrants came from southern and eastern Europe (Italy, Greece, Poland, Russia, present-day Hungary, and former Yugoslavia), as well as Asia (China and Japan). Due to the change from northern and western to southern and eastern Europe these immigrants are known as “new immigrants.”

Immigration Immigrants to the United States made valuable contributions to the dramatic industrial growth of America during this period. For example: Chinese workers helped to build the Transcontinental Railroad. Immigrants worked in textile and steel mills in the Northeast. Immigrants worked in the clothing industry in New York

Immigration Slavs, Italians, and Poles worked in the coal mines of the East. These immigrants often worked for very low pay and endured dangerous working conditions to help build the nations’ industrial strength.

Life in a Big Urban City in the Gilded Age

Ethnic Neighborhoods Immigrants tend to live in the same areas to ease transition to America

Mulberry Street Bend, 1889

Dumbbell Tenement

Tenement a rundown apartment used to house large numbers of low-income families.

5-Cent Lodgings

Men’s Lodgings

Women’s Lodgings

Immigrant Family Lodgings

1890s ”Morgue” – Basement Saloon

” Bandits’ Roost”

Mullen’s Alley ”Gang”

The streets could be dangerous

URBAN PROBLEMS Overcrowded Housing Sanitation: garbage was often not collected Polluted air Lack of clean water Crime Fire Harper’s Weekly image of Chicagoans fleeing the fire over the Randolph Street bridge in 1871

POLITICS IN THE GILDED AGE As cities grew in the late 19th century, so did political machines Political machines controlled the activities of a political party in a city The head of the Political machine was known as the “Boss”

ROLE OF THE POLITICAL BOSS The “Boss” controlled jobs, business licenses, granting of contracts and influenced laws and courts Political Machines helped immigrants with naturalization (citizenship), jobs, and housing in exchange for votes Boss Tweed ran NYC

Political Corruption was considered to be widespread President Grant’s Administration Voter Fraud- used fake names and voted multiple times Patronage- granting favors in return for political support Graft- bribes kick-backs - Return of money in exchange for a business

Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall

THE TWEED RING SCANDAL William M. Tweed, known as Boss Tweed, became head of Tammany Hall, NYC’s powerful Democratic political machines Between 1869-1871, Tweed led the Tweed Ring, a group of corrupt politicians, in defrauding the city Tweed’s ring stole between 40 and 200 million Tweed died in Jail Boss Tweed

Party Bosses & Political Machines Term given to city officials who gave jobs, housing, and money to immigrants in return for political support Boss Tweed: Most famous party boss. He ran the Tammany Hall Machine

Reformers: Jacob Riis: “How the other half lives” Book detailing the horrors of city life Jane Addams: Hull House Settlement House movement: Teaching immigrants how adapt to America - Social Gospel Movement: Christians should work to improve the lives of everyone

Political Reform Goal: End control of political bosses and machines How: Pendleton Act: Required civil service exams to qualify for government jobs.

CIVIL SERVICE REPLACES PATRONAGE Nationally, some politicians pushed for reform in the hiring system The system had been based on Patronage; giving jobs and favors to those who helped a candidate get elected Reformers pushed for an adoption of a merit system of hiring the most qualified for jobs The Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 authorized a bipartisan commission to make appointments for federal jobs based on performance Applicants for federal jobs are required to take a Civil Service Exam

Immigration and Assimilation Immigrants would begin to assimilate into the American “melting pot.” Public schools played a vital role in this process. Immigrants to America often faced hardships and hostility. Some reasons why (fear and resentment that immigrants would take jobs for lower pay than American workers would accept; prejudice based on religious and cultural differences).

Anti-Immigrant protest

Anti-Immigrant protest Nativist: People opposed to new immigrants. KKK & Know-Nothings were Nativist groups Chinese Exclusion Act: Banning of Chinese immigration Gentleman’s Agreement: Banning of Japanese immigration

Class Work: Reading Read Chapter 16 section 2 and 3, pages 529-539. Answer the Checkpoint questions as you read. Once you have finished your reading you may work on your study guide. You should have your study guide completely answered by the end of class, if you have been keeping up with it as we’ve gone along.