CHAPTER 18: Immigration and Urbanization (1890-1910)

VI. Strangers in a New Land From 1880-1920, 23 million immigrants came looking for jobs: These “new” immigrants were from eastern & southern Europe; Catholics & Jews, not Protestant Kept their language & religion; created ethnic newspapers, schools, & social associations Led to a resurgence in Nativism & attempts to limit immigration Resurgence of the Nativism of the 1850s 4 of every 10 Americans today can trace their ancestry through Ellis Island’s gates

Immigrants Flood to America Europeans flood into the United States during this time for a variety of reasons. At this time, most came from Eastern Europe. Asian immigration increased, too. Came from China and Japan mostly. Worked on the TC Railroad. Jobs, no class system, avoid compulsory military service, religious freedom, fact it was cheap to get here. Jews, Catholics, “undesirable” due to fact they were poor, uneducated and had little interest in becoming “American.” Settled here in ethnic neighborhoods where they wouldn’t have to assimilate.

Immigration to the U.S., 1870-1900

Ellis and Angel Islands The Great Hall, Ellis Island Quick, 5 hours or less. Less than 1% rejected. Europeans entered at NYC’s Ellis Island. Asians entered at San Fran’s Angel Island. Angel Island, San Francisco Two weeks average wait. 20% rejected.

Resurgence of Nativism Nativism is the extreme dislike of immigrants, believing that America should be for Americans. Didn’t like anything foreign. Mostly anti-Jewish and Catholic (eastern Euros), afraid they would increase political influence. Labor unions also opposed. Immigrants were unskilled workers who would take factory jobs for less

Victory for the Anti-Coolies Nativists Get Limitations Passed Immigration laws were passed to ban convicts and mentally ill, require immigrants to have at least $25 when they arrived Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882: No Chinese allowed except for students, teachers and diplomats. Was to last for 10 years. Kept being renewed all the way until 1943. Victory for the Anti-Coolies

Urbanization Growth of Cities

Gilded Age Urbanization From 1870 to 1900, American cities grew 700% due to new job opportunities in factories: European, Latin American, & Asian immigrants flooded cities Blacks migrated into the North Rural farmers moved from the countryside to cities

The Lure of the City By 1920, for the 1st time in U.S. history, more than 50% of the American population lived in cities SWITCH

Skyscrapers and Suburbs By the 1880s, steel allowed cities to build skyscrapers The Chicago fire of 1871 allowed for rebuilding with new designs: John Root & Louis Sullivan were the “fathers of modern urban architecture” New York & other cities used Chicago as their model

Louis Sullivan “Form follows function” John Root “Simple & Dignified”

Skyscrapers and Suburbs Cities developed distinct zones: Central business district with working- & upper-class residents Middle-class in the suburbs Electric streetcars & elevated rapid transit made travel easy

V. Tenements & Overcrowding ½ of NYC’s buildings were tenements which housed the poor working class “Dumbbell” tenements were popular but were cramped & plagued by firetraps Slums had poor sanitation, polluted water & air, tuberculosis Homicide, suicide, & alcoholism rates all increased in U.S. cities Jacob Riis “How the Other Half Lives” (1890)

Jacob Riis’ “How the Other Half Lives” (1890) exposed the poverty of the urban poor

VII. Urban Political Machines Urban “political machines” were loose networks of party precinct captains led by a “boss” Tammany Hall was the most famous machine; Boss Tweed led the corrupt “Tweed Ring” Political machines were not all “bad corrupt” (“honest graft”); helped the urban poor & built public works like the Brooklyn Bridge NY County Courthouse supposed to cost city $250,000 but ended up costing $13million.

Boss Tweed Tweed Courthouse—NY County Courthouse was supposed to cost $250,000 but cost $13 million. But the Tweed Ring catered to immigrants by building the Brooklyn Bridge & hosting holiday barbeques

VIII. Social Changes in the Gilded Age Women made up 40% of university students Urbanization changed society: The U.S. saw an increase in self-sufficient female workers Most states had compulsory education laws & kindergartens 150 new public & private colleges were formed Cities set aside land for parks & American workers found time for vaudeville & baseball Private philanthropy led to Stanford, Tulane, Vanderbilt, Cornell, & the Univ of Chicago Land Grant Act (1862) led to the Universities of WI, CA, MN, IL “Family time” disappeared for working class People of all races married later & had fewer children