Immigration & Urbanization in the Gilded Age
Immigration
By the late 1800s, most European states made it easy to move to America. By the 1890s, eastern and southern Europeans made up more than half of all immigrants. Of the 14 million immigrants who arrived between 1860 and 1900, many were European Jews. Why? employment few immigration restrictions avoidance of military service religious freedom chance to move up the social ladder.
Ellis Island served as a processing center for most immigrants arriving on the East coast after 1892.
Angel Island Asian immigrants, mostly young men and boys, waited sometimes for months for the results of immigration hearings.
Look back at your notes and answer the following question: What helped immigrants adjust to living in the United States? Immigrants tended to adjust well to living in the United States if they quickly learned English and adapted to the American culture. Skilled immigrants, those who had money, or those who lived among their own ethnic group also tended to adjust more successfully.
Nativism Increase in immigration leads to rise in Nativism Earlier, in the 1840s and 1850s nativism was directed towards the Irish. In the early 1900s, it was the Asian, Jews, and eastern Europeans that were the focus of nativism.
American Protection Association 500,000 members by 1887 Founded by Henry Bowers Against catholic immigrations
Workingman’s Party of California Created by Irish immigrant Denis Kearny Wanted to stop Chinese immigration
Chinese Exclusion Act Passed in 1882 barred Chinese immigration for 10 years prevented the Chinese already in America from becoming citizens.
Urbanization
The urban population of the United States grew from about 10 million in 1870 to over 30 million by 1900. Immigrants moving into cities Farmers moving back into urban areas for better quality of life
Home Insurance Building Chicago, IL William Le Baron Jenney 1884 10 stories
Wainwright Building St. Louis, MO Louis Sullivan “father of skyscrapers” 1890-1891 10 stories Steel framed
Look back at your notes and answer the following question: What were some differences between the social classes? The social classes differed in their level of income and the area in which they lived. The wealthy lived in the heart of the city in elaborate homes. The middle class lived away from the central city and used commuter lines to get to work. The working class lived in cities in tenements.
Urban Problems The growth of cities resulted in an increase in crime, fire, disease, and pollution. From 1880 to 1900, there was a large increase in the murder rate. Native-born Americans blamed immigrants for the increase in crime.
Urban Problems Alcohol contributed to crime in the late 1800s. Contaminated drinking water from improper sewage disposal resulted in epidemics of typhoid fever and cholera.
Gilded Age Politics
Political Machines A new political system was needed to cope with the new urban problems. The political machine, an informal political group designed to gain and keep power, provided essentials to city dwellers in exchange for votes. Party bosses ran the political machines. George Plunket, an Irish immigrant, was one of New York City’s most powerful party bosses.
The party bosses had tight control of the city’s money The party bosses had tight control of the city’s money. Many of the politicians became wealthy due to fraud or graft—getting money through dishonest or questionable means.
Tammany Hall One of the most powerful political machines in New York William “Boss” Tweed
Although corrupt, political machines did supply important services and help assimilate the ever- expanding population of city dwellers.