Immigrants & Urbanization Chapter 7

Chapter Overview The population rises as immigrants supply a willing workforce for urban industrialization and political base for many urban politicians. Abuses in local and national government prompt calls for reform.

Section One: The New Immigrants Europeans—flooded East coast Chinese and Japanese—West coast Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Mexico Why Immigrate? Lured by promise of better life Escape conditions Some immigrated temporarily to take money back home to their families

Section One: The New Immigrants A Difficult Journey Trip across Atlantic=One Week Trip across Pacific=Three Weeks Poor conditions, many deaths Ellis Island Immigration Station in New York Detained up to several days Pass physical exam Government Inspection—documents, state purpose

Ellis Island,

Section One: The New Immigrants Angel Island—San Francisco Bay Harsh questioning, long detentions Poor conditions Cooperation for Survival Finding a place to live Getting a job Language & Culture Many immigrants formed ethnic communities

Angel Island

Section One: The New Immigrants Melting Pot—mixture of people of different cultures and races who blended together by abandoning their native languages and customs Nativism—extreme favoritism toward native-born Americans Anti-Immigrant groups Restrictions—only wanted people that would improve America

Section One: The New Immigrants Immigration Restriction League Literacy test, 40 words in English Anti-Asian Sentiment 1882, Chinese Exclusion Act Banned all except students, teachers, merchants, tourists, government officials The Gentleman’s Agreement Limit unskilled workers from Japan, repeal San Francisco segregation order

Questions to ponder… 1.What are some push and pull factors influence immigration to America? 2.What was the journey like? 3.What was the experience of Ellis & Angel Island like? 4.What was life like once immigrants were admitted? 5.How is the phrase “melting pot” positive and negative? 6.Why did people have anti-immigrant feelings?

Section Two: The Challenges of Urbanization Urbanization—growth of cities due to technological boom mostly in Midwest & Northeast Immigrants lived in cities because of cheap living and available jobs Rural population moving to cities because farming not needed as much 1890—twice as many Irish in NYC than Dublin, Ireland!!

Section Two: The Challenges of Urbanization Americanization Movement Assimilation Teach immigrants skills needed for citizenship English Literacy American History & Government Cooking Social Etiquette Most wanted to stay in ethnic groups Overcrowded

Section Two: The Challenges of Urbanization Housing Problems Live on outskirts with transportation problem or rent a cramped, unclean room? Row Houses—single family homes shared walls Tenements—Overcrowded, unsanitary, multifamily homes Regulations NYC set minimum standards for plumbing and ventilations in apartments

New York City, 1900

Section Two: The Challenges of Urbanization Transportation—mass transits move large number of people along fixed routes Helped people get to work easily Street cars, electric subways Public Water Works Indoor plumbing was seldom Cholera & Typhoid fever 1870—filtration, chlorination

Section Two: The Challenges of Urbanization Sanitation Horse manure in the streets Sewage in open gutters Garbage in streets Crime Pickpockets and thieves common 1844—NYC, 1 st full-time police force Cincinnati, OH—1 st paid Fire Department

Section Two: The Challenges of Urbanization Reformers Social Gospel Movement—preached salvation through service of the poor Settlement houses—community centers in slum neighborhoods that provided assistance to people in area, especially immigrants Provided educational, cultural, & social services Jane Addams—founded Chicago’s Hull House Locust Street Social Settlement Settlement house for African-Americans

Section Three: Politics in the Gilded Age Time for new power structures Political Machines: group that controlled the activities of a political party in a city; offered services in exchange for political or financial support Solved urban problems to reinforce voter loyalty Helped immigrants with citizenship, housing and jobs

Section Three: Politics in the Gilded Age City Boss— Controls all political activities Ward Boss—secured all votes in electoral district Local Precinct Workers—gain local votes

Section Three: Politics in the Gilded Age Increase in Election Fraud—use of fake names to vote Graft—illegal use of political influence for personal gain Political machine helps person find job at construction company Person charges city more for supplies Money is “kicked back” to political machine

Section Three: Politics in the Gilded Age Boss Tweed(William M. Tweed) Head of Tammany Hall (NYC Democratic political machine)

Section Three: Politics in the Gilded Age Election of 1880, Republican nomination up for grabs Stalwarts—who supported the spoils system Patronage—giving of government jobs to people who helped candidates get elected Reformers—wanted change Independent, James A. Garfield, won election Stalwart, Chester A. Arthur, nominated VP

Section Three: Politics in the Gilded Age July 2, 1881, because of his support of civil service reform, Garfield was shot Died September 19 Arthur became president (shooter was stalwart) Once in office, became a reformer Pendleton Civil Service Act make appointments to federal jobs through merit system based on examination