Urbanization & Immigration Objective 5.01

Big Cities NYC grew from around 800,000 inhabitants in 1860 to almost 3.5 million by 1900 NYC grew from around 800,000 inhabitants in 1860 to almost 3.5 million by 1900 Chicago also grew at an astounding rate, in 1860 it was estimated to hold only 109,000 and by 1900 had more than 1.6 million Chicago also grew at an astounding rate, in 1860 it was estimated to hold only 109,000 and by 1900 had more than 1.6 million

NYC skyline circa 1912

People Who Came Lacked money to buy farms and an education to obtain higher paying jobs Lacked money to buy farms and an education to obtain higher paying jobs Included both rural Americans and immigrants Included both rural Americans and immigrants

What did big cities offer? Better paying jobs Better paying jobs Bright lights, running water, plus many things to see and do Bright lights, running water, plus many things to see and do Museums, theaters, etc. Museums, theaters, etc.

Leisure Activities Amusement Parks Amusement Parks 1897—Steeplechase Park at Coney Island opened 1897—Steeplechase Park at Coney Island opened Spectator Sports Spectator Sports Baseball became a part of American life Baseball became a part of American life 1903—First world series—Boston won 1903—First world series—Boston won

Central Park Central Park Designed by Frederick Olmstead Designed by Frederick Olmstead Completed in 1873 Completed in 1873 Gave free leisure activity to city dwellers Gave free leisure activity to city dwellers

Urban Environment New approaches were used by engineers and architects to accommodate for the large flood of people into the cities New approaches were used by engineers and architects to accommodate for the large flood of people into the cities

Skyscrapers began to appear Skyscrapers began to appear 1 st —Chicago’s Home Insurance Building in st —Chicago’s Home Insurance Building in 1885 NYC soon caught up and had more than any other city NYC soon caught up and had more than any other city By late 1880s—the electric elevator had been invented, which helped to make these buildings more practical By late 1880s—the electric elevator had been invented, which helped to make these buildings more practical

Mass Transit Mass Transit 1887— Electric trolley is invented 1887— Electric trolley is invented Later, cities would want public off streets Later, cities would want public off streets Chicago—elevated RR Chicago—elevated RR Boston & NYC—first subway systems Boston & NYC—first subway systems

New Inventions Alexander Graham Bell Alexander Graham Bell 1876— Telephone 1876— Telephone Revolutionize both business and personal communication Revolutionize both business and personal communication

Thomas Edison Thomas Edison 1877—Phonograph 1877—Phonograph 1879—Light bulb and electric generator 1879—Light bulb and electric generator 1882—Edison Electric Illuminating Company launched new industry to provide electricity to customers in NYC (Today is known as GE) 1882—Edison Electric Illuminating Company launched new industry to provide electricity to customers in NYC (Today is known as GE)

Christopher Sholes Typewriter: 1867 Typewriter: 1867

Conditions of Cities Major problems for working poor Major problems for working poor Crime Crime Violence Violence Fire Fire Disease Disease Pollution Pollution

Native-born Americans blamed immigrants for the increase in crime and violence Native-born Americans blamed immigrants for the increase in crime and violence Alcohol played a major role in the increase of violent crime Alcohol played a major role in the increase of violent crime Jacob Riis —blamed alcohol for breeding poverty, corrupting politics, and bringing suffering to the families of drunkards Jacob Riis —blamed alcohol for breeding poverty, corrupting politics, and bringing suffering to the families of drunkards

“New” immigrants vs. “Old” immigrants The old immigrants... The old immigrants... came from northern or western Europe came from northern or western Europe were Protestant were Protestant were literate and skilled were literate and skilled came over as families came over as families were quick to assimilate were quick to assimilate were experienced in the ways of democracy were experienced in the ways of democracy had some money in their pockets had some money in their pockets were tall and fair were tall and fair

The new immigrants... The new immigrants... came from southern or eastern Europe came from southern or eastern Europe were not Protestant--were Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish were not Protestant--were Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish were illiterate and unskilled were illiterate and unskilled came over as birds of passage came over as birds of passage were clannish and reluctant to assimilate were clannish and reluctant to assimilate were radicals or autocrats were radicals or autocrats arrived impoverished arrived impoverished were short and dark were short and dark

Examples of the old immigrants: English, German, Norwegian. Examples of the old immigrants: English, German, Norwegian. Examples of the new immigrants: Italians, Poles, eastern European Jews. Examples of the new immigrants: Italians, Poles, eastern European Jews.

Why America? Why America? Plenty of jobs Plenty of jobs Few immigration restrictions Few immigration restrictions Avoid military service back home Avoid military service back home Avoid religious persecution— Jews from Russia and Poland Avoid religious persecution— Jews from Russia and Poland

Where? Where? They came to the U.S. through Ellis Island They came to the U.S. through Ellis Island Ethnic groups bonded and lived in the same areas Ethnic groups bonded and lived in the same areas

Housing Housing Many lived in tenements— apartment buildings that would share facilities Many lived in tenements— apartment buildings that would share facilities Crowded and unsanitary Crowded and unsanitary

Dombbell Tenements

Jane Addams created the Hull House for the poor in Chicago to provide social and education opportunities Jane Addams created the Hull House for the poor in Chicago to provide social and education opportunities Settlement Houses Settlement Houses

Asian Immigration Chinese began coming to the U.S in the mid-1800s Chinese began coming to the U.S in the mid-1800s Japanese also came but on a much smaller scale Japanese also came but on a much smaller scale

Why America? Why America? Money—discovery of gold in CA, work in RRs Money—discovery of gold in CA, work in RRs Over population in China Over population in ChinaWhere? Arrived through Angel Island in San Francisco Arrived through Angel Island in San Francisco

Resurgence of Nativism Now began to focus on Asians, Jews, and other Eastern Europeans Now began to focus on Asians, Jews, and other Eastern Europeans Labor unions disliked because immigrants would work for lower costs and undermine strikes Labor unions disliked because immigrants would work for lower costs and undermine strikes

Sweatshops Violates labor codes, seamstresses Violates labor codes, seamstresses Lack of safety Lack of safety Dirty and cramped Dirty and cramped Women Women

Chinese Exclusion Act Chinese Exclusion Act Barred Chinese immigration for 10 years and prevented those already in U.S. from citizenship Barred Chinese immigration for 10 years and prevented those already in U.S. from citizenship Remained in force until 1943 Remained in force until 1943

“Melting Pot” As a result of immigration and urbanization, by the end of the 1800s, the U.S. was known as a “Melting Pot” As a result of immigration and urbanization, by the end of the 1800s, the U.S. was known as a “Melting Pot”