1. Immigration and Urbanization

2. The “New” Immigrants
Between : 20 million Eastern and Southern Europe (religious/political freedom)
Before 1870 (“old imm”): Northern and Western Europe
300,000 Chinese (gold and railroads)
200,000 Japanese (Hawaii-sugar industry)
260,000 from W. Indies
700,000 from Mexico

3. Ellis Island Located in New York City 2% denied entry
Requirements: physical exam, document check, literacy exam
17 million checked in

4. Ellis Island

5. Ellis Island

6. Dormitory (Ellis Island)

7. Angel Island Located in San Francisco 1910-1940: 50,000 from China
Endured harsh questioning and a long detention in harsh conditions

8. Bathrooms (Angel Island)

9. Barracks (Angel Island)

10. Interrogation Room (Angel Island)

11. Discrimination
Nativism: overt favoritism toward native- born Americans
Reasons: religion, appearance, willing to work for lower wages
Chinese Exclusion Act
Banned all Chinese except teachers, merchants, students, tourists, and gov’t officials
Gentlemen’s Agreement
Japan agreed to limit immigration to the US

12. Urban Problems Housing: tenements- multifamily dwellings
Transportation: street cars, electric subways
Water: no indoor plumbing, diseases
Sanitation: sewer lines created by 1900
Crime: NYC- first full-time police
Fire: Chicago and San Francisco

13. Political Machines
Attracted immigrants: provided housing and jobs in exchange for votes
Led by political bosses who controlled cities, usually corrupt
Tweed Ring
NYC; led by William M. Tweed
Exposed by political cartoonist Thomas Nast and he was arrested for embezzlement

16. Federal Jobs
Graft: illegal use of political influence for personal gain
Patronage: giving gov’t jobs to people who helped a candidate get elected (not the most qualified)
Pendleton Civil Service Act: used a merit system to appoint federal jobs

17. Voting Restrictions (Af. Amer.)
Poll Tax
Grandfather Clause
Literacy Test

18. Mexican Americans Came to US to work on Railroads
Debt peonage: forced labor to work of debts (illegal in 1911)