1. Urbanization
and Immigration
in the
Gilded Age

2. The dramatic rise in industry during the Gilded Age went hand in hand with a huge increase in both urbanization and immigration. They all fed off of one another.
New York Skyline ca. 1910

4. This urban population explosion can be explained in a number of ways.

5. Migration from rural to urban America
- Farm technology decreased the need for laborers; thus out of work farmers moved to cities for employment.
- Many African American sharecroppers lost their livelihood for the same reason.
1890–1910, moved to cities in North, West to escape racial violence
Found segregation, discrimination in North too
Competition for jobs between blacks, white immigrants caused tension

6. Migration from the
World to the U.S.
A large percentage of that urban growth was due to an explosion in immigration during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

7. Immigrants from Europe
Old New New New

8. Why was it that people from around the world increasingly sought to live in the United States?

9. - Growing number of jobs due to industrial growth.
- America is the “Land of Opportunity.”
- “The streets are paved with gold!”
- American commitment to Democracy.

10. While immigration stations like Ellis Island, and Angel Island in San Francisco, prevented some immigrants from entering the U.S., the vast majority were initially let in with little or no restriction.

11. How can we explain the fact that the gates to American were flung wide open for all immigrants, at least initially?

12. - Business owners wanted people who would work for next to nothing.
- Railroad companies wanted to sell off land grants to those who came with $.
- Shipping companies wanted to make profits transporting people across the oceans.
- States wanted an increase in population to bolster revenue and resources.

13. All of this then, resulted in explosive urban growth, especially on the East Coast.

14. However, cities were not equipped to deal with such a massive population explosion and a number of issues grew increasingly problematic.

15. Urban Problems
Water
s cities had inadequate or no piped water, indoor plumbing was rare
- Filtration introduced 1870s, chlorination in 1908
Sanitation
- Streets: manure, open gutters, factory smoke, poor trash collection
- Contractors hired to sweep streets, collect garbage, clean outhouses often did not do job properly

16. Early on this is how the streets were cleaned.

17. Hauling and dumping garbage

18. Open sewer carrying away human waste
Yummy!

19. Urban Problems Crime - As population grew, thieves flourished
- Police forces were too small to be effective
Fire
- Fire hazards: limited water, wood houses, candles, kerosene heaters
- Most firefighters volunteers, not always available
- Best (worst?) example was the Great Chicago fire in 1871

20. Urban Problems
The problem that seemed most difficult to solve was the continued existence of slums.

21. Most factory workers earned so little that they could barely afford the necessities of life (Food, clothing, shelter, etc…)

22. As a result, immigrant, and lower class Americans found shelter wherever they could.
This often meant living in poorly constructed, cheap, crowded, and dirty apartments jammed together in slum neighborhoods.

24. Most wealthy and middle class Americans had no idea just how bad things were for the vast majority of people living in American cities.

25. Journalist and photographer Jacob Riis began to change their minds when he took his camera into the worst areas of New York City.

26. Riis put his photos together in a work he called “How the Other Half Lives.” This exposition of images forced people to focus their attention on the plight of the urban poor.

27. Front view of a tenement

31. How about a nice place for the kids to play?

35. Don’t forget the sewer river!

37. What did these places look like on the inside?

38. Enter
through
the
front
door.

39. Or the back door if you prefer.

44. As terrible conditions continued to persist, urban reformers called on concerned citizens to tackle the issue of slum life.

45. The Americanization Movement
- Believed the best way to help immigrants was to help
them embrace American culture and lifestyle
- Created opportunities for immigrants to learn English,
U.S. history, and U.S. government
- Also hoped to teach proper social etiquette and
hygiene

46. The Americanization movement was largely unsuccessful as immigrants continued to settle in ethnic communities.
Why would they do so?

47. The Social Gospel Movement The Settlement House Movement
- Applied Christian teachings and ideals to urban
problems
- It was the “duty” of good Christians to help
- Some believed that God would take notice of these
efforts and reward those who helped in the afterlife
The Settlement House Movement
- Focused on helping immigrants assimilate into America
- Established community centers, known as settlement houses, in the worst neighborhoods
- Provided educational, cultural and social services to the poor
- Greatest success was in providing medical care

48. Perhaps the most influential person behind settlement house reform was Jane Addams.
Her Hull House, in Chicago, provided a model for other urban reformers.
She also represented the increasing role women played in the reform movement.

49. While many Americans hoped to improve conditions for immigrants, many others began to call for limitations on the number of people allowed into the U.S.

50. Three main elements of anti-immigration began to come together in the 1890’s.

51. 1. Nativists argued that immigrants threatened the “American way of life.”
- Immigrants took jobs from “good Americans.”
- Most immigrants were not Protestant and threatened America’s religious heritage.
- The brought crime, disease and anarchy with them.

52. Immigration Restriction League
- Founded by Harvard graduates Charles Warren and Prescott Hall.
- Hoped to use their influence in Congress to push for anti-immigration legislation.
- Did not dislike all immigrants. Based much of their anti-immigrant argument on Social Darwinism.

53. Immigrants from Northern and Western Europe were okay. Why?

54. Immigrants from southern and eastern Europe, and Aisa were not desirable. Why?

56. 2. Immigrants were given the right to vote increasing the supposed threat to the “American way of life.”

57. American Citizens: What weight can my vote have against this flood of ignorance, stupidity and fraud?

58. Urban politicians, and the established political parties saw a key to lasting political success in the form of millions of immigrants. Why?

59. The most famous political machine operated out of Tammany Hall in New York City.

60. Between 1869 and 1871, William “Boss” Tweed and the Tammany Hall machine ran New York City. During those years Tweed and his circle stole between $30 Million and $200 Million dollars from taxpayers through various forms of graft.

61. In order to expose the corruption of the Tweed Ring, Thomas Nast, a political cartoonist for Harper’s Weekly, began to draw cartoons documenting the graft and scandal of Tammany Hall.

64. Tweed himself was eventually arrested, but the Tammany Hall machine continued to operate.

65. 3. Immigrants posed a problem for the growing labor unions. How?

66. Immigrants were also increasingly tied to the more radical and violent elements of the labor movement such as the anarchists.

67. As a result of all three issues, the federal government eventually began to take action to stem the tide of immigration.

68. Immigration Restriction
1. Chinese Exclusion Act 1882
2. Gentleman’s Agreement 1906
3. Emergency Quota Act 1921 and Immigration Act 1924

69. Fin.