1. Immigrants and Urbanization
America becomes a melting pot in the late 19th and early 20th century.

2. SECTION 1:THE NEW IMMIGRANTS
Millions of immigrants entered the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Why did people leave?
Push factors:
Religious persecution.
Overpopulation.
Why did people come?
Pull factors:
Religious freedom.
Jobs, higher wages, land.
Emigrate – to leave ones place of residence.
“I emigrated from Ireland due to the potato famine.”
Immigrate – to come to a new place to live.
“I immigrated to New York City to work in a better paying factory job.”

3. Immigration – Incoming groups
Irish
Push – potato famine
Pull – religious tolerance, better wages
New York, Massachusetts
Germans
Push – political instability, overpopulation
Pull – higher wages, farmland
New York, Chicago
Chinese
Pull – gold, railroad jobs
West Coast, California
Japanese
Pull – higher wages
California, Hawaii

4. Ellis Island, New York Ellis Island was the arrival point for
European immigrants.
They had to pass inspection at the
immigration stations.
Processing took hours, and the sick were
sent home.
Immigrants also had to show that they
were not criminals, had some money ($25),
and were able to work.
From , 17 million immigrants
passed through Ellis Island’s facilities.
Immigration Through Ellis Island - Award Winning Documentary Video Film - YouTube

6. Angel Island, San Francisco
Asians, primarily Chinese, arriving
on the West Coast gained admission
at Angel Island in the San Francisco
Bay.

8. Immigration – Changing America
Melting pot – a mixture of people of different
cultures and races who blended together by
abandoning their native languages and
customs.
Reflected in our modern multicultural society.

9. Immigrant Restrictions
Ethnic differences and undercut wages and led to resentment against immigrants.
Favored “superior” native born Americans (Nativism) and European immigrants.
Anti-Immigration legislation:
Chinese Exclusion Act – from 1882 to 1943 no Chinese laborers were not allowed to immigrate to the US…
Gentleman’s Agreement – 1907, restricted Japanese laborers in exchange for ending school segregation in San Francisco.

10. SECTION 2: THE CHALLENGES OF URBANIZATION
Rapid urbanization occurred in the late 19th century in the Northeast & Midwest.
Most immigrants settled in cities because of the available jobs & affordable housing.
By 1910, immigrants made up more than half the population of 18 major American cities.

11. Migration from Rural to Urban
Rapid improvements in farm technology (tractors, reapers, steel plows) made farming more efficient in the late 19th century.
It also meant less labor was needed to do the job.
Many rural people left for cities to find work- including almost 250,000 African Americans who were also escaping racial violence.

13. Urbanization Problems
Poor Housing
Could buy better homes outside of the city, but transportation to work in the city was not feasible.
Tenements – multifamily urban dwellings.
Unsanitary – rats, lack of indoor plumbing, garbage & sewage overflow, poor ventilation, disease.
Overcrowded – many families occupied single family residences: spread of disease, discomfort.
Crime riddled – poverty leads to making a quick buck, competition and bad blood between ethnic groups promotes creating gangs for protection.
Lack of safe water – little clean drinking water, infrequent bathing, disease, inability to prevent fires.

20. Reformers Mobilize Jacob Riis – photography raised awareness.
Jacob Riis Clip - YouTube
The Social Gospel Movement preached salvation through service to the poor.
Some reformers established Settlement Homes.
These homes provided a place to stay, classes, health care and other social services.
Jane Addams was the most famous member of the Settlement Movement (founded Hull House in Chicago).

21. SECTION 3: POLITICS IN THE GILDED AGE
As cities grew in the late 19th century, so did political machines.
Political machines controlled the activities of a political party in a city.
Ward bosses, precinct captains, and the city boss worked to ensure their candidate was elected.

22. Role of the Political Boss
The “Boss” (typically the mayor) controlled city jobs, business licenses, and influenced the court system.
Precinct captains and ward bosses helped immigrants with naturalization, jobs, and housing in exchange for votes.

23. Municipal Graft and Scandal
Many political bosses were corrupt.
Some political machines used fake names and voted multiple times to ensure victory (“Vote early and often”).
Graft (bribes) was common among political bosses (“Pay to play politics”).
Construction contracts often resulted in “kick-backs.”
The fact that police forces were hired by the boss prevented close scrutiny.

24. Civil Service Replaces Patronage
Presidents Hayes and Arthur pushed for reform in the hiring system.
By the way… President Garfield is assassinated by Charles Guiteau…
The system had been based on Patronage; giving jobs and favors to those who helped a candidate get elected.
Reformers pushed for an adoption of a merit system of hiring the most qualified for jobs.
The Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 authorized a bipartisan commission to make appointments for federal jobs based on performance.