1. Immigration Industrialization undermines the idea that every American should be their own boss
Prior Knowledge- Think- What do you feel American culture is based on? Do immigrants destroy or enhance Am culture?
Objectives- students will understand the groups and reasons for the huge influx of immigration at the ends of the 1800’s
Goal Questions
1) Identify the Old Immigrants and New Immigrants. Explain why one group was welcomed in the US and the other was not
2) Analyze how Mexican immigration at the turn of the century was different than today?
3) Evaluate if immigrants today have the same difficulties that immigrants a hundred years ago.

2. Immigration to the US (late 1800’s)- between 1870-1920, over 20 million people moved to the US
Push Factors (Why would people want to leave their country?
Pull Factors- What are the reasons people want to come to US

3. New vs. Old Immigrants Europe- source of 75% immigrants to the US
Before most came from Northern and Western Europe (England, Germany, Ireland, Scandinavia)
Why would these immigrants be acceptable to Americans?
Light skinned, protestant, English speaking
New Immigrants
most came from Southern and Eastern Europe (Italy, Russia, Poland)
Why would these immigrants have a problem fitting into US?
Darker skinned, Jewish or Catholic, diff. language

4. Other Immigrant groups- Chinese
Asia- Chinese and Japanese, most all settled in California
Why move to US?
-Gold rush, jobs (rail roads, farming, mining, domestic chores (cleaning), save money and move back to China
Difficulty- looked and sounded vastly different, became target of organized racism and violence in CA
How should the government respond to Californians systematically attacking Chinese men?
Chinese Exclusion Act of banned immigration of Chinese to US

5. Mexicans
Mexican-American War (1849) US took ½ of Mexico (CA,NV,UT,NM,AZ,+TX)
*Mexicans living in those states automatically became American
?Why do Mexicans seek to come to US?
1902 Reclamation Act- Gov. encouraged farming in CA and Southwest creating jobs for Mexicans
How is this different from Am.’s attitude toward Mex. imm. Today?
Mexican Civil War many left Mexico to escape death, starvation, and crime
*No limit on Mexican immigration (no illegal immigration from Mex.)

6. Entering the US
? What are some of the difficulties immigrants have entering and living in the US today?
Difficult journey- most immigrants traveled by boats in the cargo hold (crowded, uncomfortable)
Requirements to Enter US- need to pass a physical examination, reading/intelligence test, $25
Ellis Island (NY) and Angel Island (SF) entry point for most immigrants

7. Difficulties in US
Ethnic Enclaves immigrants moved to neighborhoods where people spoke their language, had shared beliefs,
Culture Shock- confusion and anxiety new immigrants felt after arriving in the US
Nativism- movement by some Americans against immigrants from the “wrong countries”, feared these new people influencing America

8. Political Machines- group of people who control politics behind the scenes through corruption, graft, and bribery to make money off of taxpayers
Tammany Hall/Boss Tweed- politcal machine of NYC, Tweed was the Boss
Private Companies owned by Tweed would be hired by city to do work and would overcharge city
How can a political machine gain power even though it causes the government to go against the people?
Immigration- control Irish vote with favors
Fixed Elections- steal/stuff ballot boxes
Controlled Judges/police/politicians- so no one involved in corruption goes to jail

9. Scandals- Gilded Age known for political scandals where people used power to get rich
Patronage- political supporters were rewarded with government jobs
How would patronage make government more ineffective?
Fisk-Gould Scandal- tried to control gold market by buying all gold in US
President Grant’s Role/Cabinet- Pres. Grant’s secretary kept Gov. from dumping shares to lower price of gold
Credit Mobilier- RR that overcharged Gov. to lay track
What was the government’s response when it found out it was being ripped off?
Government response- elected officials were paid off to stay quiet

10. Forgettable Presidents- series of Presidents who did very little
James Garfield (R. 1881)- wanted to fix/end patronage
Assassinated by Charles Guiteau (crazed spoilsman/office seeker)
Why would the assassination of the President by a corrupt/crazy office seeker be a good thing?
Chester Arthur (R ) takes over after Garfield is shot, feels bad about WHY Garfield was killed
Pendleton Act- Gov. officials need to pass a test to work for Gov. proving competency
Where would people seeking to get rich in Gov. go to make $?
Grover Cleveland (D , 93-97)
Lowered Tariff (tax on imports) lowers Gov. revenue $)
What new source of revenue will the Gov. need to create? Income Tax- Gov. begins taxing $ people make
Benjamin Harrison (R )