1. Immigration and Urbanization

2. Immigration
Immigrants fueled the 2nd Industrial Revolution by providing an endless supply of cheap labor
Cities were commonly segregated by ethnicity
Little Italy, Chinatown
Jews formed tight knit neighborhoods for religious safety
“New Immigrants”
1910 Census 1 out of 7 people living in the US were foreign born

3. Immigrant Backlash Know Nothing Party – Anti-immigrant
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Know Nothing Party
– Anti-immigrant
Focused energies
towards Catholics
Most Americans
were Protestants

4. Nativism – Belief that immigrants were a threat to jobs and a safe orderly society
Fear that immigrants will change America or not assimilate
Required immigrants to pass a literacy test
Ellis Island immigrants were checked for diseases; some were sent home
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

8. Life in the Cities
Jacob Riis – Exposed the conditions working class people lived in
“How the Other Half Live”
Tenement – Overcrowded, rundown apartments
No plumbing, sewage, trash all thrown on the street = DISEASE
Outbreaks killed thousands every year
Tenement Act of Landlords had to install lighting in hallways and at least one toilet for every two families

16. 7 Cent Nightly Bedding

17. Settlement Houses – Helped immigrants adjust / overcome poverty
Jane Addams’ Hull House

18. Urbanization and Political Machines

19. Political Corruption
Political Machines – Groups of people who got city leaders elected
Supposed to help meet the needs of urban poor in cities, but tended to be very corrupt
Political Boss – Head of the machine
Usually ran on the support of one or two ethnic groups
Favored their friends over the interests of all

20. Patronage / Spoils System – Practice of elected official giving govt
Patronage / Spoils System – Practice of elected official giving govt. jobs to friends or supporters regardless of their qualifications
Graft – Illegal or unfair gain

21. Tammany Hall
Boss Tweed – NYC; His machine gained wealth and power while others suffered; eventually went to prison for embezzlement
Supported by Irish and German immigrants
Both groups were treated very poorly by native born Americans
Worst Jobs, Pay, Living Conditions
Thomas Nast – Cartoonist; Extremely critical of the Irish

24. The Brains that achieve democratic party victory

25. Business Owners & Political Corruption
Govt. allowed / helped companies to produce products people needed, especially railroads
Viewed as a benefit to all Americans
Business owners made huge fortunes making these produces
Rich donated heavily to politicians
Again raised question if govt. only cared about the rich, especially when scandals made the news

26. Credit Mobilier – VP of Union Pacific Railroad (congressman) sold land to members of Congress below value
Also charged the govt. millions more to build railroads than they cost
Credit Mobilier and his friends scandals almost cost President Grant his reelection bid

27. Political Reforms
Pendleton Act – Promotions to govt. jobs have to be based on ability not connections
17th Amendment – Direct election of Senators by voters
Primaries – Voters choose candidates
Referendum – Important laws are decided by voters, not politicians
All were an attempt to lessen the power of political bosses