1. Chapter 19 CITIES and IMMIGRANTS
AMERICA BECOMES A MELTING POT IN THE LATE 19TH & EARLY 20TH CENTURY

2. Section 1: Problems Arise as Cities Grow
Urbanization
Housing
Row-House
Tenements
Dumbbell Tenements
Transportation
Water & Sanitation
Law & Order
Firefighting

3. 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

4. Americanization Movement
Education program designed to help immigrants assimilate to American culture.
Taught English and “American” culture.
Urbanization: the growth of cities.
Immigrants lived in ethnic neighborhoods where people spoke the same language.
People moved from the farms to the cities for jobs in the factories.

5. URBAN PROBLEMS
Problems in American cities in the late 19th and early 20th century included:
Housing: overcrowded tenements were unsanitary
Sanitation: garbage was often not collected, polluted air
Famous photographer Jacob Riis captured the struggle of living in crowded tenements

6. URBAN PROBLEMS CONTINUED
Transportation: Cities struggled to provide adequate transit systems
Water: Without safe drinking water cholera and typhoid fever was common
Crime: As populations increased thieves flourished
Fire: Limited water supply, wooden structures combined with the use of candles led to major urban fires – Chicago 1871 and San Francisco 1906 were two major fires
Harper’s Weekly image of Chicagoans fleeing the fire over the Randolph Street bridge in 1871

7. PHOTOGRAPHER JACOB RIIS CAPTURED IMAGES OF THE CITY

8. Jacob Riis

9. Jacob Riis

10. Jacob Riis

11. Jacob Riis

12. Jacob Riis

13. Jacob Riis

14. Section 1 Continued Segregation Great Migration Jim Crow Laws
De Facto Segregation
De Jure Segregation
Ghettos

15. Segregation De facto segregation: exists by practice & custom (choice)
De jure segregation: segregation by law. (difficult to fight this!)

16. SECTION 2: POLITICAL MACHINES ACQUIRE MORE POWER
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

17. ROLE OF THE POLITICAL BOSS
The “Boss” controlled jobs, business licenses, and influenced the court system
Precinct captains and ward bosses were often 1st or 2nd generation immigrants so they helped immigrants with naturalization, jobs, and housing in exchange for votes
Boss Tweed ran NYC

18. MUNICIPAL GRAFT AND SCANDAL
Some political bosses were corrupt
Some political machines used fake names and voted multiple times to ensure victory (“Vote early and often”) – called Election fraud
Graft (bribes) was common among political bosses
Construction contracts often resulted in “kick-backs”
The fact that police forces were hired by the boss prevented close scrutiny

19. THE TWEED RING SCANDAL
William M. Tweed, known as Boss Tweed, became head of Tammany Hall, NYC’s powerful Democratic political machines
Between , Tweed led the Tweed Ring, a group of corrupt politicians, in defrauding the city
($10 million)
Tweed was indicted on 120 counts of fraud and extortion
Tweed was sentenced to 12 years in jail – released after one, arrested again, and escaped to Spain
Boss Tweed

20. Immigrants
Immigrants were put to work for the machines (those who spoke English).
Would tell new immigrants to follow the “bosses” rules.
The political machines helped immigrants become citizens, provided housing and jobs.
Would get votes in return.

21. Section 3: New Immigrants Arrive
19th century immigration
Eastern Europeans
Cultural Differences
Language
Religion
Race

22. Immigration Continued

23. Melting Pot A mixture of people from different cultures and races.
They blend together by abandoning their native languages and cultures.
Become “American”

24. Chinatowns are found in many major cities
FRICTION DEVELOPS
Some immigrants tried to assimilate into American culture, others kept to themselves & created ethnic communities
Committed to culture, but tried hard to become Americans, many came to think of themselves as Italian-Americans, Polish-Americans, Chinese-Americans, etc
Some native born Americans disliked the immigrants unfamiliar customs and languages – friction soon developed
Chinatowns are found in many major cities

25. EUROPEANS
Between 1870 and 1920, about 20 million Europeans arrived in the United States
Before 1890, most were from western and northern Europe
After 1890, most came from southern and eastern Europe
All were looking for opportunity

26. LIFE IN THE NEW LAND
Late 19th century most immigrants arrived via boats
Trip from Europe took about a month, took about 3 weeks from Asia
The trip was arduous and many died along the way
Destination was Ellis Island for Europeans, and Angel Island for Asians

27. ELLIS ISLAND, NEW YORK
Ellis Island- arrival point for European immigrants
Had to pass inspection at the immigration stations
Processing took hours, and the sick were sent home
Immigrants had to show they were not criminals, had some money ($25), and were able to work
From , 17 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island’s facilities

28. ELLIS ISLAND, NEW YORK HARBOR

29. ANGEL ISLAND, SAN FRANCISCO
Asians, primarily Chinese, arrived on West Coast, gained admission at Angel Island (San Francisco Bay)
Processing was harsher than Ellis Island
Immigrants withstood tough questioning and long detentions in filthy conditions

30. ANGEL ISLAND WAS CONSIDERED MORE HARSH THAN ELLIS ISLAND

31. Section 4: Demands Grow for Restrictions on Immigration
As immigration increased, so did anti-immigrant feelings among natives
Anti-Asian feelings included restaurant boycotts

32. Nativism
Favoring the interests of native-born people over foreign-born people.
Anti-immigrant groups formed.
Most native born Americans were Protestants.
Did not like Jewish, Catholics, or Muslim immigrants.
Catholics were attacked & Jews were not allowed in certain public places.

33. Congress
Congress passed a literacy test requirement for immigrants to enter the U.S.
Had to read 40 words in English.
President Cleveland vetoed the bill.
It passed in 1917 when Wilson was in office, even though he vetoed it.

34. Many Chinese men worked for the railroads
Between 1851 and 1882, about 300,000 Chinese arrived on the West Coast
Some were attracted by the Gold Rush, others went to work for the railroads, farmed or worked as domestic servants
Many Chinese men worked for the railroads

35. Anti-Asian
Americans were worried about jobs going to Chinese immigrants.
Chinese Exclusion Act: law where no Chinese immigrants were allowed to enter the U.S. for 10 years.
Law was extended another 10 years in 1892.
1902: Chinese immigration was restricted.
Law turned over in 1943.

36. JAPANESE
In 1884, the Japanese government allowed Hawaiian planters to recruit Japanese workers
The U.S. annexation of Hawaii in 1898 increased Japanese immigration to the west coast
By 1920, more than 200,000 Japanese lived on the west coast

37. Japanese
1906: San Francisco segregated Japanese children and put them into separate schools.
President Theodore Roosevelt helped pass the Gentlemen’s Agreement of
Gentlemen’s Agreement: Japan’s government agreed to limit the number of unskilled workers going to the U.S. if San Francisco stopped the segregation.

38. Immigration Restrictions Continued
Alien Land Law- prohibited Japanese from owning agricultural land