Immigration and Urbanization Chapter 15

2. Immigration and UrbanizationChapter 15

3. Essential Question • Some consider America a “melting pot”. What does this mean? Do you agree that America is a melting pot? If yes, why? If no, why not?

6. Immigration • Before 1900, most immigrants came from Northern and Western Europe • Countries such as Ireland, England, Germany, France, and the Netherlands • After 1900, many immigrants came from Eastern and Southern Europe • Countries such as Russia, Italy, Greece, and Poland • Majority of immigrants were still of European descent. • Many came because jobs, especially in agriculture, were limited in Europe • Some also came to seek the independence America offered.

8. A smaller number of immigrants started coming from China and Japan in the late 1800’s. • Many Chinese came originally to mine gold. • They later helped build the railroads. • Japanese and Chinese immigrants settled mainly on the West Coast. • Some immigrants also came from the West Indies and Mexico to find employment. • Large numbers came from Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Cuba

9. Chinese Miners

11. European Immigrants mainly came through inspection at Ellis Island in New York City • Asian Immigrants mainly came through inspection at Angel Island in San Francisco. • Conditions and Inspections were much worse at Angel Island than at Ellis Island. • What does this reflect? • Do you think the current anti-immigration feelings would be held if the immigrants were Europeans?

12. Ellis Island

19. Alcatrez Island (foreground) and Angel Island (background)

21. Nativist sentiments arose once again. • What group had been discriminated against earlier in American History? • Anti-Immigrant sentiments rose for three main reasons. • 1. Jobs- especially in large cities with substantial immigrant populations • 2. Racist Sentiments • Non Anglo-Saxons were not trusted • Much of this arose through the teachings of Social Darwinism • This was the idea of “survival of the fittest”

22. Social Darwinism was begun by a man named Herbert Spencer • It claimed that those who were the most powerful or advanced were a “higher species”. • Broke up the different races into different species. The Aryan (white) Race was at the top. • Eventually, led to the Holocaust in Germany.

23. Herbert Spencer

25. 3. Religious Differences- Most America was still Protestant. • Many of the Eastern European Immigrants were Jewish, Orthodox, or Catholic. • Most of the Asian Immigrants were Buddhist or from other Asian religions • Groups such as the American Protective Association and Immigration Restriction League were started to stop immigration. • Congress tried passing a literacy test for new immigrants. • It was vetoed by President Cleveland.

28. One bill, which was passed, was the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. • Restricted Chinese Immigration with a few exceptions, like tourists, teachers, or students. • Was kept into law until 1943. • Japanese students were segregated in San Francisco public schools. • Theodore Roosevelt reached “The Gentlemen’s Agreement” with Japan. Japan kept citizens from immigrating in return for better treatment of Japanese already in America. The schools were desegregated. • Why do you think people would have been so adamant about segregating schools?

33. Urbanization • Urbanization = growth of cities • Large cities began to grow in the Northeast and Midwest due to industrialization. • Most immigrants moved into cities. • Many immigrants liked to live in their own communities in the cities. (i.e. Chinatown, Little Italy)

34. Many Americans sought to assimilate immigrants with the Americanization Movement. • The Americanization movement sought to make all people become part of the American culture. • They would learn English and other skills essential to survival in the US like cooking, etiquette, history, etc. • This was primarily done through school

35. Housing in big cities was usually horrible. • Overcrowded apartments called tenements, or row houses, were the primary housing for poor immigrant communities. • In big cities, transportation was inadequate, safe water was a problem, trash pickup was rare, the crime rate was high, and fire was a constant danger.

36. Reformers, like those of the Social Gospel movement tried to help with urban problems. • preached salvation through service to the poor. • They built “settlement houses” in slum areas • like community centers • leader of movement was Jane Addams • Hull House in Chicago was most famous

37. Jane Addams and the Hull House

38. Tenement District, NYC

44. Political Machines • Around this time Political Machines went on the rise. • This is where people would agree to support a political party in exchange for certain promises or services. • In some cases, “Political Bosses” were as powerful as elected leaders.

45. Often, political bosses became corrupt. • Instead of spending tax money on improving citizens’ lives, they would keep the money for themselves. • One of the most corrupt of these political bosses was Boss Tweed of New York City. His political machine was called, Tammany Hall.

46. Boss Tweed

48. Presidents • James Garfield became President. • He fought for Civil Service reform which is where the most qualified individuals get government jobs, not those who are part of a certain political party. • Garfield was assassinated in 1881. • His V-P, Chester A. Arthur, became President. • He signed the Pendleton Civil Service Act in 1883, which reformed the civil service. • People now had to take tests and pass a screening process to get government jobs. This helped eliminate the spoils service and start a merit system

49. After Arthur, Grover Cleveland became President. He was the first Democratic President in 28 years. • He fought against high tariffs which helped big business but hurt the common citizens. • However, he was unable to lower the tariffs. • Benjamin Harrison beat Cleveland the next election. • He raised tariffs to the highest level ever.

50. Rutherford B. Hayes, 19th president 1877-1881