Immigration, & Urbanization

1. Immigration, & Urbanization The Transformation of the United States, 1861-1900

3. 20 Million European Immigrants Arrive In U.S. Between 1870-1920 • Before 1890, immigrants came from Ireland & Germany. • Beginning in the 1890’s, increasing numbers come from southern & eastern Europe • Reasons: • religious persecution • scarcity of farmland • Unemployment • escape from revolution

4. Chinese, Japanese, Mexicans, West Indians Come to US via West Coast • Chinese first arrive after discovery of gold and stay to work on railroads. • Hawaiian planters recruit Japanese workers • 700,000 Mexicans emigrate from Mexico to find work & escape political upheaval

5. The Journey • Most immigrants travelled in steerage---in the ship’s cargo holds • Crossing from Europe to America approximately one week • Crossing the Pacific took nearly 3 weeks

6. Ellis Island • Europeans went to Ellis Island • Between 1892-1924, processes 17 million people

7. Processing on Ellis Island • Ordeal that might take 5+ hours • Needed to pass physical exam • Anyone with serious health problem, like TB, sent home • After passing exam, documents checked and immigrant questioned • Criminal record? • Able to work? • Had at least $25? (Requirement after 1909)

8. Immigrant Processing At Ellis Island

9. Slovenian Immigrants

10. Family of Immigrants on Ellis Island

11. Immigrants Leaving Ellis Island

12. Angel Island • Asians, went to Angel Island on San Francisco Bay • Between 1910-1940, 50,000 Chinese immigrants entered US • Angel Island harsher experience than Ellis

13. Angel Island Processing

15. The Immigrant’s Challenges • Immigrant needs to • Find place to live • Get a job • Get along in daily life • Learn unfamiliar language • Chain Migration • Ethnic Communities: Many sought out others who shared cultural & religious values; spoke their native language.

16. Nativism • Are we a “melting pot” or a “tossed salad”? • Nativism: What is it • American Protective Society founded in 1887 • Immigration Restriction League • Extra-special prejudice against Asians: • Chinese Exclusion Act (1882): • Gentlemen’s Agreement (1907-8) between US & Japan

18. Most Immigrants Move to Cities • Why? • cheap & convenient places to live • offered steady jobs in mills & factories • By 1910, immigrants make up more than half the total population of 18 major cities • Americanization Movement

19. Urbanization • Technology, industrialization & immigration contribute to the urbanization of America in the 19th & early 20th centuries • What is urbanization?

20. Migration from Country to City • Rapid improvements in farm technology (McCormick reaper & steel plow) meant fewer farm workers needed. • Jim Crow laws200.000 southern African-Americans left the South between 1890-1919

21. Urban Problems: Housing • Tenements: Row houses packed many single family row houses were occupied by two or three immigrant families. They were overcrowded & lacked basic sanitation

22. Urban Problems: Transportation • Innovations in mass transit • Cities struggled to repair old transportation systems and build new ones to keep up with rising population

23. Urban Problems: Clean Water • Cities built large public waterworks to keep up with demand • Need to prevent water-borne illnesses prevent diseases (cholera & typhoid) • Many urban dwellers did not have access to safe water in early 20thcentury

24. Other Issues: Sanitation, Crime & Fire • Hygiene ongoing issue • Crime: Too few police • Fire constant threat to cities • Limited water supply. • Major city fires occurred in 1870’s & 1880’s. • Fire departments formed • Replacement of wood with brick, stone, or concrete made cities safer