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Immigration and Urbanization: United States Transformation, 1861-1900

This period saw 20 million European immigrants arriving in the U.S., with increasing numbers from Southern and Eastern Europe due to reasons like religious persecution and unemployment. Immigrants traveled in steerage, underwent processing at Ellis Island and Angel Island, and faced challenges like finding a job and adapting to a new language. Nativism and immigration restrictions were prevalent, leading most immigrants to move to cities for jobs. Urbanization brought about issues like overcrowded tenements, transportation challenges, and clean water shortages, with sanitation, crime, and fire safety concerns to address. Despite these challenges, the Americanization movement aimed to integrate immigrants into society.

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Immigration and Urbanization: United States Transformation, 1861-1900

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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

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

  6. 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)

  7. Immigrant Processing At Ellis Island

  8. Slovenian Immigrants

  9. Family of Immigrants on Ellis Island

  10. Immigrants Leaving Ellis Island

  11. 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

  12. Angel Island Processing

  13. 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.

  14. 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

  15. 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

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

  17. 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

  18. 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

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

  20. 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

  21. 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

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