Immigration and Urbanization

1. Immigration and Urbanization

2. Why Come to America? • Religious persecution • Jobs • “Birds of Passage” • Experience freedom • Escape difficulty

3. Europeans • 1870 & 1920 about 20 million Europeans immigrated to the U.S. • Before 1890, most from W. and N. Europe • After 1890, most from S. and E. Europe

5. Chinese • 1851 and 1882 about 300,000 Chinese arrived on the West Coast. • Came for: Gold Rush, Railroad work. Others worked as farmers, domestic servants. • Immigration cut short after 1882 - Congress’ anti-Chinese immigration act..

6. Japanese • 1884 – Japanese government allowed Hawaiian planters to recruit Japanese workers. • U.S. - Hawaii (1898) • By 1920, 200,000+ Japanese on the W. Coast.

7. West Indies and Mexico • 1880 & 1920, about 260,000 immigrants arrived in E. & SE. US from West Indies (Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, & other islands) • Mexicans also immigrated to find work, escape political problems700,000 arrived in early 20th c.

8. Ellis Island • Europeans - Ellis Island immigration station in NYC. Arrived via boats. About 1 mo. from Europe. • Screened for health; could only bring 100lbs of belongings. • Inspection: Health problems, documents. Processing took hours. Sick sent home. • 17 Million immigrants passed through E.I. from 1892-1924

9. Ellis Island • Admission Requirements: • Prove they never convicted of a felony • Demonstrate ability to work • Show they had some money: at least $25 (1909 standard)

10. Exact Questions Used: • What is your name? • Have you ever been to America before? • Do you have any relatives here? (If yes, asked where they lived.) • Is there anyone who came to meet you at Ellis Island? • Who paid for your passage? • Do you have any money? (If yes, the immigrant was told: Let me see it.) • Do you have job waiting for you in America? • Do you have a criminal record?

11. Edward Ferro: An Italian Immigrant • “The language was a problem of course, but it was overcome by the use of interpreters… It would happen sometimes that these interpreters—some of them—were really softhearted people and hated to see people being deported, and the would, at times help the aliens by interpreting in such a manner as to benefit the alien and not the government.” • (I Was Dreaming to Come to America)

12. Angel Island • Angel Island – immigration station for Asian immigrants arriving on W. Coast (San Francisco) (Also: Russian, Mexican, Australian immigrants – many sent back upon arrival.) • Inspection more difficult than E.I. (filthy; harsh questions)

14. Settling In • Assimilation • Ethnic Neighborhoods/Communities • Hyphenated Americans • Native-born Americans disliked immigrants (unfamiliar customs, languages) tension develops

16. Nativism • Nativism – preference for native-born Americans • Gave rise to anti-immigrant groups • Led to a demand for immigration restrictions.

18. Anti-Asian Sentiment • Chinese immigrants - low wages • Labor groups pressured politicians to restrict Asian immigration. • Congress: Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) limited Chinese immigration until 1943. (Banned all but a few Chinese immigrants)

19. Urbanization

20. Challenges • Immigrants > cities: jobs & cheap housing. • Farmers > cities • Inc. almost ¼ million African Americans • Late 19th c. rapid urbanization in NE & MW • By 1910, immigrants = more than HALF the pop. of 18 major cities

22. Immigration Explorer

24. Americanization • Government education • Americanization Movement – assimilate people of varied cultures into the “dominant” culture. • Taught: English, American history and government

25. Urban Problems • Serious housing shortages! New housing created: • ROW HOUSE – apartment type homes • TENEMENT – multifamily urban houses(usually overcrowded, unsanitary)

30. Urban Problems: Transportation • MASS TRANSIT - large numbers of people along fixed routes.

31. Urban Problems: Sanitation • Safe drinking water (cholera & typhoid fever common) • Garbage • Horse Manure • Sewage • By 1900: many cities built sewers& had Sanitation Depts.

33. Urban Problems: Crime! • Pickpockets and thieves everywhere (gotta steal to eat) • NYC Police Dept small

34. Urban Problems: Fire! • Limited water supply + wooden apts • Candles & kerosene • Cincinnati, OH (1853) created 1st paid Fire Dept. • Automatic fire sprinkler created in 1874

35. Major fires • San Francisco (1906) • Earthquake + Fire • ‘Quake = fallen bldgs, water & gas mains twist/break • After shockwaves, fire broke out • 500+ city blocks destroyed • 250,000+ ppl (over half pop) were homeless • The Great Chicago Fire (1871) • Burned 24 hrs. (Est 300 ppl died)100,000 left homeless • 3 sq/mi + of city center destroyed. • Property loss: est. $200 million • 17,500 buildings destroyed

37. Reformers • Social Gospel Movement – helping poor = Salvation • Settlement Houses – slum-located community centersProvided: a place to stay, classes, healthcare, & other social services • Jane Addams, founded Hull House in Chicago

38. Jacob Riis • A Danish-American social reformer –police reporter, then “muckraking” journalist/photojournalist • Book How the Other Half Lives: Studies among the Tenements of New York documented his findings. • Effect: NYC’s worst sweatshops & tenements torn down, school reform.

44. Politics

45. Political Machines • Political Machine– org. group (city boss) controlled act. in city

46. Political Machines & Bosses • In addition to running political machines, bosses: • Controlled job access, business licenses, influenced courts • Build parks, sewer systems, waterworks • Gave money to hospitals, schools, orphanages • All so that people would VOTE for them.

47. Immigrants & Bosses • Immigrants liked bosses & political machines • Bosses, precinct captains - 1st or 2nd gen immigrants (spoke same lang, same hardships) • Helped w/ naturalization (full citizenship) • Helped get jobs & houses • All in exchange for… VOTES

48. Bosses & Scandal • Bosses $$$ - Graft (political influence for personal gain) • Kickbacks (construction)(NYC Courthouse cost $3 mil, billed taxpayersfor $13 mil. Tweed Ring stole est. $30-200 mil from NYC) • “Vote early and often!” (Election Fraud) • Police forces often hired by boss(no one investigated)

49. Political Reform • Boss Tweed/Tammany Hall broken • Nat’l Politics – Patronage • Reform – Civil Service (jobs for most qualified) • PotUS Garfield supported patronage reform • PotUS Chester A. Arthur • Pendleton Act – Civil Service (merit based)