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Challenges of Urbanization. Challenges of Immigration & Urbanization. What issues did many new immigrants & city dwellers face at the turn of the century?. Immigration to the US. Millions immigrate through the “golden door” Europeans 20 million immigrate from 1870-1920
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Challenges of Immigration & Urbanization What issues did many new immigrants & city dwellers face at the turn of the century?
Immigration to the US • Millions immigrate through the “golden door” Europeans • 20 million immigrate from 1870-1920 • Most now coming from Ireland, Eastern & Southern Europe, looking for land & work Chinese & Japanese • About 500,000 immigrate from 1870-1920 • Chinese: escaping political turmoil • Japanese: higher wages in US Mexicans • About 700,000 immigrate from 1870-1920 • Most looking for work – US encourages them to do field work • List the top four immigrant groups (with %) on page 255.
On the East coast immigrants went through… Ellis Island, NY
Ellis Island • Once immigrants arrived they went through the following process: 1) Medical Examination: check for contagious or debilitating diseases 2) Examination of legal documents: make sure they have no criminal record, have some money, and want to work • Whole process took about 5-6 hours, 17,000 pass through per day. • About 20% detained for a day & 2% rejected
On the west coast immigrants went through… Angel Island Immigration Station barracks
Angel Island • Potential immigrants were given medical exams & quarantined if anything was suspicious • 1882:Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act banning the entry of all Chinese except students, teachers, merchants & tourists • Angel Island was largely set up to stop illegal Chinese immigrants • Immigrants questioned harshly and held for extended periods up to 2 yrs
Backlash to immigration • Backlash against immigrants on East coast, esp. against Jews, Poles, Italians, and Irish, most lived in poor enclaves together • On the West coast there was a great deal of anti-Asian sentiment • Only “Anglo-Saxon” protestants seen as true Americans • Nativist organizations form that want to restrict immigration (get rid of the “wrong” type of immigrant) Rebirth of the KKK • Ku Klux Klan, which started as anti-black gains momentum due to immigration backlash
Americanization Movement • Most immigrants move into city areas (cheap & easy) • Plan to assimilate people into the dominant “American” culture • Despite the movement, many ethnic communities spring up (keep own languages & customs)
Challenges of Urbanization • Lack of housing in cities, row housing or share housing • Lack of clean water & sanitation (causing disease) • Increase in fires (no electricity – using candles) • Gangs control parts of city - rampant crime
Gangs of New York • How were many immigrants treated when they came to America? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns-qtoxnAS8 • Explain how cities like New York were lawless? • What are overall conditions like in the city? • Describe ways the “gangs” make money? Is it brutal?
Preached salvation by helping the poor Reformers establish settlement housing Most well known: Hull House in Chicago founded by Jane Addams Social Gospel Movement