Ch.10 – Immigrants & Urbanization (1870 – 1920)

1. Ch.10 – Immigrants & Urbanization (1870 – 1920) • Urbanization - Rapid Growth of Cities • During the Industrial Age, manufacturers built many new factories in cities to be near workers. Created new jobs, drew more people (immigrants) to cities. • Urban boom strongest in Northeastern U.S.

2. The Pull of America • People came to U.S. for many reasons; • 1) political and religious freedom 2) unable to find work in their mother country 3) land was scarce & could no longer support the population 4) escape from famine & disease. • Passage to the United States • Most immigrants came by ship. Often cost a life savings. Bought cheapest tickets in steerage – area underneath ship near engine & rudder. • Immigrants were packed tightly. Had little to eat & endured filthy conditions. Diseases were common.

3. Ellis Island, New York • Port of entry for most European immigrants after 1890. • Immigrants tagged by native language. Inspected for disease, mental competency, criminal history (could be sent back if they failed tests). • Name changes sometimes occurred for non-english speaking immigrants.

4. Angel Island, California • Port of entry for most Asian immigrants. Angel Island in San Francisco Bay. • Processed mostly Chinese immigrants. Endured longer detentions in filthy buildings & more harsh questioning than European immigrants.

5. The “New” Immigrants • After 1890, most immigrants came from countries in southern & eastern Europe (Poland, Italy, Russia, Austria-Hungary, Greece, ect.). • Immigrants were Jewish, Catholic, Orthodox. • Majority were unskilled & uneducated. Worked for low pay as factory laborers, miners, or construction workers. • Immigrant children usually did not go to school, but worked to help support their family. • Settled in ethnic neighborhoods in large cities of the Northeast & Midwest.

6. Asian Immigrants (Chinese & Japanese) • Immigrated primarily to West Coast (California to Washington). • Chinese came to seek fortune in California gold rush. Later turned to railroad building, farming, mining, domestic service. • Japanese moved to Hawaii to work on plantations. When U.S. annexed Hawaii in 1898, Japanese immigrated to U.S. mainland.

7. Discrimination toward Immigrants • Nativism – Belief that U.S. should be preserved for native-born Americans. • Resented immigrants because they competed for jobs (accepted low wages & poor working conditions). • Often felt “new immigrants” threatened America’s democratic institutions established by America’s founders (immigrants were Catholic, Jewish, etc. & came from poor, less advanced countries) • Languages from southern & eastern Europe sounded strange. • Protestants offended by Catholic festivals & Jewish beards & head coverings. • Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) – Banned Chinese laborers from entering the U.S.

8. Contributions to American Society • Immigrants helped America to grow by staffing industries. • Introduced new festivals, holidays, ethnic foods. • Variety of churches & synagogues. • Most becameassimilated – blended into American society. Children were quick to adopt new clothing & habits.

9. Urban Problems • Inadequate housing, poor transportation, lack of clean water, poor sanitation, crime, fire. • Most immigrants lived in Tenements – multi-story housing located in the center of cities. Often overcrowded & a breeding ground for crime & disease. • Solutions included: • full-time Police & Fire Departments • Sanitation Departments (trash collection, sewer lines) • Mass Transit – public transportation (subways, trolleys) • City Parks for recreation (ex: Central Park in NYC – designed by Fredrick Law Olmstead)

10. NY City Tenement Dwellings (Late 1800s)

11. Urban Reform • Concerned Americans, especially women, pushed to improve life in the cities. • Jacob Riis – photographer & author of 1890 book, How the Other Half Lives. Brought attention & demand for reform in city slums. • Social Gospel Movement – preached salvation to Christians who helped the poor. • Settlement Houses – Operated by women. Jane Addams “mother” of settlement house movement – built Hull House in Chicago. • Community centers built in middle of slums. Offered schooling, daycare, medical services to poor, especially immigrants.