America In Transition Urban Population Explosion & Westward Growth

America In Transition

Urban Population Explosion& Westward Growth

Who’s coming to the city?• Farmers and Immigrants– Why? • The promise of jobs

Who were most immigrants 1880-1920?

• European • Poor• From rural areas• Moving for the promise of a better life• “New Immigrants” were coming from Eastern

and Southern Europe• Europeans came through Ellis Island Asians came through Angel Island

Immigrants

• Problems?– “Natives” (people born here) resent new

immigrants for competing for jobs – Nativists want new immigrants to behave like

Americans

Immigrants• Solutions?– Legislation to restrict immigration– Chinese Exclusion Act

(1882)temporarily bans Chinese immigration

Urban Living Conditions

• Cities became overpopulated

• Food became difficult to get

• Many people lived in a small apartment (called tenements)

Political Machines

• No, it is not a “machine” with mechanical parts

• It is a corrupt city government• The leader is a “political boss” (he was corrupt

too!)• The “machine” (or organization):– Told people who to vote for– Promised jobs or other services

Political Machines

• Tammany Hall– Political

Machine in New York

– Boss Tweed was one leader

What about out West?

• Dawes Act of 1887– Attempt to assimilate/Americanize native’s– Land provided to families • This is different than reservations for an entire tribe

What about out West?

• Homestead Act– Intended to settle the Great Plains/Midwest– For a small fee, the government provided:• 160 acres• You work the land for 5 years, it’s yours

What about out West

• Gold Rush!!!– California• ‘49er’s

– Alaska• Klondike

– Didn’t require much skill– City populations exploded near gold mining areas