Chapter 6: Urban America

European and Asian immigrants arrived in the United States in great numbers during

the late 1800s. Providing cheap labor, they made rapid industrial growth

possible. They also helped populate the growing cities.

Section 1 Key Terms, People and Events

• Nativism – hostility towards immigrants• Ellis Island – port of entry in New York Harbor• Angel Island – port of entry in San Francisco • Chinese Exclusion Act – barred Chinese from

entry into the United States from 1882-1943

Section 1 - Immigration

• 1865-1914 25 million Europeans immigrate to the U.S.

• Before 1890 most immigrants were from northern and western Europe.

• After 1890 most immigrants were from southern and eastern Europe

Why Did People Emigrate?

Push factors– Farm poverty and

worker uncertainty– Wars and compulsory

military service – Political tyranny– Religious oppression– Population pressure

Pull Factors– Plenty of land and

plenty of work– Higher standard of

living– Democratic political

system– Opportunity for social

advancement

Immigration

European• 14 day journey across the

Atlantic in steerage.• Ellis Island for processing• Ethnic enclaves –

communities within the cities that provided immigrants with familiarities from their homeland.

Asian• Chinese immigrants worked

out west, built many railroads.

• Faced segregation and discrimination, yet prospered.

• 1900 – 1910 Japanese arrive• 1910 - Angel Island opens• Immigration hearings could

last months.

Nativism Resurges

• Asians, Jews, and eastern Europeans (Catholics)• Feared Catholics beliefs were incompatible with

American values and Protestant, British culture.• American Protective Association – 1887,

members vowed not to hire or vote for Catholics.

• Irish immigrants suffered the most from anti-Catholic attitudes: considered lazy and ignorant, were only able to get low paying, menial jobs.

Asian Immigration Restricted• Workingman’s Party of California – 1870’s• Chinese Exclusion Act – 1882 A 10 year ban on Chinese

immigration and prohibition of citizenship for Chinese already here. (Ban was made permanent in 1902, repealed in 1943).

• 1906 San Francisco Board of Education orders all Chinese, Korean, and Japanese children to attend the “Oriental School”.

• “Gentleman’s Agreement” between Theodore Roosevelt and Japanese Prime Minister. Order rescinded in exchange for a limit on Japanese immigration.

Section 2 – Urbanization

• Americans Migrate to the Cities– Immigrants with little money settled into cities– Rural Americans and farmers moved to the cities for

better paying jobs and more opportunities.– Limited space meant building up, not out. • 1885 Chicago’s 10 story skyscraper built• New York City had more skyscrapers than any city in the

world.• Elevated railroads and underground subway systems

developed

Separation by Class

• High Society – Super rich, multiple mansions, many servants, luxurious lifestyle

• Middle Class Gentility – Large home in suburbs, one or more servants, wife didn’t work.

• Working Class – lived in tenements, both parents worked, kids worked too, little money left over

Urban Problems

Crime and Pollution• Crime• Fire • Pollution– horse manure in streets– Smoke, soot and ash from

coal and wood fires

• Disease– Typhoid fever– cholera

Machine Politics• Political Machines• Party Bosses• Fraud and Graft• Tammany Hall• William “Boss”

Tweed

Section 2 Homework

• Read section 2, pages 222 -227 Re-read the Machine Politics paragraphs on page 227 and the Primary Source quote by George Plunkett on page 226 and answer the following questions: 1.What did party bosses like Plunkett offer to immigrants and working class people in cities? 2.What does Plunkett mean by the phrase “honest Graft”? 3.How does political corruption hurt the community?

George Plunkett and Machine Politics

When George Plunkett died in 1924 he was eulogized this way;

“He understood that in politics honesty doesn't matter, efficiency doesn't matter, progressive vision doesn't matter. What

does matter is the chance for a better job, a better price of wheat, better business conditions. Plunkett's legacy is to that

practicality."

Political Cartoon Assignment

Find a political cartoon in a recent newspaper. Interpret the meaning of the cartoon and explain the symbolism and stereotypes being used. Do you agree or disagree with the cartoon? Why? Attach the cartoon to a piece of loose-leaf paper, along with your written responses. Due Monday, November 22.

Extra Credit

• Research an incident of political corruption in the 20th or 21st century (1900 – 2010) and describe the outcome. What was the offense? Was the person removed from office? Did the incident have an impact on the community? How does it compare to corruption of the late 1800’s? Due Tuesday, November 23.

Section 3 – The Gilded Age• Individualism – abilities will allow for success• Naturalism – failure can be out of your control• Social Darwinism– “Survival of the fittest”

• Gospel of Wealth– Help people help themselves– Schools, hospitals, libraries, etc…

• The Social Gospel– Salvation Army, YMCA, settlement houses– Jane Adams – Hull House

Section 3 Assignment• Read section 3, pages 230 – 232 and 236 – 239

1. Write a paragraph describing the ideas of Social Darwinism, the Gospel of Wealth, and the Social Gospel. 2. Write additional paragraphs analyzing the positive and negatives of each social theory. 3. Explain which social theory you think is best and why.

Section 3 Assignment (9)

• Read section 3, pages 230 – 232 and 236 – 239 1. Identify Social Darwinism, the Gospel of Wealth, and the Social Gospel. 2. Describe the positive and negatives of each social theory. 3. Explain which social theory you think is best and why.

Section 5 – The Rise of Segregation

• Exodusters head to Kansas• Imposing Segregation– Poll Tax– Literacy tests– “grandfather clause”– Jim Crow Laws

• Plessy v. Ferguson 1892 -“Separate but Equal” • The African American Response– Booker T. Washington – compromise & education– W.E.B. Du Bois – activism & change now

Chapter 6 Study Guide• How did Booker T. Washington think African–

Americans should work to end discrimination?• How did W.E.B. DuBois think African-Americans

should work to end discrimination?• What issue did Jacob Riis think was a problem

for society?• How did immigration patterns change between

1870 and 1900?• What organization did nativists fear would gain

too much power because of immigration?

Chapter 6 Study Guide continued• What did organizations like the Salvation Army and

the YMCA offer to the urban poor?• How did Tammany Hall operate?• What were “streetcar suburbs”?• What “pulled” many Chinese immigrants to the

United States? • What were the main ideas of Social Darwinism?• What were the main ideas of the Gospel of Wealth?• What were the main ideas of the Social Gospel?

Chapter 6 Study Guide continued

• What function did Ellis and Angel Island serve?• What was the philosophy of Individualism?• What was the philosophy of Naturalism?• What did immigrants receive from political

machines in exchange for their votes?• Why were subway systems initially developed?• What was the main goal of nativists?• Why were skyscrapers developed and what was

the first one like?

Chapter 6 Study Guide continued• Why did labor unions oppose immigration?• Why was the Workingman’s Party formed?• Who was William “Boss” Tweed and what

happened to him?• What “push” factors brought many immigrants

to the United States?• What “pull” factors brought many immigrants to

the United States?• What problems existed in cities and what caused

those problems?