the challenges of modern america immigration and urbanization
TRANSCRIPT
The Challenges of Modern America
Immigration and Urbanization
New ImmigrationPromise of a Better Life
The New Immigrants◼Millions of immigrants entered the
U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
◼Why?◼escape difficult times (often sent
money home)
Europeans 1870 -- 1920
20 million Europeans arrived in the U.S.
Before 1890 most were
from western & northern Europe
After 1890 most
came from southern & eastern Europe
Arriving in the New Land Late 19th century most
immigrants arrived by boat trip from Europe
took about a month took about three
weeks from Asia trip was arduous
many died along the way
Destination wasEllis Island for
EuropeansAngel Island for
Chinese and Japanese
Getting to the United States was often very difficult. Many of the immigrants traveled in steerage (most basic / cheapest
accommodations)
Ellis Island, New York1892-1924
◼ 7 million European immigrants passed through Ellis Island’s facilities◼processing took
hours◼sick were sent home
Immigrants◼ had to show that they were not criminals◼ had to have some money ($25)◼ were able to work
Ellis Island
Angel Island, San Francisco◼ Chinese /
Japanese arriving on the West Coast gained admission at Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay
Angel Island, San Francisco
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Immigrant PopulationsUrbanization Northeast and
MidwestImmigrants settled
in cities Why?◼ available jobs◼ affordable
housing
*(1910) Immigrants made up more than half the population of 18 major American cities
Ethnic NeighborhoodsWhen immigrants arrived
◼greeted with hostility by some native-born Americans
◼ to preserve their culture / survive in the new land:◼newcomers built ethnic
neighborhoods (Little Italy's, Little Poland's, Germantown's, Chinatowns)
◼Some came to think of themselves as
hyphenated Americans
Migration from Country to City
Discrimination and segregation were often the unfortunate
reality for African Americans who migrated north
◼ Rapid improvements in farm technology (tractors, reapers, steel plows) made farming more efficient and required less labor
◼ Many rural people left for cities to find work – including almost a quarter of a million African Americans
Urban ProblemsProblems in American
cities in the late 19th & early 20th centuries included:
◼ Housing: Overcrowded tenements were un-healthy places to live
◼ Sanitation: Garbage often was not collected and polluted the air
Famous photographer Jacob Riis captured the struggle of living in crowded tenements
Urban ProblemsProblems in American cities in the late 19th & early
20th centuries included:◼ Transportation: Cities
struggled to provide adequate transit systems
◼ Water: Without safe drinking water cholera and typhoid fever were common
◼ Crime: As populations increased thieves flourished
◼ Fire: Limited water, wooden structures, and the use of candles led to many major urban fires
Chicago 1871 and San Francisco 1906 --
two major fires.
“Dumbbell” Tenement
“Dumbell “ Tenement, NYC
Jacob Riis:
How the
Other Half Lived
(1890)
Tenement living
Lodgers Huddled Together
Tenement Living
Struggling Immigrant Families
Politics in the Gilded Age City Bosses AND Political Machines
Political MachinesThe Gilded Age saw the rise of political machines -- well-organized groups that controlled a political party in a city
◼ Machines offered services to voters & businesses in exchange for political votes
◼ Were very influential with immigrants; Helped with jobs, housing, & naturalization
Political machines influenced
immigrant voters by creating parks
near slums, barbeques, giving away
Christmas presents to children
Political MachinesMachines were led by city bosses who used a network of ward bosses & precinct captains to:
◼Control access to city jobs, business licenses, courts
◼Arrange building projects & community services
Political Machines◼ Machine politicians
were often corrupt:◼ Use fraud to win
elections◼ Graft—Using their
political influence for personal gain
◼ Took kickbacks & bribes◼ The most notorious
machine boss was Boss Tweed of New York’s Tammany Hall who defrauded the city of millions of dollars
Boss Tweed
“Tweed Courthouse”—NY County Courthouse was supposed to cost $250,000 but cost $13 million