Immigrants and Urbanization Chapter 7 Honors US History

Immigrants and Urbanization Chapter 7 – Honors US History

Section 1: Targets n n By the end of this lesson, I will be able to: 1. Identify immigrant’s countries of origin. 2. Describe the journey immigrants endured and their experiences at United States immigration stations. 3. Examine the causes and effects of the nativists’ anti-immigrant sentiments.

Section 1: The New Immigrants: n Main Idea: Immigration from Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and Mexico reached a new high in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries. n Why it Matters: Now: This wave of immigration helped make the United States the diverse society it is today. n Key Terms: Ellis Island Angel Island Melting Pot n Key Terms (2): Nativism Chinese Exclusion Act Gentleman’s Agreement n n n

What is your favorite activity on a NO SCHOOL FRIDAY? 30 1. 2. 3. 4. 0 Watching History Channel Marathons. Dreaming about WWII Battles. Reading the History Channel Magazine. Rocking out to historical tunes!! 25

Story Time! n The year is 1880. New York City’s swelling population has created a housing crises. Immigrant families crowd into apartments that lack light, ventilation, and sanitary facilities. Children have no where to play except the streets and are often kept out of school to work and help support their families. You are a reformer who wishes to help immigrants improve their lives….

Discussion: Turn and Talk n n 1. What would you do to improve conditions? 2. What skills do newcomers need to make it? 3. How might immigrants respond to help from an outsider? 4. How do you think you’d react?

Where Did the Immigrants Come From? n n Between 1870 & 1920, about 20 million Europeans immigrated to the U. S. Population explosion in Europe(432 Million people)

Why Did The Immigrants Come Here? n n n 1. Escape religious persecution (Anti. Semitism) 2. Improve their economic situation (jobs) (Birds of passage) 3. Experience greater freedom in the U. S. 4. Escape difficult conditions (famine, land shortages – from rising population) NOTE: Most European immigrants arrived on the East Coast (they were from Europe).

Which of the following is NOT a reason why the immigrants came to America? 1. 2. 3. 4. 0 of 30 To escape persecution To improve their economic situation To educate their children in better American schools To escape difficult conditions 25

Chinese and Japanese: n n n A smaller number of immigrants came from Asia. They arrived on the West Coast About 300, 000 Chinese came between 1851 & 1883. Many Chinese helped build the 1 st transcontinental railroad. Some sought gold (1848 CA gold rush) They called US “Gold Mountain”

Mexico and the Caribbean: n n From 1880 to 1920, about 260, 000 immigrants arrived from Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, & other islands. Over the next 20 yrs, around 700, 000 Mexicans arrived between 1910 to 1930 to escape political turmoil in their country.

Ellis Island: n n n Most European immigrants to the U. S. arrived in New York. Had to pass through immigration station located on Ellis Island in New York Harbor They were subjected to various tests (some were detained) Only about 2% of immigrants were denied entry in the USA. Most immigrants were allowed only 100 lbs of goods (think about all of your belongings)

Do you have any ideas about the requirements necessary to enter the US? 1. 2. 3. Yes…I have some idea Not really sure but possibly Not sure at all 0 of 30 25

Passing Inspection: n n Officials at Ellis Island decided whether the immigrants could enter the country. If they had a serious health problem or a contagious disease they were sent home.

Inspection: n n Children Waiting at Ellis Island n A government inspector checked documents and questioned every immigrant to determine whether they met the legal requirements for entering the USA? What do you think they were? What do you think they should have been?

What Were the Requirements for Admission? n n 1. Proving they had never been convicted of a felony 2. Demonstrating that they were able to work. 3. Showing that they had some money: at least $25 (1909 standard) Let’s look at an example:

Here Are The Exact Questions Used: n n n n 1. What is your name? 2. Have you ever been to the America before? 3. Do you have any relatives here? If the answer was yes, then asked where they lived. 4. Is there anyone who came to meet you at Ellis Island? 5. Who paid for your passage? 6. Do you have any money? ( If the answer was yes then immigrant was told: Let me see it. ) 7. Do you have a job waiting for you in America? 8. Do you have a criminal record?

Edward Ferro: An Italian Immigrant: n “The language was a problem of course, but it was overcome by the use of interpreters…It would happen sometimes that these interpreters – some of them – were really softhearted people and hated to see people being deported, and they would, at times, help the aliens by interpreting in such a manner as to benefit the alien and not the government. ” (I Was Dreaming to Come to America)

Angel Island: n n Immigration station for the Asian immigrants arriving on the West Coast. Located in San Francisco. Inspection process more difficult than on Ellis Island. (filthy conditions, harsh questioning) Extended detainment

Cooperation For Survival: n n n Survival Kit Many immigrants settled in communities with other immigrants from same country. They also formed organizations to help each other. Think about: Finding a place to live, a job, understanding the language and culture.

Immigration Restrictions: n n n America started to be called a MELTING POT Many cultures & races had blended But, many immigrants refused to give up their culture. So, nativism (favoritism towards native born Americans) began to spread.

How do you feel about the Melting Pot personification of the US? 1. 2. 3. I think it suits the US well. I think it somewhat applies. Most people just view themselves as Americans. 15

New and Old Immigrants New immigrants tended to come from Southern and Eastern Europe n These immigrants tended to be Catholic n Old immigrants tended to come from Western and Northern Europe. n These immigrants tended to be Protestant n

The Rise of Nativism: n n n Some Americans didn’t like so many immigrants living in the U. S. NATIVISMObvious preference for native-born Americans. Nativism gave rise to anti-immigrant groups. Also led to a demand for immigration restrictions.

Anti-Asian Sentiment: n n n Chinese immigrants worked for low wages. (Native born Americans were getting boxed out of jobs) Labor groups pressured politicians to restrict Asian immigration. CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT 1882 - Banned all but a few Chinese immigrants. Exceptions – students, teachers, merchants, tourists, and government officials. Not lifted until 1943.

Do you think Nativism exists today? 1. 2. 3. Absolutely To a certain extent Definitely Not! 15

The Gentleman’s Agreement: In San Francisco, all Chinese, Japanese, & Korean children placed in special Asian schools n This led to anti. American riots in Japan. In exchange for President Roosevelt persuading San Francisco officials to stop separation policy, Japan agreed to limit immigration to U. S. n n

Section 2 Targets: n n By the end of this lesson, I will be able to: 1. Describe the movement of immigrants to cities and the opportunities they found there. 2. Explain how cities dealt with housing, transportation, sanitation, and safety issues. 3. Describe some of the organizations and people who offered help to urban immigrants.

Section 2: The Challenges of Urbanization: n Main Idea: The rapid growth of cities forced people to contend with problems of housing, transportation, water, and sanitation. n Why it Matters Now: Consequently, residents of the US cities today enjoy vastly improved living conditions. n Key Terms: Urbanization Americanization movement Tenement Mass Transit n Key Terms/Names: Social Gospel Movement Settlement House Jane Addams n n n n

Urban Opportunities: n n Urbanization - the rapid growth of cities. Many immigrants settled in cities in the early 1900’s. Settled mostly in Northeast & Midwest cities to find jobs in the factories & businesses. By 1910, immigrants made up over half of the populations of 18 major American cities.

Immigrants Settle in Cities: n n Most immigrants became city dwellers – cheapest and most convenient places to live. Jobs were more plentiful in the city.

Americanization Movement: n n n Americanization Movement – Was designed to assimilate people of wide-ranging cultures into the dominant culture. This was a government program that helped immigrants learn more about the USA. Schools taught them English, American history, and government.

Migration from Country to City: n n With the invention of farming technology, fewer farmers were needed. Farmers who lost their jobs to machines moved to the city to find other jobs. African American farmers from the South (between 1890 & 1910, about 200, 000) moved to cities in the North. They aimed at escaping racial violence, economic hardship, and political oppression.

Urban Problems: n n There became serious shortages in housing. New types of housing were created so people could live in a small amount of space. 1)Row house – Single family dwelling that shared side walls w/other houses. 2)Tenement – Multifamily urban houses often overcrowded & unsanitary.

NYC – Improvements: n n n In 1879, NYC passed a law that set minimum standards for plumbing and ventilation in apartments. Windows for each room, air shafts. Problem: People dumped garbage into the air shafts – this attracted rats – so they nailed their windows shut.

Mass Transit: n n n Now that there were more people in the city, transportation became a huge issue. Cities developed Mass Transit – transportation systems designed to move large numbers of people along fixed routes. The city had trouble keeping up with these because they were used so often and needed new ones to keep up with demand.

Sanitation Problems: n n n Cities had hard time supplying safe drinking water. People threw garbage out their windows. Horse manure piled up on the streets Sewage flowed in streets. By 1900, many cities built sewers & created sanitation departments. Filtration systems and chlorine were also helpful additions.

Crime: n n n When population goes up, so does crime. Pickpockets and thieves flourished (some stealing to survive) NYC police was relatively small and didn’t make much impact on crime.

Fire: n n n The city had limited supply of water. Most city apartments were made of wood, not concrete. People also used candles and kerosene lamps for lighting. Paid fire departments were first created in 1853 (Cincinnati) The automatic fire sprinkler was also created in 1874.

The Great Chicago Fire: 1871 Fire burned for 24 hrs. n An estimated 300 people died n 100, 000 were left homeless n More than 3 square miles of the city center was destroyed. n Property loss was estimated at $200 million. n 17, 500 buildings were destroyed. n

Reformers Help the Poor: n n n Social Gospel movement - Early reform program. Leaders preached that people reached salvation by helping the poor. They established Settlement Houses. Located in slums. Help & friendship for poor & immigrants.

Jane Addams: Settlement Houses n n Usually ran by middle-class college educated women. Provided classes, health care, clothing, etc. Jane Addams was well-known social reformer. The settlement houses helped to cultivate social responsibility toward the urban poor.

Consider THIS: n You are a poor immigrant living in a 1 room apartment with your extended family. Your family barely has enough money to pay the rent. Your grandma becomes ill and there is no money for a doctor. What do you do? n Consider: No health insurance No Medicare/Medicaid Landlord will kick you out if rent is short or late n n n

Section 3: Targets n n n By the end of this lesson, I will be able to: 1. Explain the role of political machines and political bosses. 2. Describe how some politicians’ greed and fraud cost taxpayers millions of dollars. 3. Describe the measures taken by presidents Hayes, Garfield, and Arthur to reform the spoils system. 4. Explain the positions taken by presidents Cleveland, Harrison, and Mc. Kinley on the tariff issue.

Section 3: Politics in the Gilded Age: n Main Idea: Local and national political corruption in the 19 th Century led to calls for reform. n n Key Terms: Political Machine Graft Patronage Civil Service Pendleton Civil Service Act n n n Why it Matters Now: Political reforms paved the way for a more honest and efficient government in the 20 th Century and beyond. Key Names: Boss Tweed Rutherford B. Hayes James A. Garfield Chester A. Arthur Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison

My favorite day of the week is: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 20

Political Machines: n n During late 1800’s, many cities were run by a Political machine. This was an organized group, headed by a city boss, that controlled activities of a political party in a city. (Had power over civil servant jobs) Offered services to voters & businesses in exchange for political or financial support. Sort of like the Mafia.

The Role of the Political Boss: n n What else did the bosses do: 1. Controlled access to jobs 2. Built parks, sewer systems, and waterworks. 3. Gave money to hospitals, schools, and orphanages.

Why do you think that people supported the political machines? 1. 2. 3. 4. Jobs Protection Basic Needs All of the above 20

What Did the Bosses Get Out of this “Charity? ” n n Voters’ loyalty Win additional public support Extend their influence So…they did favors for people so that they were seen as favorable and people would vote for them in the future.

Immigrants and Bosses: n n n The immigrants liked the idea of political machines and bosses. Why? 1. Many of the bosses were immigrants themselves (1 st or 2 nd generation) – they spoke their language and battled the same hardships. They helped the immigrants with naturalization – full citizenship. Helped them get jobs and houses And in return – VOTES!!!

Election Fraud and Graft: n n Many Bosses got rich through GRAFT-the illegal use of political influence for personal gain. How does this work? Example: By helping a person find work on a construction project for the city, a political machine could ask the worker to bill the city for more than the actual cost of materials and labor. The worker then “kicked back” (an illegal cash payment) a portion of the earnings to the machine.

More Fraud: n n Political machines also granted favors to businesses in return to cash and also accepted bribes to allow illegal gambling to flourish. To win elections, some filled the list of eligible voters w/names of dogs, children, & the dead.

Why do you think that people allowed the bosses to do illegal activities? 1. 2. 3. 4. Because they were getting things in return They personally liked the bosses They didn’t like the government All of the 20

The Tweed Ring: n n Boss Tweed (William M. Tweed) became the head of Tammany Hall, NYC’s powerful Democratic political machine. Between 18691871 Boss Tweed led a group of people (Tweed Ring) in defrauding the city for millions of dollars.

What Did Tweed Do? n n n The NYC Courthouse was being built. The project cost tax payers $13 million, while the actual cost was only $3 million! The difference went to the Tweed Ring. It is estimated that the Tweed Ring stole between $30 -$200 million dollars from NYC. This is just one example of the fraud that the Tweed Ring got away with until……

Ultimately, who did the Tweed Ring’s actions hurt worse? 1. 2. 3. 4. Boss Tweed The city The government The taxpayers 20

They Got Busted! n n In 1871 the ring was broken. Tweed was indicted on 120 counts of fraud and extortion and was sentenced to 12 years in jail. His sentence got reduced to 1 year but he got in trouble again and was arrested. While serving this sentence, he escaped to went to Spain.

An Interesting Side Note: n n n Thomas Nast During his crime spree, Tweed tried to pay off the NY Times and Thomas Nast (a political cartoonist) so they wouldn’t run editorials on his corruptive practices. Tweed offered the NY Times $5 million dollars and Thomas Nast $500, 000. Both Declined.

1. What is the significance of the word LAW on the torn piece of paper? 2. What affect do you think Nast wanted to have on his audience?

What character speaks to your inner Scooby Doo? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Shaggy…I love food too! Velma…I dig nerdy girls in glasses. Daphne…Her trendy style embraces my fashionista sense! Fred…Who doesn’t love an orange ascot. Scooby…Need I say more. Scrappy…He is ready SPLAT his enemies!

Patronage: n n National politics were also corrupt – It’s all about who you know. Patronage: spoils system giving of government jobs to people of the same party who had helped a candidate get elected. Reformers wanted a better way of electing people – they should be the most qualified.

Civil Service: n n n Civil Service. Government jobs. Reformers called for a merit system. Civil service jobs would go to the most qualified, regardless of political views.

Why was the “civil service” system a better system than the spoils system? 1. 2. 3. 4. It wasn’t It allowed political bosses to control the job market It allowed the most qualified to get hired It benefited only the wealthy

President Hayes: n n President Rutherford B. Hayes attempted to reform civil service. 1. Investigated court houses (lots of patronage going on here) 2. Fired corrupt officials 3. Hired independents for his cabinet (neutral party members)

Did it Work? n n n Some members of Republican party objected. There needed to be a balance between reformers and Republicans. Hayes decided not to run for reelection in 1880

In order to reform civil service, President Hayes did all of the following EXCEPT: 1. 2. 3. 4. Investigated court houses Fired corrupt officials Took money from the political machines Hired independents for his cabinet

Republicans Divided: n n Stalwarts opposed changed in patronage system. Reformers supported changing the system. Republican Party settles on James A. Garfield, an independent candidate. Chester A. Arthur was nominated to the VP spot.

President Garfield Assassinated! n n n As Garfield walked through the D. C. train station, he was shot two times by a man that Garfield turned down for a job (Charles Guiteau). He was a die hard Stalwart (opposed to Garfield’s reformer ties) He was hanged! Chester Arthur became president. (he turned reformer)

Why was Garfield assassinated? 1. 2. 3. 4. He wasn’t liked by the political machines He had ties to the reform movement He didn’t deserve to be the President None of the above

Arthur in Action: n n Arthur’s first message to the Congress was to pass the Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883) - Created a civil service commission to give government jobs based on merit, not politics. This helped to reform civil service.

How Did This Act Effect Politics? n n n By 1901, more than 40% of all federal jobs had been classified as civil service positions. PRO - The act made these positions much more honest and efficient. CON - On the other hand, because officials could no longer pressure employees for campaign contributions, politicians turned to other sources for donations.

Business Buys Influence: n n Politicians no longer had jobs to offer. Had trouble seeking $ from supporters. Many turned to wealthy business leaders for support. Big business and the Government became good friends.

What was the main reason why politicians had to turn to big business for campaign money? 1. 2. 3. 40% of jobs were now Civil Service jobs No one would vote for them They were running out of money All of the above

Tariffs: n n Tariff is a tax placed on goods coming into or going out of a country. Most Americans believed tariffs were necessary to protect U. S. industries from foreign competition. Tariffs did cause prices to rise. For 12 years, Tariffs were a key issue in presidential elections.

Crazy Times!!! n n n Grover Cleveland (1884) - Democratic president who tried, but failed to reduce tariffs. (First Dem. President in 28 years) He attempted to lower tariffs but Congress did not support him Benjamin Harrison (1888)- Republican who was supported by big business and supported tariffs Signed the MCKINLEY TARIFF ACT into law. Tariffs were raised to their highest level ever.

Crazy Times – Part 2 n n n Grover Cleveland defeats Harrison in 1892 to become President again! (Only President to not serve 2 consecutive terms) He was unsuccessful in reducing tariffs. William Mc. Kinley was elected President in 1897 and raised tariffs again. The spirit of reform kept going into the 20 th Century. Many new developments are to come…. in the next chapter…

What do you think about taxing imported goods today? 1. 2. 3. It is great idea…Buy American! It is an idea worth pursuing. Heck no…we want low prices!