USHC 4.5 Explain the causes and effects of urbanization in late nineteenth-century America, including the movement from farm to city, the changing immigration patterns, the rise of ethnic neighborhoods, the role of political machines, and the migration of African-Americans to the North, West, and Midwest.

Urbanization Industrialization created a large number of jobs and the cities of the United States became places of opportunity. ***Migration- Many people left the farms and moved to the cities where wages were higher. Why else would someone leave the country and move to the city?

***The Great Migration- blacks moving to the North ***Three major causes- Boll weevil- destroyed much of the cotton crop (Brought from Mexico in 1892) 2. Increasing racism in the South. Intimidation and lynchings 3. Late 1920’s the mechanical cotton picker is developed and successful. (no more need for large numbers of laborers.) In 1860 93% of blacks lived in the South, by 1930 less than 80% did. Most went to the northern cities.

States in blue had the biggest gain in African Americans

Blacks found a lot of discrimination in the northern cities too - last to be hired and the first fired - used as “strikebreakers”, which the striking workers hated - lived in the most undesirable parts of the city in segregated neighborhoods

Immigration ****Immigration- Europeans came to the United States in staggering numbers and settled on the East Coast (Ellis Island) mostly in cities, while the Chinese came and settled on the west coast (Angel Island). Immigrants came seeking a better life for various reasons, but often could not afford to move from the city in which they landed. ****Because of this, ethnic neighborhoods grew. Churches, schools, businesses, and newspapers reflected the ethnicity of local neighborhoods (i.e. Little Italy, Greektown, and Chinatown)

Immigrants at Ellis Island

Immigration Concerns While immigration provided the labor needed for a growing industrial economy, it also caused some problems. ***Some citizens saw the immigrants as taking away jobs from natives ***Some mistrusted the cultural differences Ethnic Ghetto’s were mistrusted ***Religious Differences- most U.S. citizens were protestant while most arrivals were Catholic and this sometimes caused rivalries.

Mulberry St. in Little Italy, NYC

Nativism and Restrictions on Immigration ****Nativism- (hatred of foreigners) anti-immigrant groups began to form. They often subjected immigrant groups to violence and discrimination.. Eventually this led to the legislature attempting to limit immigration, all acts were vetoed by the President. Late 19th century Nativism can be seen as an extension of Social Darwinism

Political Machines An unofficial entity meant to keep a certain party in charge Lead by a ‘boss’ who may or may not have had a political position Proved useful to poor people and immigrants by doing ‘favors’ in exchange for ‘votes’ Most famous was Boss William Tweed of New York Tweed ran Tammany Hall a political club that controlled the city’s democratic party. Tweed stole over 100 million dollars from the city He was exposed by cartoonist Thomas Nast

Where a mother’s vote is needed

EOC SAMPLE QUESTIONS: 1. Between the late 1860s and the early 1900s, which of the following BEST describes the changes that occurred in urban population? A. The # of African Americans living in the inner city of Northern urban areas more than doubled. B. Many farmers migrated to the cities, while foreign immigrants did not start to come until just after 1900. C. Urban areas of the North became culturally diverse. D. The US middle class declined as people tended to be either rich businessmen or poor laborers.

2. Which of the following statements would be MOST supported by a Nativist? A. “Since the US is suppose to be the land of the free and the country of opportunity, then let all those who desire freedom and a better life come to the US.” B. “Immigration is bad for this country. Immigrants take jobs that otherwise would go to those born here, and their ways pollute and corrupt our way of life. We need laws to prevent immigration.” C. “Cultural diversity is a good thing. It is our differences and the way foreigners hold on to their traditional ways that make our nation great.”