Unit 2 Immigration and Urbanization

What you will learn in Goal 5 1.How did immigration and industrialization shape urban life? 2.How did the rapid industrialization of the Gilded Age create change? 3.Did immigration and rapid industrialization have a positive or negative impact on the structure of the United States? 4.What characteristics were vital to the success of industrial leaders? 5.How did captains of industry accumulate wealth and power? 6.What factors led to the need for the formation of labor unions? 7.To what extent were labor unions effective in meeting the needs and improving the lives of laborers? 8.How did the government’s role change during this era? 9.To what extent did industrialization affect the relationships between government, business, and the worker? 10.To what extent was the government’s changing role necessary and positive in this era?

Immigration Immigrants flowed into the Industrial cities of New England – 4 million immigrants ▫North and Western Europe  GB  Ireland  Germany

Immigration 1890s to WWI: ▫1 million per year ▫Eastern and Southern Europe  1907, 81% were from Italy, or Russia

Immigration Chinese and Japanese: ▫1898 US annexes Hawaii and the boom begins. ▫Word of high wages ▫Gold and farm land Mexico: ▫7% of pop. Immigrated to US after 1910 ▫Mexican Revolution

Immigration Why did they leave? ▫famine in Ireland ▫bad conditions  political revolution  economic depression ▫growing European population

Many people resented these immigrants and formed groups to attack them or stop the flow into the country. "know-nothings" party- ▫anti-immigrant party directed primarily at reducing the influence of Catholics ▫Wanted restrictions on immigration.

Immigrants Nativism- ▫Rejected immigrants and favored native born people.

Journey to the US Difficult Journey: ▫By steamboat ▫Common for 10% of passengers to die  Disease, cramped quarters, shared toilets, could not go on deck  One week from Europe  Three weeks from Asia

Ellis Island New York Harbor Processing of Immigration: ▫Immigrants had to pass:  Prove no conviction of a felony  Ability to work  Have at least $25

Ellis Island Physical exam ▫People with a disease or disability would be detained for further examination ▫ Could not enter if they had an incurable disease ▫Letters were placed on people after initial exam. ▫Women often suffered most heavily during these exams

Ellis Island Mental exam: ▫Immigrants had to pass tests to determine that they could read, write, speak, and not have a mental disability. 17 million passed through the facility. In 1886, the Statue of Liberty arrived from France—a gift from the French to America.

Angel Island San Francisco Bay Asians endured harsh questioning and more restrictions than those coming through Ellis Island

Video – Godfather arrives in NYC Explain what a young child would have felt upon arriving to America?

Survival Many found jobs at what ever wage Immigrants band together to form ethnic communities They worked to fit into society

Xenophobia Disapproval of native-born Americans ▫Xenophobia:  Fear of immigrants ▫Viewed as a threat to American way of life ▫Immigrants took jobs from natives  Lower wage  Worked harder  Work was scarce

Immigration Restrictions Melting Pot: ▫A mixture of different cultures and races. Nativism: ▫Favoring the interest of native-born people over foreign-born people ▫Gave rise to anti- immigration groups and push for immigration restrictions

Immigration Restrictions Immigration Restriction League: ▫Anglo-Saxons were superior ▫Problems came from countries who were historically stagnant American Protective Association: ▫Launched anti-Catholic and Jewish attacks

Immigration Restrictions Literacy test: ▫Required to read 40 words in English or their native language ▫Vetoed by President Cleveland

Anti-Asian Sentiment Native-born workers feared jobs would go to Chinese immigrants, who accepted lower wages. Those Asians who did find a job found themselves working in sweatshops. ▫A building where people are forced to work with very little pay in long hours illegally.

Chinese Exclusion Act Restricted Chinese Immigration for ten years Except students, teachers, merchants, tourists, and government officials. Law was extended indefinitely and not repealed until 1943.

The Gentlemen’s Agreement Segregation of Japanese lead to a protest Theodore Roosevelt Japan limited emigration of unskilled workers into the US.