Ch. 16 – Politics, Immigration & Urban Life 1870 - 1915

16.1 Politics in the Gilded Age 1877 – 1900 national politics dominated by issues of corruption & reform. Gilded Age – perception that a thin layer of prosperity covered society’s poverty and corruption Pendleton Civil Service Act – reformed corruption in non-elected gov. jobs (civil service)

16.2 - Immigration Old Immigrants New Immigrants Colonial period up to Civil War Time Period Civil War through 1920s Northern Europe, Western Europe, Africa Origins Southern Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Political / religious freedom, economic opportunity (land) Reasons Some seek political / religious freedom, most seek economic opportunity

16.2 Immigrants faced many challenges in the “Land of Opportunity,” including culture shock, nativism / discrimination and possible deportation. Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) – prohibited Chinese from entering the country unless they had family or residence in the U.S. already. (repealed 1943)

16.3 Immigrants generally settled in ethnic communities. Immigrants, farm workers & others seeking opportunity migrated to cities. Suburbs and tenements develop to house the swelling population. Conditions for the poor are harsh: overcrowding, poor sanitation, crime, lack of public services Jacob Riis tries to increase awareness of this growing problem with his book: How the Other Half Lives