Immigration  million immigrants  Old Immigrants- up to N. W. Europe  New Immigrants- after- S.E. Europe  Escape poverty, famine, land shortage (rising populations), religious/political persecution  Us promises golden opportunity, land, independence, gold rush  Chinese/ Japanese west coast, railroads, much discrimination  Mexico/ Caribbean in south

Travel/ Entrance  1 week across Atlantic, steamship  steerage accommodations- dirty bunks, no windows or fresh air, few toilets, little food, not allowed on deck, little room to move, disease spreads quickly  75% to Ellis Island, New York- inspection (hours/days), medical/ papers- some denied  Chinese- 1 month across Pacific  Held at Angel Island- intense questioning, discrimination, imprisoned- sometimes months, bad conditions  Chinese Exclusion act- only merchants, relatives, teachers, tourists allowed in

Settling/ Surviving  2/3 in major cities- unskilled factory jobs- no English- 10 cents/ hour  some rural areas, better conditions, less opportunity  Ethnic enclaves- settled together, language, customs, food, assistance

Problems-  Discrimination- Nativism- feel threatened, limits on immigration, feel S.E. Europe, Asian inferior, compete for jobs, violence  Gentlemen’s agreement- stop school segregation, Chines govt. limit immigration  Americanization- teach language, history of America  Poor housing- tenements- apts, several families in each- crowded, dirty  Transportation- not enough/ reliable, subways, street cars  Water/ sanitation- some plumbing, dirty water, improvements spread slowly- trash, sewage in streets, horse manure  40% have tuberculosis, disease spreads  60% children die before 1 year old  Fires- death, destruction, little help/ water, wooden houses  Crime

Local Politics Political Machine- group controlled activities of political party, offer services to voters/ businesses to gain support  Take control of big cities  Give jobs, contracts, political appts, provide vital services for votes  boss controls all cities jobs, business licenses, inspections, influence courts, control police  helped immigrants settle, get jobs, become citizens  Graft/ corruption- make up votes, overcharge for city contracts, accept bribes, give licenses/ avoid inspections for $  Tammany hall- New York, Democrats- Boss Tweed- 200 million- charged for fraud, went to jail

National Politics  Corruption/ reform  Spoils system/ patronage- govt jobs to candidate supporters- incompetent, inefficient, fraud  Merit system- Civil Service- govt administration to qualified people, not change every term  Rutherford B. Hayes- fires corrupt officials  James Garfield- continues reform, assassinated,  Vice pres- Chester Arthur- continues reform, Pendleton Act, pass test for civil service job- govt/ big business relationship grows  Debate over tariffs continues

Labor Unions Struggle  employers refused to hire union, forbade union meetings, beat up members  National Labor Union also Colored National Labor Union- links existing local unions- Labor Reform (political party)  Knights of Labor- open to all (gender, race, skill level) Uriah Stephens- 8 hour work day- arbitration/ meditation, then strikes- 700,000 by 1886  Samuel Gompers- AFL- American Federation of Labor- collective bargaining- gain better pay, shorter hours, better conditions

Other unions/ ideas  Eugene Debs-ARU- American Railway Union- unskilled laborers- socialism- equal distribution of wealth  Karl Marx- violent overthrow of govt./ rich- Communism  Industrial Workers of the World- Haywood  Mother Jones/ Mary Harris- women joined strikes, paraded deformed children in front of white house  New York Textile factory fire- 145 died, govt gets involved

Violent strikes  Railroads- govt intervenes, riots break out  Haymarket affair, striker killed- protest turns deadly, police turn against labor movement  Homestead strike Pinkertons hired to protect scabs (workers) Pinkertons kicked out, several die in fight  Pullman strike co sends in strike breakers, violence, pres Cleaveland sends in troops, strikers lost their jobs, blacklisted  Govt. involvement- court orders to break up strikes