Chapter Seven – immigrants and urbanization Section 1 – The New Immigrants

Through the “Golden Door” Immigrants come to America with the promise of a better life Sought to escape difficult conditions = famine, land shortages, or religious/political persecution

Europeans 1870 – 1920 approximately 20 million Europeans arrived in the United States First wave of immigration (pre-1890) immigrants came from Western Europe Post 1890 = Italy, Austria-Hungary, and Russia Arrived to the East Coast through Ellis Island

Europeans Why leave home? To escape religious persecution To escape rising populations Too few jobs Too little lands for farming From 1800 – 1900 the population of Europe grew from about 200 – 400 million

Chinese and Japanese Wave lasted from 1851-1883, entered U.S.A through Angel Island 300,000 Chinese – came seeking fortune, after gold was found in California Chinese helped to build the railroads including the first transcontinental railroad

Chinese and Japanese 1920 more than 200,000 Japanese lived on the West Coast Japanese emigration boom came after U.S.A. annexed Hawaii in 1898 Came to U.S.A searching high wages than were being paid in Japan

The West Indies and Mexico 1880 – 1920 about 260,000 immigrants arrived in the eastern and southeastern U.S. from the West Indies. West Indies = Jamaica Cuba Puerto Rico Came in search for work in America during its’ “Industrial Boom”

The West Indies and Mexico Mexicans came in search for work too 700,000 Mexicans emigrated to America based on favorable farming opportunities

Life in the New Land, a Difficult Journey By the 1870’s nearly all immigrants traveled by steamship – One week trip from Europe / Three weeks from Asia

Ellis Island Read Ellis Island section on pages 256-257

Angel Island Read Angel Island section on page 257

Cooperation for Survival Many immigrants sought out people who Shared their cultural values Practiced their religion Spoke their native language Once they formed a community they Built churches or synagogues Formed social clubs and aid societies Founded orphanages and old people’s homes Established cemeteries Created newspapers in their home languages

The Rise of Nativism Native-born people saw new immigrants as a threat to the American way of life Gave rise to anti-immigrant groups, felt the new immigrants were less desirable than those who had come before (mostly British, German and Scandinavian)

Anti-Asian Sentiment Native born workers feared losing jobs to Chinese 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act – put an end to open immigration to all Chinese Allowed to enter Students Teachers Merchants tourists Government officials

The Gentlemen’s Agreement Caused by nativism, and fear of losing jobs 1906 Japanese children were segregated in San Francisco schools 1907-1908 – Japan’s gov’t agreed to limit emigration of unskilled workers to the U.S.A in exchange for the repeal of the San Francisco segregation order

Chapter Seven – immigrants and urbanization Section 2 – The Challenges of Urbanization

Urban Opportunities Technological boom contributed to urbanization (the growth of cities) Urban centers were located in the Northeast and Midwest

Immigrants Settle in Cities Most Immigrants become city dwellers Cheapest; most convenient places to live Offered unskilled laborers steady jobs

Immigrants Settle in Cities Americanization movement – assimilate wide- ranging cultures into the dominate culture Sponsored by the government and concerned citizens Taught skills needed for citizenship; American history and government

Immigrants Settle in Cities Many immigrants did not wish to abandon their traditions Ethnic communities provided the social support of people from their home country Allowed them to speak their own language Practice their own customs and religions

Migration from Country to City Farming technology reduced the need for laborers on farms Many Southern farmers who lost jobs were African American

Migration from Country to City 1890-1910 – 200,000 African Americans moved north and west (Chicago & Detroit) African Americans looked to escape Racial violence Economic hardship Political oppression Segregation and discrimination were the reality in Northern cities too. Job competition created deeper tensions between blacks whites and immigrants

Migration from Country to City Segregation and discrimination were the reality in Northern cities too. Job competition created deeper tensions between blacks white immigrants

Urban Problems More people… more problems How to provide so many residents with essential services and a quality standard of living?

Housing As the urban population increased; new types of housing were designed Row houses; single family dwelling w/a shared sidewall Tenements; overcrowded and unsanitary

Transportation Mass transit; moved large numbers of people along fixed roads; enabled workers to go to and from work Street cars (San Francisco1873) Electric Subways (Boston 1897) Linked cities and neighborhoods together and to outlying cities

Water Providing safe drinking water was a serious issue 1840’s and 1850’s New York and Cleveland built public waterworks Filtration started in the 1870’s, chlorination began in 1908 Early 20th century many residents still had no access to safe water

Sanitation By 1900 cities developed sewer lines and created sanitation departments

Crime Populations increased crime increases Pickpockets Thieves Murderers New York City introduces professional police officers

Fire Major fires occurred in almost every large American city from 1870-1880’s Wooden dwellings replaced with brick, stone or concrete structures 1853 Cincinnati – first professional fire department, by 1900 most major cities followed Cincinnati’s lead

Reformers Mobilize Social welfare reformers targeted urban poverty as their key issue

The Settlement House Movement Social Gospel Movement – preached salvation through service to the poor Settlement Houses – community centers in slum neighborhoods that provided assistance to people in the area - immigrants

The Settlement House Movement Operated by middle-class college-educated women Settlement houses provided Education (English, health, and painting) Cultural Social services (nurses; support for deserted women Jane Addams page 266