1. UNIT 1: Immigrants and Urbanization
Sections 1 and 2

2. Immigrants Between 1870 and 1922: 20 million Europeans
“New Immigrants” – those from southern and Eastern Europe (1890)
about 200,000 Chinese
about 260,000 from the West Indies.
Nearly 1 million from Mexico

3. Ellis Island All immigrants passed through Ellis Island.
Must pass inspections
Doctor’s exam
Legal inspection
20% were detained for more than a day before inspections.
2% were sent home.

4. Angel Island West Coast immigrants went through Angel Island.
Harsh questioning and long detention periods.
Chinese immigrants were treated like prisoners.

5. Angel Island
Detained in this wooden house for    several tens of days    because of the exclusion laws. It's a pity heroes have no place    to exercise their prowess.
Waiting for news of my release,    I am ready to snap my whip and gallop. All my kinsmen and housemates    will be happy for me.
But don't deny this Western grandeur,    this imposing facade For behind the jade carvings,    there lies a cage.(31)
Angel Island Clip

6. Discovering Angel Island-Story behind the Poems

7. Immigration Restrictions
Nativism – overt favoritism toward native-born Americans.
Against Catholics, Jews, Slavs, Latinos, and Asians.
Anglo-Saxon superiority beliefs

8. Anti-Asian Sentiment: Quotas/Limitations
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
Banned all Chinese except students, teachers, merchants, tourists, and government officials
In 1902, Chinese immigration was prohibited indefinitely.
Law was not repealed until 1943.
Gentlemen’s Agreement
, Japanese government agreed to limit emigration to the U.S.

9. Urbanization Most immigrants went to the cities. Steady jobs
Social support
Cultural attractions.
Americanization movement

10. Problems & needs with urbanization
Housing
Lack of decent housing
Row houses
Tenements – slum.
Dumbbell tenements
Video
Transportation
electric streetcars, electric subways
Water
Fresh, safe drinking water
Indoor plumbing
Spread of diseases
Sanitation
Horse manure, sewage, factory smoke, garbage filled the streets.
By 1900, most cities had sewer lines and sanitation departments.

11. Problems, cont. Fire Crime Limited water supply Wooden dwellings
Use of candles and kerosene heaters
Crime
Pick-pockets, thieves, con men, gangs
NYC organized first full-time police force in 1844, but still too small to protect citizens.
After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871