The Challenges of Modern America

Immigration and Urbanization

New ImmigrationPromise of a Better Life

The New Immigrants◼Millions of immigrants entered the

U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries

◼Why?◼escape difficult times (often sent

money home)

Europeans 1870 -- 1920

20 million Europeans arrived in the U.S.

Before 1890 most were

from western & northern Europe

After 1890 most

came from southern & eastern Europe

Arriving in the New Land Late 19th century most

immigrants arrived by boat trip from Europe

took about a month took about three

weeks from Asia trip was arduous

many died along the way

Destination wasEllis Island for

EuropeansAngel Island for

Chinese and Japanese

Getting to the United States was often very difficult. Many of the immigrants traveled in steerage (most basic / cheapest

accommodations)

Ellis Island, New York1892-1924

◼ 7 million European immigrants passed through Ellis Island’s facilities◼processing took

hours◼sick were sent home

Immigrants◼ had to show that they were not criminals◼ had to have some money ($25)◼ were able to work

Ellis Island

Angel Island, San Francisco◼ Chinese /

Japanese arriving on the West Coast gained admission at Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay

Angel Island, San Francisco

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Immigrant PopulationsUrbanization Northeast and

MidwestImmigrants settled

in cities Why?◼ available jobs◼ affordable

housing

*(1910) Immigrants made up more than half the population of 18 major American cities

Ethnic NeighborhoodsWhen immigrants arrived

◼greeted with hostility by some native-born Americans

◼ to preserve their culture / survive in the new land:◼newcomers built ethnic

neighborhoods (Little Italy's, Little Poland's, Germantown's, Chinatowns)

◼Some came to think of themselves as

hyphenated Americans

Migration from Country to City

Discrimination and segregation were often the unfortunate

reality for African Americans who migrated north

◼ Rapid improvements in farm technology (tractors, reapers, steel plows) made farming more efficient and required less labor

◼ Many rural people left for cities to find work – including almost a quarter of a million African Americans

Urban ProblemsProblems in American

cities in the late 19th & early 20th centuries included:

◼ Housing: Overcrowded tenements were un-healthy places to live

◼ Sanitation: Garbage often was not collected and polluted the air

Famous photographer Jacob Riis captured the struggle of living in crowded tenements

Urban ProblemsProblems in American cities in the late 19th & early

20th centuries included:◼ Transportation: Cities

struggled to provide adequate transit systems

◼ Water: Without safe drinking water cholera and typhoid fever were common

◼ Crime: As populations increased thieves flourished

◼ Fire: Limited water, wooden structures, and the use of candles led to many major urban fires

Chicago 1871 and San Francisco 1906 --

two major fires.

“Dumbbell” Tenement

“Dumbell “ Tenement, NYC

Jacob Riis:

How the

Other Half Lived

(1890)

Tenement living

Lodgers Huddled Together

Tenement Living

Struggling Immigrant Families

Politics in the Gilded Age City Bosses AND Political Machines

Political MachinesThe Gilded Age saw the rise of political machines -- well-organized groups that controlled a political party in a city

◼ Machines offered services to voters & businesses in exchange for political votes

◼ Were very influential with immigrants; Helped with jobs, housing, & naturalization

Political machines influenced

immigrant voters by creating parks

near slums, barbeques, giving away

Christmas presents to children

Political MachinesMachines were led by city bosses who used a network of ward bosses & precinct captains to:

◼Control access to city jobs, business licenses, courts

◼Arrange building projects & community services

Political Machines◼ Machine politicians

were often corrupt:◼ Use fraud to win

elections◼ Graft—Using their

political influence for personal gain

◼ Took kickbacks & bribes◼ The most notorious

machine boss was Boss Tweed of New York’s Tammany Hall who defrauded the city of millions of dollars

Boss Tweed

“Tweed Courthouse”—NY County Courthouse was supposed to cost $250,000 but cost $13 million