1865-1914 An Urban Society
Feb 16, 2016
1865-1914
An Urban Society
The New Immigrants
Essential Question: What were some characteristics of the wave of new immigrants?
Partner Discussion
Get to know your partner!! Where did your family come from?Which part of your heritage do you most
identify with?When did your family come to the United
States?
Old Immigration
Before 1865, most immigrants to the United States came from Northern and Western Europe
These immigrants are referred to as “old” immigrants
Ireland, Germany, England, ScandinaviaMost speak English
New Immigration
“New” immigrants began to arrive after the Civil War, (1865) seeking opportunities in the United States
What kind of opportunities might they be seeking? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
New Immigration
New immigrants are arriving from Eastern and Southern Europe
Greeks, Russians, Hungarians, Italians, Turks and Polish
Also, China, Japan and Mexico
Partner Discussion
Would your family be considered old or new immigrants? Why?
Discuss with your partner what the differences is between old and new immigrants.
New Immigration
Many newcomers are Catholics and JewsMany do not speak EnglishHave more difficulty blending into American
society than “old” immigrants haveOften cluster together in neighborhoods
made up of people of the same ethnicity
Leaving Troubles Behind
Why do so many people leave their homelands for the US? Pushed away by economic troubles,
overcrowding, poverty, crop failures, religious persecution of ethnic groups
Pulled by lure of opportunity
Seeking Opportunity
Immigrants saw US as a land of opportunity Jobs Land Better life
Difficult journey to AmericaCould only afford cheapest tickets and often
traveled in steerage Cramped quarters on lower decks
Entering America
Encountered the Statue of Liberty as they sailed into New York Harbor and to registration on Ellis Island
Asian Immigrants registered at Angel Island on West Coast
New immigrants were given health examinations and could be turned away
Ellis Island
The Immigrant Experience
Greatest challenge was finding work and a place to live
Some fast growing industries hired large amounts of unskilled immigrants
Many immigrant women and children worked in sweatshops Dark, crowded shops where workers made
clothing Work was repetitious and hazardous Long hours, low pay
Adjusting to America
Immigrants wanted to preserve their own culture while trying to assimilate to American culture at the same time
This creates conflict
Building Communities
People of the same ethnic group tended to form separate communities
Sought to recreate some of the life they had left behind
Developed houses of worship, published newspapers in their Native Language, opened stores and theatres, organized social clubs
All of this helped to preserve their cultural heritage
Partner Discussion
Can you think of any “immigrant communities” in buffalo?
Buffalo Cultural Heritage
Reactions Toward Immigration
At first when immigrants arrived in the United States they were extremely disliked because people thought they were taking away jobs from native born citizens.
However, they were not treated very badly because there was a steady demand for labor. During the 19th century, the United States had an open immigration policy mainly because there were plenty of jobs going around.
Nativism
The flood of immigrants in the late 1800s brought with it a new wave of nativism. What is nativism? Belief that native born Americans and their ways of
life were superior to immigrants and their ways of life.
Partner Discussion
Can you think of any modern reactions toward immigrants? Positive or negative?
Can you think of any modern hate crimes against immigrants?
Nativism
Nativists had the following beliefs Religion, customs and language were a negative
impact Stealing work away from native born citizens Believed laws should be passed to limit immigration
Nativism
As jobs became more scarce because more immigrants were coming to the United States, immigrants were often met with prejudice and discrimination.
Nativists became very vocal and active in trying to influence legislation to be passed against immigrants.
Nativism
Major groups and laws that developed out of this nativist movement
Know Nothing Party: Anti-immigrant organization set up to pass laws against immigrants
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882: No Chinese were permitted into the United States
Immigration Act of 1917: Required immigrants to pass a literacy test in order to enter the country
National Origins Act of 1924: Only immigrants from Northern and Western Europe are allowed to enter the US
Partner Discussion
Do the languages and customs of immigrants have a negative impact on American culture? What kinds of things do we get from the presence of immigrants and their cultures?
Making Connections
How did immigration change after 1865?
Moving to the Cities
Essential Question: How did cities change in the late 1800s?
Growth of the Cities
Immigrants and others flooded to American cities, where extremes of wealth and poverty existed
Industrialization made it possible to produce crops with fewer farm workers
Women in rural areas no longer had to make clothing or household goods
African Americans flocked to Southern and especially Northern cities
Tenement Living
The poorest residents, usually immigrants lived in tenements located in the slums of the city Several people living in each room Cold tap water (if lucky) Communal toilets
The Middle Class
Doctors, lawyers, ministers, managers, office clerks, etc.
Comfortable life in the suburbs made possible by new transportation Streetcars Trolleys Subways Bridges
Might have servantsLeisure time to enjoy music, art and literature
The Very Rich
Built enormous mansions in the cities and large estates in the country
Because of their extravagant wealth and the terrible poverty that lay beneath it, this period became known as the Gilded Age Something covered with a thin layer of gold
Carnegie and Vanderbilt Mansions
Cities in Crisis
Growing cities suffered from Health and sanitation problems Poverty Fire Crime High infant mortality rates Disease Gangs
Poor received assistance from people dedicated to improving urban life Settlement Houses Jane Addams – Hull House (1889)
The Changing City
New technology in transportation and architecture reshaped cities Sky scrapers Bring nature to the cities (Frederick Law
Olmstead – Central Park)
Making Connections
Listing. What problems did cities face in the late 1800s? Disease, poor sanitation, poverty, crime, fire
Cause and Effect. What effect did the new forms of transportation have on city life? Helped people travel within cities. Contributed to
growth of suburbsAnswer the Essential Question: How did
cities change during the late 1800s?
A Changing Society
Changes in Education
In 1865, most Americans attended school for an average of 4 years
By 1914, most states required children have some schooling
Education opportunities were extended to many more Americans as the system of public schools and colleges expanded
Southern African Americans received little or no education
Boarding Schools were possible for Native Americans
A Nation of Readers
Educated Americans found new reading material in public libraries, a growing literary culture and thriving newspapers
More realistic approach to literaturePaperback books (late 1880s)Technological advances in printing,
papermaking and communication spread news quickly
Leisure Activities
Middle class has leisure time for sports, art and music
Sports including baseball, basketball and football grow in popularity
Vaudville shows, traveling circuses and the first movies offer new forms of entertainment
Jazz and ragtime (Distinctively American forms of music)
Answer the Essential Question:
In what ways did American culture change in the late 1800s?