IMMIGRANTS AND URBANIZATION

IMMIGRANTS

MACHINES AND

PROGRESSAMERICA IN THE LATE 19TH &

EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Immigration

SECTION 1: Causes of

URBANIZATION

⚫Urbanization refers to the

growth of cities

⚫Reasons for this:Migration of Farmers. Rapid

improvements in farm

technology meant less labor was

needed to do the job.

Migration of Southern Blacks

escaping Sharecropping, debt,

violence.

Immigration of Eastern,

Southern Europeans and Asians

MIGRATION FROM

COUNTRY TO CITY

⚫ By 1910, immigrants made

up more than half the

population of 18 major

American cities

⚫ Many rural people left for

cities to find work-

including almost ¼ million

African Americans

Discrimination and segregation were

often the reality for African

Americans who migrated North

THE NEW IMMIGRANTS

⚫ In the early 19th century, Old

immigrants were protestant who

spoke English.

⚫ From late 19th and early 20th centuries

immigrants came from 2 regions: 1.

Southern and Eastern Europe and 2

Asia.

⚫ New immigrants were catholic,

Eastern Orthodox, Jewish, or

Buddhist, few of which spoke English.

⚫ Yet they shared similar pull factors, in

that they came in search of new

opportunities.

THE WEST INDIES AND

MEXICO⚫ Between 1880 and 1920,

about 260,000 immigrants arrived in the eastern and southeastern United States form the West Indies

⚫ They came from Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and other islands

⚫ Mexicans, too, immigrated to the U.S. to find work and flee political turmoil –700,000 Mexicans arrived in the early 20th century

CHINESE⚫ Between 1851 and 1882,

about 300,000 Chinese arrived on the West Coast

⚫ Some were attracted by the Gold Rush, others went to work for the railroads, farmed or worked as domestic servants.

⚫Many were escaping famine and political instability in China.

Many Chinese men

worked for the railroads

IMMIGRANT RESTRICTIONS

⚫ As immigration increased, so did anti-immigrant feelings among natives

⚫ Nativism (racists who favored native-born Americans) led to anti-immigrant organizations and governmental restrictions against immigration

⚫ In 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act which limited Chinese immigration until 1943

Anti-Asian feelings included

restaurant boycotts

The Chinese Exclusion Act

⚫Fearing these

new arrivals and

pressured by

white labor,

Congress passed

the Chinese Exclusion Act 1882 which

curtailed Chinese

immigration.

ANGEL ISLAND, SAN

FRANCISCO⚫ Asians, primarily

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

⚫ Processing was much harsher than Ellis Island as immigrants withstood tough questioning and long detentions in filthy conditions

ANGEL ISLAND WAS CONSIDERED MORE

HARSH THAN ELLIS ISLAND

JAPANESE⚫ In 1884, the Japanese

government allowed

Hawaiian planters to

recruit Japanese

workers

⚫ The U.S. annexation of

Hawaii in 1898 increased

Japanese immigration to

the west coast

⚫ By 1920, more than

200,000 Japanese lived

on the west coast

The Gentleman’s Agreement

⚫ After a controversial

segregationist law is

passed in San

Francisco, Japan

became outraged with

treatment of their

nationals abroad. The

US and Japan form a

unofficial agreement

called the Gentleman’s

agreement – which

limits Japanese

immigration.

EUROPEAN Immigrants⚫ Before 1890, most were

from western and

northern Europe who

spoke English and were

Protestant

⚫ After 1890, most came

from southern and

eastern Europe. They did

not speak English, were

catholic or Jewish mainly.

⚫ All were looking for

opportunity

ELLIS ISLAND, NEW YORK

⚫ Ellis Island was the arrival point for European immigrants

⚫ They had to pass inspection at the immigration stations

⚫ Processing took hours, and the sick were sent home

⚫ Immigrants also had to show that they were not criminals, had some money ($25), and were able to work

⚫ From 1892-1924, 17 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island’s facilities

ELLIS ISLAND, NEW YORK HARBOR

LIFE IN THE NEW LAND

⚫ In the late 19th century

most immigrants arrived

via boats

⚫ The trip from Europe

took about a month, while

it took about 3 weeks

from Asia

⚫ The trip was arduous and

many died along the way

⚫ Destination was Ellis

Island for Europeans, and

Angel Island for Asians

Assimilation and Enclaves

⚫ Assimilation is the process of adapting to a new culture

⚫ While some immigrants tried to assimilate into American culture, there was a tendency to keep to themselves and created ethnic communities (enclaves)own culture, but also trying hard to become Americans, many came to think of themselves as Italian-Americans, Polish-Americans, Chinese-Americans, etc

Chinatowns are found in many

major cities

Nativism

⚫ Some native born Americans disliked the immigrants unfamiliar customs and languages –friction soon developed.

⚫ As immigration increased, so did anti-immigrant feelings among natives ---Nativism hatred toward foreigners

⚫ The most important reason for hostility was due to competition for jobs.

Chinatowns are found in many

major cities

URBAN PROBLEMS

⚫ Problems in American

cities in the late 19th

and early 20th century

included:

⚫ Housing:

overcrowded

tenements were

unsanitary.

⚫ Sanitation: garbage

was often not

collected, polluted air Famous photographer Jacob Riis

captured the struggle of living in

crowded tenements

URBAN PROBLEMS

CONTINUED

⚫ Transportation: Cities struggled to provide adequate transit systems

⚫ Water: Without safe drinking water cholera and typhoid fever was common

⚫ Crime: As populations increased thieves flourished

⚫ Fire: Limited water supply and wooden structures combined with the use of candles led to many major urban fires –Chicago 1871 and San Francisco 1906 were two major firesHarper’s Weekly image of Chicagoans

fleeing the fire over the Randolph

Street bridge in 1871

PHOTOGRAPHER JACOB RIIS

CAPTURED IMAGES OF THE CITY

Jacob Riis

Jacob Riis

Jacob Riis

Jacob Riis

Jacob Riis

Jacob Riis

Political Machines

POLITICS IN THE GILDED AGE

⚫ As cities grew in the late 19th century, many services were needed.

⚫ Political machines arose to fill this void.

⚫ A Political machine was an organization controlled by a boss that rewarded voters in exchange for votes.

Elements of the Machine

⚫ Organized. An efficient

political hierarchy of

politicians controlled by a

boss.

⚫ Invisible leadership.

Politicians had more

power than what was

formally given. Bosses

were not voted in and

worked the backrooms

⚫ Powerful. It would

control police, courts,

unions

⚫ Quid Pro Quo.

Support immigrants in

exchange for their

vote.

⚫ Pragmatic Politics.

Democracy was a

means for practical

motives, not an ends.

⚫ Unscrupulous. Using

many unscrupulous

means such as fraud to

stay in power.

Patronage

⚫ Patronage – rewards

to those that support

you

Relief kitchens and

materials goods

(coal, breadbasket)

jobs in the

machine, in

government, for

district leaders

legal protection,

naturalization

Contracts.

ROLE OF THE Party BOSS

⚫ The “Boss” (typically the

mayor) controlled jobs,

business licenses, and

influenced the court

system

⚫ Precinct captains and

ward bosses were often

1st or 2nd generation

immigrants so they

helped immigrants with

naturalization, jobs, and

housing in exchange for

votes Boss Tweed ran NYC

MUNICIPAL GRAFT AND SCANDAL

⚫ Some political bosses were corrupt

⚫ Some political machines used fake names and voted multiple times to ensure victory (“Vote early and often”) – called Election fraud

⚫ Graft (bribes) was common among political bosses

⚫ Construction contracts often resulted in “kick-backs”

⚫ The fact that police forces were hired by the boss prevented close scrutiny

THE TWEED RING SCANDAL

⚫ William M. Tweed, known as Boss Tweed, became head of Tammany Hall, NYC’s powerful Democratic political machines

⚫ Between 1869-1871, Tweed led the Tweed Ring, a group of corrupt politicians, in defrauding the city

⚫ Tweed was indicted on 120 counts of fraud and extortion

⚫ Tweed was sentenced to 12 years in jail – released after one, arrested again, and escaped to Spain

Boss Tweed

CIVIL SERVICE REPLACES

PATRONAGE⚫ Nationally, some politicians

pushed for reform in the hiring system

⚫ The system had been based on Patronage; giving jobs and favors to those who helped a candidate get elected

⚫ Reformers pushed for an adoption of a merit system of hiring the most qualified for jobs

⚫ The Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 authorized a bipartisan commission to make appointments for federal jobs based on performanceApplicants for federal jobs

are required to take a Civil

Service Exam

The Progressive Era

Origins of Progressivism: Urban

Problems⚫As America entered the 20th

century, middle class

reformers at the municipal,

state, and national levels

addressed the problems of

the Gilded Age, including:

Economic inequities

Environmental issues

Social welfare

Working conditions

Rights for women and children

Origins of Progressivism: Populism

⚫Many of their earlier

concerns had not

disappeared with the death

of the party. They had

fought for better working

conditions, regulations of

major industries, and

democratic reforms. These

were important after the

turn of the century.

Five Goals of Reformers

1. Protect social welfare

2. Advance moral

development

3. Protect Worker Rights,

Reform the economy,

Promote fairness/Equity

4. Clean Up Government

5. Increase Civic

Participation

Protect Social Welfare⚫ Industrialization in the

late 19th century was

largely unregulated.

Employers felt little

responsibility toward

their workers.

⚫ As a result, settlement

houses and churches

served the community

and organizations like

the YMCA and the

Salvation Army took on

service roles.

Salvation Army Shelter

Hull House

⚫ Jacob Riis was a reformer who through his pictures hoped for change– he influenced many

⚫ The Social Gospel Movement preached salvation through service to the poor

⚫ Some reformers established Settlement Homes

⚫ These homes provided a place to stay, classes, health care and other social services

⚫ Jane Addams was the most famous member of the Settlement Movement (founded Hull House in Chicago)

Jane

Addams

and Hull

House

Promote Moral Development

⚫ Some reformers felt

that the answer to

society’s problems

was personal

behavior. They

proposed such

reforms as

prohibition.

⚫Groups wishing to ban

alcohol included the

Woman’s Christian

Temperance Union

(WCTU)

Secure Economic Reform

⚫ The Panic of 1893

prompted some

Americans to question

the capitalist

economic system.

⚫ As a result, some

workers embraced

socialism. Eugene

Debs organized the

American Socialist

Party in 1901.Debs encouraged workers to reject

American capitalism

Protecting Working Children⚫As the number of

child workers rose, reformers worked to end child labor.

⚫Children were more prone to accidents caused by fatigue.

⚫Nearly every state limited or banned child labor by 1918

Federal Income Tax Arrives

⚫Wilson worked hard to lower tariffs, however, the lost revenue had to be made up and was when the 16th Amendment instituted a graduated federal income tax.

Efforts To Limit Hours

⚫The Supreme

Court and the

states enacted or

strengthened laws

reducing women’s

hours of work.

⚫Progressives also

succeeded in

winning worker’s

compensation to

aid families of

injured workers.

Regulating Big Business

⚫ Under the progressive

Republican leadership of

Robert La Follette,

Wisconsin led the way in

regulating big business

and implementing the

Wisconsin Idea – a

partnership between

government and the

experts at the University

of Wisconsin.

Robert La Follette

Muckrakers Criticize Big Business

⚫Though most Progressives

did not embrace socialism,

many writers saw the truth

in Debs’ criticism.

⚫ Investigative journalists,

known as “Muckrakers,”

exposed corruption in

business. For example, Ida

Tarbell exposed Standard

Oil Company’s cut-throat

methods of eliminating

competition.

Welcome to the Jungle!

⚫Upton Sinclair

exposed the

disgusting practices

of the meat packing

industry in Chicago

in his famous book,

The Jungle

Cleaning Up Local Government

⚫Efforts at reforming local government stemmed from the desire to make government more efficient and responsive to citizens.

Election Reform

⚫Citizens fought for and secured such measures as secret ballots, referendums, and recalls. Citizens could petition and get initiatives onthe ballot.

⚫ In 1899, Minnesota passed the first statewide primary system.

Direct Election Of Senators

⚫ Before 1913, each state’s legislature had chosen U.S. senators. To force senators to be more responsive to the public, Progressives pushed for the popular election of senators.

⚫ As a result, Congress passed the 17th

Amendment in 1913.

Women in Public Life

⚫Before the Civil

War, American

women were

expected to devote

their time to home

and family.

⚫By the late 19th and

early 20th century,

women were visible

in the workforce.

Domestic Workers

⚫ Before the turn-of-the-

century women without

formal education

contributed to the

economic welfare of

their families by doing

domestic work.

⚫ Altogether, 70% of

women employed in

1870 were servants.

Women in the Work Force

⚫Opportunities for

women increased

especially in the

cities. By 1900,

one out of five

women worked.

⚫The garment

industry was

popular as were

office work, retail,

and education.

Women Lead Reform

⚫Many of the

leading

Progressive

reformers were

women. Middle

and upper class

women entered

the public sphere

after graduating

from the new

women’s colleges. Colleges like Vassar and Smith

allowed women to excel

Women and Reform

⚫Women reformers

strove to improve

conditions at work and

home.

⚫ In 1896, black women

formed the National

Association of Colored

Women (NACW).

⚫ Suffrage was another

important issue for

women.

Three-Part Strategy for

Winning Suffrage⚫ Suffragettes from

tried three approaches to winning the vote:1. Convincing state

legislatures to adopt the vote.

2. Pursuing court cases

3. Pushing for national Constitutional amendment.

Women Win Suffrage

⚫ Native-born,

educated, middle-

class women grew

impatient. Through

local, state, and

national organization,

as well as vigorous

protests, women from

the National Women’s

Suffrage Association

finally realized their

dream in 1920 with

the 19th Amendment.

Limits of Progressivism

⚫While the Progressive era was responsible for many important reforms, it failed to make gains for African Americans. Like Roosevelt and Taft, Wilson retreated on Civil Rights when he entered office.

The Progressive

Presidents

Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal

⚫When President

William McKinley

was assassinated

six months into his

second term,

Theodore

Roosevelt became

the nation’s 26th

president

McKinley was assassinated by an

anarchist in Buffalo in September of 1901

The Modern President

⚫When Roosevelt was

thrust into the

presidency in 1901,

he became the

youngest president

ever at age 42.

⚫He quickly

established himself

as a modern

president who could

influence the media

and shape

Trust-Busting

⚫By 1900, trusts –

legal bodies

created to hold

stock in many

companies –

controlled 80% of

U.S. industries.

⚫Roosevelt filed 44

antitrust suits

under the

Sherman Anti-

Trust Act

1902 Coal Strike

⚫ In 1902, 140,000 coal miners

in Pennsylvania went on

strike for increased wages,

a 9-hour work day, and the

right to unionize. Mine

owners refused to bargain.

⚫ Roosevelt called in both

sides and settled the

dispute. Thereafter, when a

strike threatened public

welfare, the federal

government was expected

to step in and help.

“The Jungle” Leads to

Food Regulation

⚫After reading The

Jungle by Upton

Sinclair, Roosevelt

pushed for passage

of the Meat

Inspection Act of

1906.

⚫The act mandated

cleaner conditions

for meatpacking

plants.

Pure Food and Drug Act

⚫ In response to unsubstantiated claims and unwholesome products, Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906. The Act halted the sale of contaminated foods and medicines and called for truth in

Roosevelt and the Environment

⚫Before

Roosevelt’s

presidency, the

federal

government paid

very little

attention to the

nation’s natural

resources.

Roosevelt made

conservation a

primary concern

of his

Film clip of Theodore Roosevelt

Roosevelt’s Environmental Accomplishments

⚫Roosevelt set

aside 148 million

acres of forest

reserves, 1.5

million acres of

water-power sites,

50 wildlife

sanctuaries, and

several national

parks.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Roosevelt and Civil Rights

⚫Roosevelt failed to

support Civil Rights

for African

Americans. He did,

however, support a

few individuals

such as Booker T.

Washington, who

founded the

Tuskegee Institute

to provide a

technical education

NAACP Formed to Promote Rights

⚫ In 1909 a number of

African Americans and

prominent white reformers

formed the National

Association for the

Advancement of Colored

People. The NAACP had

6,000 members by 1914.

⚫ The goal of the

organization was full

equality among the races

through the court system,

a position supported by

W.E.B. Du Bois.

Progressivism under President Taft

⚫ Republican William Howard

Taft easily defeated

Democrat William Jennings

Bryan in the 1908

presidential election.

⚫ Among his

accomplishments, Taft

“busted” 90 trusts during his

four years in office – more

than Theodore Roosevelt

during his eight years in

office.

Taft, right, was Roosevelt’s War Secretary

Taft Loses Power

⚫Taft was not

popular with the

American public or

reform-minded

Republicans. He

called the

Presidency, the

“lonesomest” job

in the world.” By

1910, Democrats

had regained

control of the

House of

1912 Election

⚫ Republicans split in 1912 between Taft and Roosevelt (who returned after a safari to Africa).

⚫ Convention delegates nominated Taft and discontented Republicans formed a third party, the Progressive Party (nicknamed the Bull Moose Party), and nominated Roosevelt.

⚫ The Democrats put forward a reform-minded New Jersey governor, Woodrow Wilson.

Wilson’s New Freedom

⚫With a strong

mandate from the

American people,

Wilson moved to

enact his program,

the “New Freedom.”

⚫He planned his

attack on what he

called the triple wall

of privilege: trusts,

tariffs, and high

finance.

Clayton Anti-Trust Act

⚫ In 1914 Congress enacted the Clayton Anti-Trust Act that strengthened the Sherman Act.

⚫ It had an anti-trust provision that prevented companies from acquiring stock from another company and supported workers’ unions.

Federal Trade Commission Formed

⚫The FTC was

formed in 1914 to

serve as a

“watchdog”

agency to end

unfair business

practices. The FTC

protects

consumers from

business fraud.