Industrialization, Urbanization, and Immigration 1865-1924.

Industrialization, Industrialization, Urbanization, and Urbanization, and

ImmigrationImmigration

1865-19241865-1924

Industrial GrowthIndustrial Growth

• Between 1865 and 1900, the u.s. experienced unprecedented economic growth• 1860 manufacturers had about $2 billion in value by

1900 they had over $11 billion• Iron ore production nearly quadrupled from 7 million

long-tons to 27 million long-tons• Steel output rose from less than 1 million tons to over

11 million tons• GNP tripled during that time• Railroad mileage increased from 30,000 to 250,000

miles

Rise of Big BusinessRise of Big Business

• By 1900 the American economy was dominated by business monopolies or trusts, huge business empires that virtually controlled key sectors of the economy and dominated social and political life

• Trusts in sugar, cotton, tobacco, meat, flour, and even whiskey• Number of industrial combinations rose from 12 to 305

between 1887 and 1903• 2,600 smaller firms disappeared• By 1900, 1 % of all companies produced 40% of the

manufacturing output• GAPE saw the rise of the modern corporation

• Used 14th Amendment to gain “personhood” and rights

Immigration StatisticsImmigration Statistics

• 1860-1920 -- aprox. 30 million European immigrants

• 1880-1920 -- appox. 27 million European immigrants

• 2 “Waves” of immigrants• 1860-1890 -- (approx. 10mil) Britain, Ireland,

Germany, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Holland• 1890-1920 -- (approx. 20mil) Italy, Greece,

Austro-Hungary, Russia, Romania, Turkey


• Compare 1882 and 1907• 1882 -- peak of “old” immigration

• 788,992 total immigrants250,630 - German (highest ever)179,423 - Britain and Ireland105,326 - Scandinavia32,159 - Italy29,150 - Hapsburg Empire16,918 - Russia and Baltic States

• 87% from NW Europe and 13% from southern and eastern Europe


• 1907 -- peak of “new” immigration• 1,285,349 total immigrants

• 19.3% from NW Europe • 80.7% from S&E Europe

• Although migration from NW Europe continued throughout the GAPE by 1890s so-called “new” immigrants dominated immigration statistics

What Did They Know About the U.S.?

What Did They Know About the U.S.?

• Heard of opportunities for employment through:

• “travelers’ tales

• Advertisements

• Guidebooks

• Pamphlets and Newspapers

• Where to Emigrate and Why

• Informed migrants on where, why, and how to go

• After 1867 virtually all migrants came over on steamshipsCheaper and fasterBy 1880s primarily British and German steamers

Where did they go?Where did they go?

• No area of the U.S. completely escaped immigration (Butte Irish)

• But “new” immigrants were decidedly urban and mostly in northeast and upper Midwest• 80% of immigrants settled in places like NYC and Chicago -- New

England, New York, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio proved especially attractive, because of jobs, transportation, and support network (explain).

• 1890 - 56% of industrial laborers were foreign born or children of foreign born

Support NetworkSupport Network

• Ethnic neighborhoods or “ghettos”• Mutual aid societies• Native language businesses and newspapers• Job networks• Churches and synagogues• In some cases (Irish) local political machine

Chinese ImmigrantsChinese Immigrants

In 1851, a racist from NC named Hinton Helper left his home state to get away from what he referred to as the “diversity of color” in America’s more settled regions.

He traveled to California and was shocked to find Chinese people living there—so much so that he wondered out loud if the “copper” of the Pacific would cause as much discord and dissension as the “ebony” had on the Atlantic.

Between 1850 and 1882 the Chinese pop in the U.S. soared from 7,520 to 300,000. Chinese comprised 8.6 percent of California’s total pop and an impressive 25% of its wage earners.


• By 1870, 26% of California’s Chinese population lived in San Francisco and represented 46% of the labor force in SF four key industries; boot and shoe making, woolen cloth, cigar and tobacco manufacture, and sewing.

• By 1880, Chinese comprised 52% boot and shoe. 44% brick makers, 85% cigar makers, 33% of woolen mill operators.


• Like the Irish and the Italians, Chinese faced what one scholar has referred to as a “Negroization.”

• the NYT ran editorials arguing that free blacks and Chinese posed a direct threat to American republicanism, not to mention a mongrolization of the “race”

Chinese ExclusionChinese Exclusion

In calling for Chinese exclusion, one San Francisco paper referred to them as morally inferior heathen savages who were overly lustful and sensual. Chinese women were condemned as a depraved class, which was attributed in large part to their physical appearance. Critics thought they looked like Africans. Chinese men were portrayed as a sexual threat to white women.

Chinese also compared to Indians and referred to as the “new barbarians.”

Chinese ExclusionChinese Exclusion

• In 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which made it unlawful for Chinese laborers to enter the country and declared Chinese already living in the United States ineligible for U.S. citizenship. (10 yrs)

• Renewed in 1892 (10 yrs)• Made permanent in 1902• Remained in effect until 1943

End of “New” ImmigrationEnd of “New” Immigration

• Immigration declined significantly after 1914• World War I

• “New” Immigration ended almost completely in 1924• Congress passed the National Origins Act or

Immigration Restriction Act• Limited number of entrants to 2% of 1890 census

Industrialization, Urbanization, and Immigration 1865-1924.

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