Towards an Urban America. Immigration Immigrants came to the U.S. for various reasons. They include: 1. Hope for better opportunity, i.e. land and jobs.

Towards an Towards an Urban AmericaUrban America

Immigration

Immigrants came to the U.S. for various reasons. They include:

1. Hope for better opportunity, i.e. land and jobs

2. Religious Freedom3. Escape from political

governments (also described as political freedom)

4. Adventure

Old versus New Old versus New ImmigrantsImmigrants

Old immigrants – Old immigrants – Came from Northern Came from Northern

and Western Europeand Western Europe Most arrived before Most arrived before

18951895 ProtestantProtestant Spoke fairly good Spoke fairly good

EnglishEnglish Blended in well to Blended in well to

American SocietyAmerican Society

New immigrantsNew immigrants Came from Southern Came from Southern

and Eastern Europeand Eastern Europe Most arrived after Most arrived after

18951895 Jewish and CatholicsJewish and Catholics Didn’t speak EnglishDidn’t speak English Didn’t blend in well Didn’t blend in well

to American Societyto American Society

The Immigrant Experience

Difficulties included1. Finding work2. Discrimination

1. Many saw immigrants as being different

2. Believed immigrants would lower wages and take away jobs.

3. Adjusting to America – most wanted to keep some aspects of their own culture but at the same time wanted to assimilate.

4. Nativist movement – people in America who believed that there should be limitations on immigration

Moving to the CityMoving to the City

Cities in the U.S. expanded rapidly Cities in the U.S. expanded rapidly in the late 1800s. Reasons include:in the late 1800s. Reasons include:

1.1. Immigration from other countries – immigrants Immigration from other countries – immigrants moved to cities to find jobsmoved to cities to find jobs

2.2. Specialized industries developed in particular Specialized industries developed in particular cities such as steel in Pittsburgh PA and cities such as steel in Pittsburgh PA and meatpacking in Chicago, ILmeatpacking in Chicago, IL

3.3. Movement of Americans from rural to urban Movement of Americans from rural to urban areas for job opportunitiesareas for job opportunities

Cities in Crisis Rapid industrialization and urbanization led to

overcrowded immigrant neighborhoods and tenements Tenements – found in the most crowded and biggest

cities, the poorest residents (mostly immigrants) lived in tenements. Most were found in slums or ghettos.

Cities in Crisis continued

Sanitation problems – garbage and horse manure accumulated in the streets. Sewers could not handle the flow of human waste.

Health problems – disease spread rapidly in the conditions mentioned above. Whooping cough, diphtheria, measles, and tuberculosis killed both infants and adults.

Fire Crime

Solutions to Solve Solutions to Solve Immigration and City Immigration and City

ProblemsProblems Settlement Houses – these were located in poor Settlement Houses – these were located in poor

neighborhoods and provided medical care, neighborhoods and provided medical care, playgrounds, and other services to those in playgrounds, and other services to those in need.need.

Those who worked in settlement houses pushed Those who worked in settlement houses pushed for garbage removal and police protection.for garbage removal and police protection.

The most famous settlement house was Hull The most famous settlement house was Hull House, founded by Jane AddamsHouse, founded by Jane Addams

Jacob Riis was a reformer, photographer, and Jacob Riis was a reformer, photographer, and writer who was known for his work for writer who was known for his work for improving the conditions in the slums of New improving the conditions in the slums of New York City. His pictures and his book York City. His pictures and his book How the How the Other Half Lives Other Half Lives brought the conditions of the brought the conditions of the slums to the attention of readers.slums to the attention of readers.

The Changing City

Urban growth led to important new developments. In the late 1800s, cities saw the introduction of a new type of building, new public transportation, and public parks.

The Changing City

In 1884, William LeBaron Jenney constructed the first skyscraper in Chicago.

Frederick Law Olmsted designed New York’s Central Park New forms of public transportation was another cause for the growth of cities.

These included1. Cable Cars – San Francisco, CA2. Trolley Cars – Richmond, VA3. Subway – Boston, MA4. Paved streets5. Bridges – Eads Bridge in St. Louis, MO and Brooklyn Bridge in New York

These also allowed some people, such as the middle class, to move to the suburbs. These were areas that sprang up outside the city centers.

Changing CultureChanging Culture More of an emphasis was starting to be placed on education during More of an emphasis was starting to be placed on education during

this time span.this time span. As opportunities for education grew, more Americans became As opportunities for education grew, more Americans became

interested in reading.interested in reading.

1.1. Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph HearstJoseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst– Pulitzer – Pulitzer created a new style of writing known as yellow journalism which was created a new style of writing known as yellow journalism which was imitated by Hearst. Both used this technique to sell newspapers. imitated by Hearst. Both used this technique to sell newspapers. Yellow journalism is a sensational style of writing that attracts readers Yellow journalism is a sensational style of writing that attracts readers by focusing on dramatic or gruesome aspects of stories.by focusing on dramatic or gruesome aspects of stories.

2.2. Many writers used realism (shows things how they really are, depicts Many writers used realism (shows things how they really are, depicts real life situations) and regionalism (focusing on one particular region real life situations) and regionalism (focusing on one particular region of the country)of the country)

A. Mark Twain – both a realist and regionalist, A. Mark Twain – both a realist and regionalist, Adventures of Adventures of Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn and and The Adventures of Tom SawyerThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer

B. Stephen Crane – wrote B. Stephen Crane – wrote The Red Badge of CourageThe Red Badge of CourageC. Jack London – wrote C. Jack London – wrote The Call of the WildThe Call of the Wild

Art, Music, and Literature

For most of the 1800s, the work of American artists and musicians reflected a European influence. After the Civil War,

Americans began to develop a distinctively American style.1. Thomas Eakins – painted human anatomy and surgical

operations

2. Winslow Homer – painted Southern farmers, Adirondack campers and stormy seas scenes

3. Henry Tanner – depicted warm family scenes of African Americans in the South

Art, Music, and Leisure cont’d

James Whistler – Arrangement in Grey and Black also known as “Whistler’s Mother” is one of the best known American paintings

Art, Music, and Leisure cont’d

John Philip Sousa – composed marches, including “Stars and Stripes Forever”

Jazz – developed by African American musicians in New Orleans, jazz combined elements of work songs, gospel music, spirituals, and African rhythms.

Ragtime – Related to jazz. One of the best known ragtime composers was Scott Joplin, who wrote “Maple Leaf Rag”

Art, Music, and Leisure cont’d

Spectator Sports - Sports like baseball, basketball, and football become popular.

Tennis, golf, bicycling were activities Americans started to participated in.

Vaudeville – variety shows with dancing, singing, comedy, and magic acts

Thomas Edison invented “moving pictures” in the 1880s. Movies soon became very popular. This was the beginning of today’s film industry.