LIFE AT THE TURN OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Chapter 5, Section 3
NEW IMMIGRANTS
U.S. = “a nation of immigrants”
Between 1800 and 1880, more than 10 million immigrants came to the U.S. (mostly from northern and western Europe; China).
Between 1880 and 1910, a new wave of immigrants: some 18 million
New Immigrants
Mostly from southern and eastern Europe, including Greece, Italy, Poland, Russia
America became even more diverse , culturally and religiously (including Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Jewish)
By 1901, 1 in 7 Americans…
Reasons for coming to America-Search for a better life-Escape religious persecution-Desperate poverty
ELLIS ISLAND – opened in New York 1892 – some 12 millions Europeans passed through
ANGEL ISLAND – San Francisco – immigrants from Asia
REACTIONS TO IMMIGRANTS
“Nativists” – people born in America who saw immigrants as a threat
West Coast: prejudice directed against Asians – “Chinese Exclusion Act” passed by Congress in 1882 to ban immigration of Chinese
“Americanization” – teaching immigrants English, American history and government
URBAN LIFE IN AMERICA
Late 1800’s cities changed dramatically
Buildings became taller (skyscraper) – mechanized elevator – city parks
HOW DIFFERENT CLASSES LIVEDWEALTHY: made money in business
and industry – huge homes
MIDDLE CLASS: corporate employees and professionals
WORKING CLASS: most people in cities lived in poverty in tenements (run-down apartments without indoor plumbing)
Popular Songs…
Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do, I'm half crazy all for the love of you.It won't be a stylish marriage – I can't afford a carriage, But you'd look sweet upon the seat Of a bicycle built for two.
“Settlement House Movement”Reform movement begun in Great
Britain
Place where immigrants could learn English and receive job-training
“Hull House,” founded in Chicago by Jane Addams in 1889
“social gospel” – faith expressed by good works
POLITICAL SCANDAL & REFORM“Political Machine” – professional politicians
controlling local government – favors in exchange for votes – often corrupt
“Political bosses” – leaders
Tammany Hall – political machine in New York City run by “Boss Tweed” – 1871 he was convicted of fraud and sent to prison
Political Scandal
Political corruption extended all the way to Washington
U. S. Grant became president in 1869 but scandals marred his presidency
Republican party split – 1880 reformers chose James A. Garfield as candidate – his successor, Chester Arthur, supported reforms(Pendleton Civil Service Act, 1883)
Farmers’ Reform Movements
Hard times for farmers in late 1800’s – crop prices falling; farmers in debt
Organized: Order of Patrons of Husbandry (National Grange)
Wanted Congress to regulate railroad rates: Interstate Commerce Act, 1887
Silver vs. Gold
1873 Congress put U.S. dollar on gold standard (dollar could be redeemed only for gold) – this reduced money in circulation and hurt farmers (who wanted money backed by silver)
Farmer’s Alliance – wanted government to print more money
Election of 1896
Populist Party: farmers, labor leaders, reformers
Panic of 1893: stock prices fell, millions lost jobs
1896 Presidential election: Republican William McKinley (for gold) vs. William Jennings Bryan (for silver)
William Jennings Bryan
“…we will answer their demand for a gold
standard by saying to them: You shall not
press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify
mankind upon a cross of gold”
Segregation & Discrimination“Jim Crow Laws” – some southern state
legislatures passed law to create and enforce segregation in public places:
railroad cars – restaurants – schools
Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896: Supreme Court upheld segregation laws
Segregation…
Discrimination
Even worse than laws and court decisions…lynching
Opposing discrimination:Booker T. Washington – believed blacks
should accept segregation and improve situation through acquiring skills
W. E. B. DuBoise – wanted to end segregation immediately - NAACP
Others facing discrimination:HISPANICS: some had strong anti-
Mexican feelings
ASIAN AMERICANS: some Japanese and Chinese Americans lived in segregated neighborhoods
NATIVE AMERICANS: government tried to “stamp out” their culture – life on reservation hard
