Chapter 15

Life at the Turn of the

Century

Sec. 1 ReviewWho were the “Old

Immigrants?”• 1800-1880• Immigrants from

Northern & Western Europe– United Kingdom– The Netherlands– Germany– Sweden & Norway

Who were the New Immigrants?

• 1880-1910• Mainly from

Eastern & Southern Europe– Poland– Hungary– Czechoslovakia – Russia– Italy– Greece

Reasons for Mass Immigration from Eastern Europe:

• Poverty• Overcrowding & Joblessness• Religious Persecution

Where did most of the “New Immigrants” live?

CITIES

Little Italy, New York

Settlement of Immigrants (1880)

Where Were Immigrants Processed?Ellis Island

Where did Asian Immigrants Arrive in

U.S.?Angel Island (San Francisco)

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

• Banned Chinese immigration for 10 years

• Chinese in America could not get citizenship

• WHY?– 1870’s: American economy takes downturn– Many Chinese lived in cities doing low-

wage work– Chinese blamed for taking jobs and making

wages decrease– Denis Kearney – “The Chinese must go!”

What people opposed immigration?

NATIVISTS• Labor Unions

blamed immigrants for lower wages, taking jobs & breaking strikes

• Prejudice (ex. Anti-Semitism, anti-Chinese, Anti-Catholic)

Effects of Immigration

1. America becomes more multicultural

2. Development of ethnic communities

3. Increase in U.S. population 4.Rapid Urbanization

UrbanizationThe Rise of Cities

• 1900: 40% of American’s living in cities• Cities grew by native-born Americans

relocating to cities from rural areas and from increasing immigrant population

• 1897-1930: 1 million southern blacks migrate north & west to cities.

How does urbanization connect to

industrialization?

Patterns of Urban Growth - 1880

Urban Changes Why did cities grow?

1. Mass-Transit Technology• Before mass-transit, people had to live within

walking distance of the city.• 1890’s: Electric trolleys, streetcars, subways

developed• Lead’s to residential communities forming

outside the city

Construction of NYC Subway System1901

Urban Changes2. Skyscrapers • Made possible by innovations of the

Industrial Revolution: steel, elevators & central steam heating.

• Allowed cities to expand rapidly by building upward

• Home Insurance Building in Chicago – first true skyscraper at 10 stories high!

Changing New York City Skyline

1898

1931

What is the World’s Tallest Building now?

Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates

Urban Changes3. Ethnic Neighborhoods• Immigrant groups settled into distinct

ethnic neighborhoods• Ethnic neighborhoods allowed immigrants

to maintain their cultural heritage: language, culture, churches/temples & social clubs.

Residential Suburbs• Streetcars & Trains allow people to

live in communities outside of cities

• Wealthy & middle classes wanted to escape bad conditions in city

• Example of increasing disparity between upper/middle class and the working class poor.

Roxbury Highlands, Massachusetts

Andrew Carnegie’s Home

Class Divisions• Working class lived in crowded cities• Tenement Apartments

Why is this era called“The Gilded Age?”

• Phrase coined by Mark Twain• “Gilded” – something covered

with an outward layer of gold• An era of economic growth

and wealth that covered deep societal issues, such as…– Poverty– Government Corruption– Materialism– Poor working conditions

Political Corruption• Political Machines

controlled city politics• Political Bosses

worked to:– Ensure their candidates

were elected– Make sure that city

government worked to their advantage

Machine Organization

City BossWard

BossesPrecinct Workers,

Immigrants

“The Boss” – Controlled jobs, business licenses & influenced the Court system“Ward Bosses” – Usually 2nd generation immigrants. Helped immigrants with jobs, housing and naturalization in exchange for votes.

James Garfield • Refuses to give certain

members of the Republican party jobs.

• Assassinated by Charles Guiteau

• • VP Chester Arthur becomes President and begins reforming the Federal Government & fighting “the spoils system”

Government CorruptionThe Spoils System

• Begun by President Andrew Jackson

• New President would dismiss 1,000’s of government workers & replace with his supporters in his party.

• “To the victor goes the spoils of war”

Pendleton Civil Service Act

• Supported by President Arthur & passed by Congress 1883

• Legislated that government jobs be based on merit.

• Applicants would take a Civil Service Test to determine if they were qualified

• Made it illegal to fire government employees based on party affiliation

Beginning of an era of

REFORM

Now on to ….The Populist Movement

Go to the blog…open “Populist Movement

Guided Reading”