M. CARTERCH 25
Life in the Big City
Immigration
1st wave= prior to 1870s- from England, Ireland and Northern Europe
2nd wave= post 1870s- Southern and Eastern Europe, and Asia and Mexico in the West (until the Chinese Exclusion Act)
General Push and Pull Factors: Poverty and oppression Opportunities
Immigrants often had unrealistic expectations perpetrated by misleading advertisements.
Arrival of new groups led to increased ethnic tension among the working class.
Highest paid immigrants: British and Irish (skilled)
Lowest paid immigrants: Poles, Greeks (unskilled)- began replacing skilled workers
Journey to America
Arrival
The New Colossus
By Emma Lazarus, 1883
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,With conquering limbs astride from land to land;Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall standA mighty woman with a torch, whose flameIs the imprisoned lightning, and her nameMother of Exiles. From her beacon-handGlows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes commandThe air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame."Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries sheWith silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Ellis Island
2% were sent back to their homeland
“six second exam” checked for contagious eye diseases, heart problems, lice and mental issues
Angel Island
Located in California, it was the “Ellis Island” of the West. Asian immigrants were examined here before entering the United States well into the 20th century.
Urban Growth
New York City 1860= 1 million 1900= over 3 million
Chicago 1860= 100,000 1900= over 1 million
Immigration a large part of the growth!!High infant mortality rate, Declining fertility
rate, and high death rate b/c of disease
Migration
Transportation technologies brought families into the cities
Factories brought families within walking distance
African Americans- ongoing exodus to northern cities Emergence of AA communities within cities
Ethnic Communities
Migration from the same region, province, village
Newspapers and theaters in the native language
Native foodsSocial and religious organizationsHelped bring others to the USCulturally cohesiveComfort and familiarityStrong racial/ethnic prejudice from native
born Americans
Little Italy- Mulberry Street, NYC
Reemergence of Nativism
Fear of ethnic groupsResentment among native born AmericansBlamed immigrants for all problems
Lack of jobs Violence Poor conditions of city
Immigrant Restriction League- believed immigrants should be screened before admittance to the US to separate the desirables from the undesirables
Changing City Life
Creation of public spaces Parks- Central Park in NYC Public buildings- libraries, art galleries, museums,
theaters Paid for by philanthropists
Emergence of mass transit systems Streetcars and elevated trains Cable cars (San Francisco) Subway
Problems in Cities
Cities dumped waste into water systemsAir pollution – burning coal (transportation &
heat)Noise pollutionOvercrowdingUnsanitary = disease
Tenements
Tenements
Tenements
Jacob Riis- How the Other Half Lives
American Spirit p.103-106
Read Cleaning Up New York (1897) #3 AND Jacob Riis Goes Slumming (1890) #4Answer the following questions in your Analysis
NB1. What features of urban life were the worst
contributors to unsanitary conditions?2. Which city dwellers suffered the most from
those conditions?3. What does Riis regard as the chief obstacles to
good health and good morals in the slums?4. Identify key points of life in the city for many
Americans.
Were there any programs to help these people?
Social Gospel Movement
Protestant movement to help the poorJosiah Strong- one of the foundersPrioritized SOCIAL salvation over
INDIVIDUAL salvationEstablishment of
The Salvation Army YMCA and YWCA
Help with the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of men and women
Jane Addams Hull House, Chicago
Settlement Houses
Henry Street Settlement in NYC
Originally opened in 1893 by Lillian Ward, later was operated by many influential women including suffragette Florence Kelley.
Purpose of settlement houses
Offered a variety of services to women and children (primarily)
Daycares and kindergartensSecretarial coursesCivic clubsEnglish classesPlaygroupsReligious organizations“neighborhood centers”**located where most needed**