Westward Migration, Industry,
Immigration and Urbanization in
American History, 1865 - 1920
After the Civil War, many Americans moved
West, and new states were added to the Union.
People moved to the West
with the railroads in order
to pursue prosperity in
farming, mining, ranching,
and in business. Cheap
land, mining prospects, and
the opportunity to start
again after the Civil War
were motivators for many
Americans, including
“Exodusters” and exConfederates.
After the Civil War came to an end,
the long process of Reconstruction
began. For many Americans eager to
remake their lives, the West offered
opportunities which did not exist in
the South or in emerging Northern
cities.
Cattle Trails – The Open Range
Although it is a major part of
Americans share history, in fact,
the open range did not persist
for very long. As railroads
made there way to the West, it
became profitable to drive
large herds of cattle out of
Texas to the so-called
cowtowns of the Midwest.
Huge profits were made by
ranchers, but the cowboys
themselves rarely profited. By
the 1890s, drought, blizzards,
and barbed wire had reduced
the size of the herds and made
the cattle drive too difficult to
be prosperous.
The Homestead Act of 1862
The Homestead Act of 1862
offered 160 acres of land to
anyone who would “improve”
the region by establishing a
farm, herding animals, or
constructing houses, barns, or
businesses. Middle class and
poor Americans took up the
government on its offer and
settled the West. Immigrants
poured onto the Great Plains,
as well, making the land
produce. Homesteaders played
a major role in the settlement
of the West.
Resources like lumber were scarce
on the Great Plains, and making the
land produce was difficult work.
Many families started off living in
sod houses – like the one pictured
above. If they made it five years,
though, all the land was their own.
Railroads and Mechanization
Farmers on the Great Plains
used mechanized labor in
order to increase the size of
their crops dramatically.
Tools to sow, irrigate,
harvest and sort crops
rapidly allowed farmers to
plant vast regions of the
Great Plains, and the
railroads allowed them to
get their crops to market
much faster. The
productivity of “bonanza”
farmers was astonishing
during the late 19th Century
and early 20th Century.
Farmers planting large acreage with
the use of mechanized agricultural
products could grow huge crops.
But they were dependent upon the
railroads to move their products to
market, and often, they bought
goods and storage space from the
railroads, too.
Broken Treaties and Violence
Robbed Native Americans
Native Americans were
removed from the West
through violent force and
broken treaties. By the
year 1890, almost all
Native American tribes had
been confined to
reservations. Major battles
took place in Dakota
Territory and throughout
the West, resulting in the
confinement of tribes to
the least productive land in
the area.
By the year 1890, Americans had used
dishonest treaties and brutal violence
to place almost all Native American
tribes onto reservations.
Old Immigrants VS. New Immigrants
Old Immigrants were
generally from Northern
and Western Europe, and
might be described by the
old acronym WASP: White,
Anglo-Saxon Protestants.
The majority of Old
Immigrants came from
regions in Germany,
Scandinavia, and Ireland,
were familiar with the
English language – if not
fluent – and practiced the
Christian faith. All but the
Irish were Protestant.
Old Immigrant came from
Northern and Western Europe, and
they rarely encountered problems
with assimilation into the United
States. Most “Old Immigrants”
came from England, Holland ,
Belgium, or Scandinavia.
New Immigrants
New Immigrants generally
came from Southern and
Eastern Europe. Many
were Catholic, Jewish, or of
an Orthodox religious
faith. Often, they spoke
languages which could not
be represented with the
same alphabet: Greek,
Russian, Arabic, Chinese, or
Hebrew, for example. The
religious denominations of
the “New Immigrants” was
diverse, as well.
Immigrants were the Backbone of
The United States Workforce.
Although frequently targeted
for criticism by union leaders
for accepting low wages and
driving down the price of
wages, Immigrants who came
to the United States were
often the backbone of the
nation’s workforce. Projects
like the Erie Canal, the
Transcontinental Railroad, or
the development of
industries in coal and steel
would not have been
possible were it not for
immigrant laborers.
Ellis Island & The Statue of Liberty
Most European
immigrants to the United
States entered the nation
by sailing to the port of
entry at New York City.
They were processed at
an immigration station in
New York Harbor – Ellis
Island. Many would pass
by the Statue of Liberty,
which was put up in
1886.
The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame,
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With 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-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
by Emma Lazarus, New York City, 1883
The United States encouraged
Assimilation with Schools and the
so-called “Melting Pot.”
Not everyone who came
to the United States
wanted to stay forever and
“become American.”
However there were
strong social pressures
towards assimilation:
pressure to speak English,
adopt American ways of
life, and participate in the
civic community. Public
schools taught the children
of immigrants to “become
more American.”
Unions Opposed Immigrant Labor
Because poor immigrants
were willing to accept the
first job they could find –
even if the job was for long
hours and low wages in
dangerous working
conditions – many labor
unions sought to end
immigration from other
nations. The California
Workingman’s Party, for
example, sought to restrict
immigration from China
with the Exclusion Act of
1882.
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
The Chinese Exclusion
Act of 1882 forbid any
immigration to the
United States of
America from China.
The rule was enforced
strictly, and the United
States Congress
renewed the law on
several occasions.
Similar laws slowed
down or prevented
immigration from
Japan and the
Philippines.
Chinese immigrants were feared for their
influence in the West; meanwhile, in the East,
anti-Irish sentiment was just as strong.
Immigration Act of 1921 Restricted
Immigration and Set Quotas
The Emergency
Immigration Act of 1921
restricted immigration to
the United States from
certain countries. “New
Immigrants” access to
the County was cut back;
meanwhile, “Old
Immigrants” were
allowed to come in
slightly larger numbers.
As Urbanization Occurred, Immigrants
live in Slums and Tenements.
Because most
immigrants came to the
United States seeking
economic opportunities,
they started of relatively
poor. To save money for
the future, taking
residence in the poorest
sections of town – the
slums – and living in
overcrowded buildings –
or tenement – was a
common path.
Jacob Riis was a photo-essayist who’s
muckraking journalism focused on
the plight of the poor. In tenements
across all major American cities, the
poor lived in overcrowded,
unsanitary conditions.
Cities create sewage systems, public
services, and transportation Systems.
As cities began to grow
and change, major
innovations took place.
Sewage systems were
created to clean up the
public streets. Trash
collection was managed by
the cities to improve
sanitation. Police, fire
fighters, and ambulance
services became much
better organized. And
public transportation
became more common as
well.
Electric Trolley Car – Richmond,VA
Brooklyn Bridge
Transportation Systems