Directions--Take out a sheet of paper and complete the following three steps:
 "Part A" (Worth 10 Points): As Mr. Lua is talking about Notes #9, please describe OR summarize OR illustrate 5 concepts that he mentioned while lecturing. You may also simply describe 5 things that you remember most about what he mentioned.
 "Part B" " (Worth 10 Points): please COPY, then FIND THE ANSWER to each of the "Checkpoints" below.
 "Part C" (Worth 5 Points): Please select any 5 Underlined concepts below and write a description of them, a definition, or create an illustration.
 “Part D” (Optional, worth 25 Points): Take out a second sheet of paper, then copy all notes below, as shown (word for word and in outline form).
From what countries did most immigrants come from BEFORE
1880?
From what countries did most immigrants come from AFTER 1880?
How did immigrants help fuel
America's Industrial Revolution?
Briefly list 5 reasons why the U.S. experienced massive immigration during the Gilded Age
A) Gilded Age took place between 1865-1900 (beginning just after the Civil War)
B) During the Gilded Age, the United States started the process of becoming “modern:”
1.
The economy became more industrial based.
2.
A population explosion resulted due to natural births and massive immigration.
3.
Many sections of the country urbanized, as more people began living in large cities.
C) Government was not very active and took a "laissez faire" hands off approach to businesses and the economy.
1.
Unrestrained capitalism was heavily favored.
2.
Such conditions allowed for the birth of America’s 1 st “extremely rich”
D) Minority groups continued to suffer from various types of oppression:
1.
Many Native American groups were cleared out of their ancestral lands as Americans expanded westward
2.
African American freedoms continued to be threatened by discrimination and segregation.
3.
Women continued to be disenfranchised (unable to vote in national elections).
A) Immigration patterns BEFORE the 1880's. Most immigrants:
1.
Came from Northern & Western European countries (England, France, Germany, Denmark, etc)
2.
Were Protestant Christians (having nothing to do with the Pope or Catholic Church)
3.
Spoke or were at least familiar with the English language
4.
Were educated beyond average (had some familiarity with reading/writing)
5.
Had an easy time assimilating into American culture (becoming "American)

Why? Because many of the FIRST Americans (from colonial times) came from the same countries.
B) Dramatic changes in immigration patterns took place AFTER the 1880's
1.
Massive amounts of immigrants began coming from new places:

Southern & Eastern European countries, Asia, Latin America--places such as Italy, Russia, Poland, China
2.
The newer immigrants were much different than immigrants prior to 1880's, they:

Were more likely to be Catholic Christian

Were less educated & more likely to be unskilled in terms of job talent

More likely to be poor

Generally, they had a harder time "becoming American" since their original countries had cultures that were so different
A) Reason #1: the U.S. experienced its second "Industrial Revolution," which created massive amounts of jobs.
1.
During the Gilded Age, the ability of the U.S. to produce manufactured goods (primarily with factory machinery) reached astronomical levels.

As a result, American businesses prospered and had a huge need for more employees
2.
Many businesses took advantage of immigrants by paying them lower wages than American-born people

Although exploited, many immigrants accepted such low-paying jobs because since it was better than what was available back home and it offered them a chance to earn money and start a new life.
B) Reason #2: U.S. provided an opportunity to own land
1.
Many had come from places where free land was scare OR they had to pay oppressive rent to greedy landlords.
2.
The U.S. had plenty of land available--especially land gained from the Louisiana Purchase and Mex/Amer War
C) Reason #3: U.S. federal government AT TIMES set up policies to attract immigrants
1.
Homestead Act of 1862—The federal govt. offered:

Free land (160 acres) to any citizen/immigrant willing to move to Great Plains region.

1862-1900—600,000 families took advantage of offer.
 Some were labeled “Exodusters” (Af. Amer. coming from southern states)
2.
“Land Grabs” (or “rushes”) of the late 1800’s

On five different occasions, the federal govt. hosted organized "races" in which American settlers could rush westward to claim land that had once belonged to Native Americans.

Example: Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889 was portrayed in class via the movie " Far and Away "
3.
Pacific Railway Act (1862)

A federal law designed to encourage westward expansion by hiring railroad companies to build crossnation railroads.

Such companies often hired immigrant workers--especially Irish, Italian, & Chinese

Story of the Union Pacific & Central Pacific
D) Reason #4: U.S. provided an opportunity to worship a religion without fear
1.
Many immigrants were religiously persecuted back home and the U.S. offered a chance to escape.

In your opinion, list 5 things that YOU
THINK describe American Culture today.
What sorts of fears led some
Americans to have "Nativism" feelings?
What is the main message of the numerical info to the right?
Why were "ethnic" neighborhoods formed among immigrant populations?
E) Reason #5: To experience ECONOMIC ($$$) & POLITICAL (government) freedom
1.
To escape oppressive governments of kings or tyrants back home
2.
To live under an economic system that rewards hard work, unique talents, & offers a chance to become rich.
A) Federal government began certain immigration restrictions after 1880 to deal with the large amounts of newcomers
It created 2 "processing centers" to “process” immigrants:
1.
Ellis Island in New York (Most immigrants from Europe were processed here)

European immigrants had to pass a medical exam, demonstrate an ability/talent to make $$$, prove that they wouldn't be a criminal threat to society, etc.--only about 2% were denied entry into the U.S.
2.
Angel Island in San Francisco (Most immigrants from Asia were processed here)

Asian immigrants faced more scrutiny during while being processed at Angel Island

ALL Chinese immigrants were rejected unless they could prove that they had relatives in U.S.

While the screening processes for European immigrants was few hours, it might be days/weeks for Asians
B) Federal government started an “Americanization Movement”
1.
Designed to assimilate immigrants into U.S. culture.
2.
Set up schools & programs to teach immigrants the skills needed for citizenship:

Free school, read in English, cooking, U.S. history, etc.
C) "Nativism" feelings spread among millions of native-born Americans
1.
“Nativism”--belief that government policies should always favor native-born citizens over immigrants
2.
Many Americans demanded that immigration be limited out of fear that too many immigrants would:

Threaten America’s English based traditions & culture

Take jobs that U.S. born people should have

Spread inferior religions, cultures, behaviors, etc.
D) Nativism led to the creation of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act
1.
A federal law that did not allow most Chinese to live in U.S. (in fact, Chinese laborers were not allowed)
2.
Limited many constitutional civil rights of Chinese immigrants already living in the U.S. (blocked citizenship)
3.
Law survived until 1943 (WW2 years)!
A) Urbanization--most lived in large cities, which helped contribute to the growth-of-cities process described below.
B) U.S. companies profited from immigrant labor
1.
Without inexpensive immigrant labor, the U.S. might not have been able to experience its 2nd Industrial
Revolution (immigrants were paid low wages in order to keep the cost of making things low)
2.
American factories needed a constant supply of inexpensive labor in order to continue making large profits.
C) Immigrants brought religions other than “Protestant” Christianity.
1.
Most were “Catholic” Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, etc.--all of which led to more diversity
B) Immigrants introduced new languages
1.
Certain heavily concentrated immigrant neighborhoods never had a need to speak or learn English.
C) Immigrants helped to spread new cultures, dress styles, manners & etiquette
1.
Jews & Kosher foods, Japanese & rice/fish, Russia & bread-based foods
E) Immigrants contributed to the Gilded Age’s massive population growth
U.S. Born
1870’s 32,676,000
1880’s 42,869,000
1890’s 52,919,000
1900’s 64,344,000
Foreign Born
5,480,000
6,499,000
9,198,000
10,263,000
A) America's city population in 1870 = 10 million; By 1920 = it became 54 million!
B) Why did Gilded Age cities grow?
1.
Most new jobs created by America’s industrialization were located in cities, which attracted people.
2.
Natural births (it was not uncommon for Gilded Age women to have between 7-14 babies).
3.
Immigrants almost always moved to cities.
4.
U.S. born farmers began to move to cities as better farm technology replaced them on the farm
C) New technology & inventions led to bigger cities
1.
Development of electric based public transportation, skyscrapers, etc
D) U.S. cities became the most racially & ethnically diverse in the world
1.
Many “ethnic” neighborhoods formed as certain immigrants segregated themselves

Naturally, immigrants chose to live with people that they could identify with

Places like "Little Italy" offered support for newcomers from Italy.
2.
However, different immigrant groups often clashed--gangs based on race became common
E) Urbanization led to new problems
1.
Overcrowding, fire, disease, pollution, crime, unsanitary conditions
2.
75% of immigrants lived in overcrowded “tenement apartments”
3.
“1871Great Chicago Fire” demonstrates how city governments were not prepared for certain issues

One fire destroyed entire city of Chicago, killing 300 but leaving 100,000 homeless