Chapter 15
Coming To America - Neil
Diamond - YouTube
Between 1870 and 1930 approximately 30
million immigrants came to America from all
over the world.
Europeans Flood into the U.S.
. 1890's- 14 million-eastern and southern
Europeans made up more
than half of immigrants
coming at that time
- many were
European Jews
Reasons for coming:
employment, few
immigration restrictions,
avoidance of military
service, religious
freedom, chance to move
up social ladder
How they came: most
came by boat, steerage,
14 day trip,

processed at Ellis island,
NY (it is estimated that
the ancestors of over 1/2
of all people living in the
US passed through Ellis
Island)
-some sent back due to
health problems
YouTube - Immigration Ellis Island
1911
http://www.ellisisland.org/photoalbums/ell
is_island_then.asp  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RZbm
eiYkJ0&feature=related

Immigrant simulation
A Boy's Journey -- Home Page- story of
Seymour Rechtzeit
 Welcome to Immigration- interactive tour
of Ellis Island


Tenement Museum | From Ellis Island to
Orchard Street with Victoria Confino
Ethnic neighborhoods
Most settled in cities among their same
ethnic group,
Most adjusted well, learned English,
adapted to American culture
English language classes at Ford
Motor Co.
Ellis island story
Asian Immigrants


Why did they come:
severe unemployment,
poverty, famine in China,
the discovery of gold in
California, the Taiping
Rebellion in China, and
demand for railroad
workers
Arrived in the West- San
Francisco, Angel Island many waited months for
permission to enter


Worked as laborers,
servants, skilled
tradesmen, and
merchants, laundries
Japanese immigrants
began to arrive due to
industrialization in Japan
Nativisim
Italian immigrants
 Arguments for
Immigrants


Arguments against
Immigrants
Nativism
Anti immigration
feelings were focused
on Asians, Jews,
eastern Europeans,
and Catholics
 Widespread hatred
resulted in racial
violence
 APA and
Workingman’s Party
of California

A.P.A. Poem
American Protective Association
Come ye sons of Uncle Sam,
Come join the gallant band,
Come unite with us to fight our country's foe.
For our God is with the right,
We will conquer by His might,
And the slick and wily Jesuit must go.
 Noble men are in our ranks -We are not a band of cranks -We are not a lot of bigots or of fools.
But, ye Roman Catholic hordes,
We will buckle on our swords,
If you dare to meddle with our public schools.
 Dare to be an A.P.A.,
Dare to stand alone.
Dare to work for Freedom's cause,
Dare to make it known.

Immigration
Immigration numbers
Impact of Anti-immigration

Federal laws passed to curb the flow of
people
– 1882- banned convicts, paupers, and the
mentally ill– also .50 tax on each head
– Chinese Exclusion Act- law barred Chinese
immigration for 10 years, and prevented
those here from gaining citizenship rights
– Chinese immigrants protested the law but it
was enforced and made permanent in 1902
 Not until 1943 was it repealed.
Comparing Percentages of
Immigrants
Section 2
Objectives

Discuss how political machines helped city
dwellers in the late 1880’s.

Describe what it was like to live in New
York city during the 1880’s.
People begin to move to the cities.
What would motivate you to move to the cities?
Impact on Cities
-Housing and transportation
needs changed due to influx of
people
mass transit was developed to
move large numbers
horse car- electric trolley,
subways (elevated or
underground railroads)
-price of land went up so people
began to build up--Skyscrapers---Louis Sullivan contributed to
the design of these buildings
Separation by Class
wealthy- lived in cities- built
elaborate homes
middle class- tended to live
away from the cities, Drs.,
lawyers, engineers, teachers
working class- largest groupcity tenements- dark, crowded
multi-family apartments
Urban Problems
Urban Politics
–
Rise of Political Machines-informal political
group designed to gain and keep power



Came about because cities were growing too fast
to keep up with the influx of people, services
etc.
New city dwellers needed housing, food, heat,
job etc..
They went to the party bosses for these items
and the boss gave it to them in exchange for
votes
Tammany Hall- NY Democratic
political machine




William “Boss “Tweed
(1860’s – 70’s)
Bosses controlled city
services, police dept. ,
Tweed- 3rd largest
landowner in NY,
House of Rep.
Convicted of stealing
$40 million through
graft
Party Bosses

“ for dishonest graft
one worked solely
for one's own
interests, while for
honest graft one
pursued the
interests of one's
party, one's state,
and one's personal
interests all
together. “

George Plunkitt- New
York party boss (pg
473) read excerpt
Thomas Nast
Political cartoonist
 Through his efforts Tweed was brought
down and corruption was highlighted.

Check for Understanding

Discuss how political machines helped city
dwellers in the late 1880’s.

Describe what it was like to live in New
York city during the 1880’s.
Section 3
The Gilded Age
Gilded Age (1870-1900)

Time period characterized by new and
amazing marvels
– Skyscrapers, big cities, new inventions,
electric lights, mansions, industrialization

But what was underneath?
– covered with gold on the outside but cheaper
materials are underneath
 Corruption, poverty, crime, disparity b/w rich and
poor
Theory or
movement
Social
Darwinism
Laissez-Faire
Gospel of
Wealth
Individualism
Main Idea-
Group Work

Pick one of the terms and create a
presentation to explain it to the class.
– Presentations can be skits, songs, pictures,
poems
– Presentations should include the group and
explain the main idea behind the philosophy.
Individualism
Strong American
belief- no matter
where you start you
can rise up in society
by working hard, and
using your talents.
Anyone can be
successful.
 Horatio Alger- author
of “rags to riches”
stories

Popular Culture
Industrialization improved standard of
living for many- had more money and
leisure time
 Saloons- functioned as community
centers, political centers, newspapers,
baths, free toilets, water for horses, free
lunch

Other Amusements
Amusement Parks- Coney Island
 Baseball stadiums- 1st modern World
Series played in 1903
 Boxing matches
 Football- mostly upper classes- started in
private colleges
 Vaudeville-variety shows, singing,
magicians, dog acts etc…

YouTube - Who's on first?
 Abbot and Costello- vaudeville act

Music
 Scott Joplin- “King of
Ragtime- name of
Ragtime”
music that featured
syncopated rhythms  One of the most
patterned after
successful ragtime
African American
composers
music, banjo, piano
 Maple Leaf Rag
Played by Scott Joplin
- YouTube

Check for Understanding

Why would Twain describe this era as the
"gilded" age rather than the "golden" age?

Imagine you are a Newspaper editor in
the late 1880’s. Write an editorial in which
you support or oppose the philosophy of
Social Darwinism. Include reasons to
support your position.
Section 4- Rebirth of
Reform
Social Criticism
Society problems needed to be fixed.
 But How?
 Many argued government should get more
involved.
 Others said citizens needed to take care of
those in need.
 Many argued for both to get more
involved.

Henry George
Book, Progress and Poverty,1879
 Argued that as more wealth was produced
we were actually creating more poor too.
 Basic argument flawed- but it made
people think about Laissez-faire and Social
Darwinism

Lester Frank Ward
Book, Dynamic Sociology
 Argued for Reform Darwinism- humans
are not like animals- we can make plans
and think about the future, we succeed
not due to competition but due to our
ability to cooperate
 Competition was wasteful- govt. should
regulate everything

Edward Bellamy
Book, Looking Backward 1888
 Argued for socialism- young man falls
asleep in 1887- wakes in 2000, US has
become a perfect society, govt. Owns
everything and shares the wealth equally
with all of the citizens.


All of these ideas helped bring about
reform
How to Help the Urban Poor

Many churches began to get involved in
efforts to improve their communities
– Building gyms, providing daycare, medical
care, social programs
Salvation Army- 1878- offered practical
and religious counseling to the poor
 YMCA- bible study, prayer meetings,
citizenship training, low costs rooms,
pools, gyms, libraries

Settlement Houses
Many believed it was
their Christian duty to
help those less
fortunate.
 Jane Addams- Hull
House, Chicago 1889

– medical care,
recreation programs,
English classes, hot
lunches for factory
workers
Hull House
Education

Due to industrialization many jobs now
required education and training.
The demand for educated workers led to
an increased emphasis on schools
 1870- 6,500,000
 1900- 17,300,000


Elementary and high schools were opened

Many colleges opened too:
– Land grant colleges– Private women’s colleges- Vassar, Wellesley,
Smith
Libraries
Free public libraries opened to the masses
 Carnegie supported this effort by giving
millions of dollars to library construction
across the country

Americanization
Schools were where
immigrant children
learned about
America, language,
culture, history, work
ethic and discipline
 Schools more
prevalent in urban
area

Many African
American did not
have the same
opportunity to attend
schools
 Booker T.
WashingtonTuskegee Institute
1881

Check for Understanding

What problems had been created by
changes in society?

What programs did reformers start to try
and solve societies problems?
Changing roles and attitudes of
women