Chapter 14 Immigration and Urbanization
1. The New Immigrants Early immigrants had been primarily protestant (Germany); Catholics from Ireland learned to speak English and assimilated; many settled on farms New Immigrants 1870 s from southern and eastern Europe (Italy, Greece, Poland, Russia, Hungary) in massive numbers Unskilled, Catholic, Jewish, poor, settled in cities New cultures and languages
Push Factors
Immigrant Experience Long journey, could only take essentials, tickets were expensive Most traveled steerage (worst accommodations lower decks, not private) Filthy, disease, crowded Processing in American ports Requirements: Healthy, money ($20), skill After 1892 Ellis Island, NY Wealthier passengers processed on board Chinese processed at Angel Island, San Francisco Had to prove they had relatives; often held for weeks
Immigrant Experience cont. New language, new culture Those without family had a difficult time Had to decide where to live and what to do Lived in ethnic neighborhoods together Exclusionary but also felt familiar Americanization programs helped them learn language, adapt to U.S. way of life Melting Pot theory Children generally assimilated better than first generation and felt more American Older generation clung to religion, heritage, families
Immigrant Experience Hostility due to competition for jobs Nativism native-born were superior Religion major source of hostility Chinese Exclusion Act restricted numbers Exclusions for those who were immoral, criminals, paupers BUT fueled industrial growth, made their traditions part of America, provided massive labor supply, helped U.S. become a world power
Chinatown
2. Cities Expand and Change Urbanization Advantages Many opportunities, products, services, education, jobs Disadvantages Tenements (low cost family housing), slums, no heat/air, poor sanitation, no water, sewage, fires, crime, conflict (gangs) Jacob Riis: How the Other Half Lives http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-ofus/videos/jacob-riis
Improvements in the Cities Skyscrapers made of steel Safety elevator that wouldn t fall if the rope broke (Elisha Otis) Electricity powers mass transit trains, commuter rails, cable cars, underground railways (subways) in Boston and NY City Planners control growth Architectural standards, parks and recreation areas reserved
3. Social and Cultural Trends Gilded Age era of wealth, new products, markets, growing middle class, shopping, sports Consumerism expands greatly Advertising attracts customers Department stores emerge (Macy s, Marshall Field, Jordan Marsh) Mail order catalogs (Sears) Overall higher standard of living Began to get indoor plumbing, appliances, prepackaged food
Mass Culture Consumption patterns became similar clothing styles, gadgets, food preferences mass culture Widespread newspaper circulation Joseph Pulitzer sensational stories of corruption, politics, sports designed to sell papers William Randolph Hearst competed with Pulitzer, papers became even more sensationalized Literature Mark Twain, Horatio Alger (succeed by hard work), Stephen Crane
Mass Culture cont. Education growth of public schools, kindergartens, literacy rate climbed, some women s colleges Entertainment amusement parks (Coney island) and first roller coasters, parks for city laborers (Central Park) Outdoor events Buffalo Bill s Wild West Show, Annie Oakley riding, roping, rodeos Vaudeville medley of drama, songs, off-color comedy Movie theatres The Great Train Robbery first movie, nickelodeons charged one nickel!
Mass Culture cont. Expos and exhibitions Sports drew thousands, especially baseball (Fenway Park); baseball organizes into a business (NL), Coloured League Horse racing, bicycle racing, boxing, football, basketball invented by George Naismith Sports heroes emerged