Chapter 15 Life at the Turn of the Century
description
Transcript of Chapter 15 Life at the Turn of the Century
Chapter 15
Life at the Turn of the
Century
Sec. 1 ReviewWho were the “Old
Immigrants?”• 1800-1880• Immigrants from
Northern & Western Europe– United Kingdom– The Netherlands– Germany– Sweden & Norway
Who were the New Immigrants?
• 1880-1910• Mainly from
Eastern & Southern Europe– Poland– Hungary– Czechoslovakia – Russia– Italy– Greece
Reasons for Mass Immigration from Eastern Europe:
• Poverty• Overcrowding & Joblessness• Religious Persecution
Where did most of the “New Immigrants” live?
CITIES
Little Italy, New York
Settlement of Immigrants (1880)
Where Were Immigrants Processed?Ellis Island
Where did Asian Immigrants Arrive in
U.S.?Angel Island (San Francisco)
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
• Banned Chinese immigration for 10 years
• Chinese in America could not get citizenship
• WHY?– 1870’s: American economy takes downturn– Many Chinese lived in cities doing low-
wage work– Chinese blamed for taking jobs and making
wages decrease– Denis Kearney – “The Chinese must go!”
What people opposed immigration?
NATIVISTS• Labor Unions
blamed immigrants for lower wages, taking jobs & breaking strikes
• Prejudice (ex. Anti-Semitism, anti-Chinese, Anti-Catholic)
Effects of Immigration
1. America becomes more multicultural
2. Development of ethnic communities
3. Increase in U.S. population 4.Rapid Urbanization
UrbanizationThe Rise of Cities
• 1900: 40% of American’s living in cities• Cities grew by native-born Americans
relocating to cities from rural areas and from increasing immigrant population
• 1897-1930: 1 million southern blacks migrate north & west to cities.
How does urbanization connect to
industrialization?
Patterns of Urban Growth - 1880
Urban Changes Why did cities grow?
1. Mass-Transit Technology• Before mass-transit, people had to live within
walking distance of the city.• 1890’s: Electric trolleys, streetcars, subways
developed• Lead’s to residential communities forming
outside the city
Construction of NYC Subway System1901
Urban Changes2. Skyscrapers • Made possible by innovations of the
Industrial Revolution: steel, elevators & central steam heating.
• Allowed cities to expand rapidly by building upward
• Home Insurance Building in Chicago – first true skyscraper at 10 stories high!
Changing New York City Skyline
1898
1931
What is the World’s Tallest Building now?
Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates
Urban Changes3. Ethnic Neighborhoods• Immigrant groups settled into distinct
ethnic neighborhoods• Ethnic neighborhoods allowed immigrants
to maintain their cultural heritage: language, culture, churches/temples & social clubs.
Residential Suburbs• Streetcars & Trains allow people to
live in communities outside of cities
• Wealthy & middle classes wanted to escape bad conditions in city
• Example of increasing disparity between upper/middle class and the working class poor.
Roxbury Highlands, Massachusetts
Andrew Carnegie’s Home
Class Divisions• Working class lived in crowded cities• Tenement Apartments
Why is this era called“The Gilded Age?”
• Phrase coined by Mark Twain• “Gilded” – something covered
with an outward layer of gold• An era of economic growth
and wealth that covered deep societal issues, such as…– Poverty– Government Corruption– Materialism– Poor working conditions
Political Corruption• Political Machines
controlled city politics• Political Bosses
worked to:– Ensure their candidates
were elected– Make sure that city
government worked to their advantage
Machine Organization
City BossWard
BossesPrecinct Workers,
Immigrants
“The Boss” – Controlled jobs, business licenses & influenced the Court system“Ward Bosses” – Usually 2nd generation immigrants. Helped immigrants with jobs, housing and naturalization in exchange for votes.
James Garfield • Refuses to give certain
members of the Republican party jobs.
• Assassinated by Charles Guiteau
• • VP Chester Arthur becomes President and begins reforming the Federal Government & fighting “the spoils system”
Government CorruptionThe Spoils System
• Begun by President Andrew Jackson
• New President would dismiss 1,000’s of government workers & replace with his supporters in his party.
• “To the victor goes the spoils of war”
Pendleton Civil Service Act
• Supported by President Arthur & passed by Congress 1883
• Legislated that government jobs be based on merit.
• Applicants would take a Civil Service Test to determine if they were qualified
• Made it illegal to fire government employees based on party affiliation
Beginning of an era of
REFORM
Now on to ….The Populist Movement
Go to the blog…open “Populist Movement
Guided Reading”