UNIT 3 – A NATION TRANSFORMED

An Immigrant’s Journey to America

Reasons for Immigration

Why did people immigrate to America?

1. Escape oppressive governments2. New Opportunities

Jobs

3. Religious Freedom4. Adventure

Ellis Island

Located in New York City Home of The Statue of Liberty

The New Colossus – By Emma LazarusNot like the brazen giant of Greek fame,With conquering limbs astride from land to land;Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall standA mighty woman with a torch, whose flameIs the imprisoned lightning, and her nameMother of Exiles. From her beacon-handGlows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes

commandThe air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame."Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries

sheWith 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-tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Urbanization

• Why did cities (“urban” areas) grow?

• Migration of African-Americans north• Improved transportation• Railroads are old news – cars?!

• Immigration– LARGE amounts of immigrants coming to the US

• Industrialization– Factories grew

• Rural -> urban migration– People move from farms to cities

Living Conditions

What were living conditions like in urban areas?

OvercrowdedTenements

A building where rooms are rented Apartment?

Ghettos Specific neighborhood where a minority group lives;

usually in poverty

Political Machines

“Greeted” immigrants at Ellis Island

Offered favors Housing Food Jobs

In return, expected political support (and votes) Worked with owners of

factories, contractors, sweat shops

Corrupted the political system

William “Boss” Tweed

Tweed was convicted for stealing an amount estimated by an aldermen's committee in 1877 at between $25 million and $45 million from New York City taxpayers through political corruption, although later estimates ranged as high as $200 million. He died in the Ludlow Street Jail

Treatment of Immigrants

How were immigrants treated when they first came to America?

What was American policy towards immigrants?

Discrimination

While MANY immigrants were discriminated against, Chinese and Irish were particular targets of prejudice

Nativists

What is a “Native”?Who do you think a

NATIVIST is?

Fought to preserve the US for native-born American citizens ONLY Argued that the new

immigrants would not assimilate because of language, religion, and customs

Immigrants took away jobs from Americans.

Immigrants were associated with violence, crime and anarchy

Chinese Exclusion Act

West Coast = strong feelings against Chinese

Drove Chinese from cities, sometimes killing them

US law was passed to exclude Chinese laborers

First law limiting immigration based on race Repealed in 1943

Gentleman’s Agreement with Japan

Japan agreed not to issue passports for Japanese citizens wishing to work in the US

In exchange, the US agreed to accept Japanese immigrants already residing in America.

US would allow wives, children and parents of the immigrants already in U.S.

Reforms

• How did individuals work to change these conditions?

• Jacob Riis:–Exposed poor living conditions in urban areas–Photograph essay How the Other Half Lives

The immigrant family above is pictured with all of the family’s possessions.

How the Other Half Lives,

By Jacob Riis

A blind beggar sells cigars on the street, hoping to make enough money to pay for a meal and a bed.

How the Other Half Lives,

By Jacob Riis

This photograph shows children moving trash one wheelbarrow at a time – exposing child labor.

How the Other Half Lives,

By Jacob Riis

These children are sleeping outdoors – huddled together for warmth.

How the Other Half Lives,

By Jacob Riis

Often, children would huddle together near grids on the street hoping to be warmed by the vents.

How the Other Half Lives,

By Jacob Riis

From How the Other Half Lives, by Jacob Riis

“Bodies of drowned children turn up in the rivers right along in summer whom no one seems to know anything about. When last spring some workmen, while moving a pile of lumber on a North River pier, found under the last plank the body of a little lad crushed to death, no one had missed a boy, though his parents afterward turned up.”

The poor were frequently found drunk or ill to the point of death on the streets. Freezing to death was entirely possible.

How the Other Half Lives,

By Jacob Riis

This man is spreading his sleeping tic on top of two barrels – the basement will very likely flood.

How the Other Half Lives,

By Jacob Riis

Frequently, low paid workers would try to save money by sharing a room. Overcrowding bred disease.

How the Other Half Lives,

By Jacob Riis

Riis asked his readers to consider: Does the poor baby in this photograph inherit justice and equality? Or does the United States need to take action to insure that working people can provide for the basic needs of their families?

How the Other Half Lives,

By Jacob Riis

Reforms

• How did individuals work to change these conditions?

• Jane Addams:– Settlement Houses– The Hull House

The HULL-HOUSE was the FIRST . . .

Social Settlement in Chicago

Social Settlement with men and women residents

Public baths in Chicago

Public playground in Chicago

Gymnasium for the public in Chicago

Little theater in the United States

Citizenship preparation classes

Public kitchen in Chicago

College extension courses in Chicago

Group work school

Jane Addams’ funeral at Hull House. The streets are crowded with people who admired her and who were helped by her.

Hull House as it is today.

Think about it

What were some contributions of Immigrants?

Contributions of Immigrants

Religious DiversityFood

New WordsCustoms

Source of Labor