Urbanization, Immigration, and the Huddling MassesUrbanization, Immigration, and the Huddling MassesI. The “Great American Melting Pot?”i) See School House Rock video via YouTubeII. Four immigration “waves”i) 1600-1820 – British and Africansii) 1820-1856 – Northwestern Europeans and Irishiii) 1880-1920 – Southeastern Europeans and Irish-highest level of immigration; 35 million people-1907-peak year; over 1 million peopleiv) 1980-present – Latin AmericansIII. Why immigrate to America? And where?i) Opportunity- economic (money as a motivator)ii) Find a better life; escape a crappy life in Europe religion, weather (farming), and laborIV. City Life i) cultural supporta. China Town, Little Italy, Bowery, Pole-town, etci. Escaped the prejudice from native-born Americansb. (usually men) arrived alone between the age of 15-40c. Arrived in Philadelphia, Boston, or Ellis Island; most stayed in urban areas like Chicago, NYC, St. Louis, etci. 700% increase in city population between 1850 and 1900ii) Employmenta. Worked long enough to EITHER bring the rest of the family over OR make enough to go home and live the good lifei. 1/3 immigrants went homeiii) Prejudice from native-born Americans1V. Living conditionsi) bad stuff: crowding, poverty, dirt and diseasea) Tenement buildings; average had 6 rooms and 18.5 people living in it; had no sewage systemii) good stuff: close community, attractions of city lifeVII. Fears of immigrants among native-born Americansi) their Catholicismii) their threat to natives’ jobsa) Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882iii) their “radicalism” and Marxist/socialist politicsiv) Immigration Restriction Leaguea) Demanded a literacy testVIII. Immigrants and Urban Reformi) Jacob Riis and How the Other Half LivesIX. Jacob Riisi) Actually cared about poor living conditionsii) Tried to take immigrants and Americanize themiii) Gets a job a reported on the streets of NYCiv) Takes photos of poverty to inspire Americans to help immigrantsv) Inspires the Progressive
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