9/25/12Urban AmericaNearly 11 million immigrants entered America between 1860 and 1890.Decade of the 1880s->5 million immigrants -Easy to assimilate-Most from British Isles in Western Europe, particularly Germany and Scandinavia -Mostly Protestants except Catholic Irish-High literacy-Used to some democratic government – Americanization took place quickly-1882: 788,992 immigrants-“New Immigration”-For the first time in American experience, many of the immigrants were coming from Southern Europe and Eastern Europe, including -Italians-Croats-Magyars-Greeks-Poles-Much darker skin than Western Europeans-Were 66% of the total inflow-Profit-seeking Americans often went on recruiting trips to Europe, talking of America being the “Promised Land.” The immigrants were often being exploited to work for lower wages.Anti-foreignism/nativism-Immigrants were called “Little Italys” and “Little Polands”-Old-line, blue-blood Americans very upset with these people coming in, afraid of how many of them there were, afraid that WASPs would be outvoted because they were being out-bred. -T.B. Aldrich wrote poem “Unguarded Gates” in 1895 saying “O Liberty, white goddess, is it well to keep the gates wide open?”- Unions began to oppose immigration because immigrants often acted as strikebreakers-Employers began to oppose immigrants because they believed them at fault for increase in violence-Influx of Asians-Depression years of 1870s: thousands of whites out of work-Serious objection against Chinese based on economic troubles-Chinese were frequently murdered-Leaders in propaganda against Chinese were the Irish, who resented the Chinese for working for lower wages-Dennis Kearney, head of Working Men’s Party-Congress passes Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) barred Chinese laborers for enteringthe country for ten years, then later renewed and in 1904 became “permanent.”-1885: Congress passed a bill prohibiting importation of workmen under contract for substandard wages -President Chester ArthurImmigration-Cultural heritage abandoned -Immigrants flocked to cities-New York “a nightmare in stone”, Chicago, and Philadelphia came to boast over 1 million inhabitants. -Crowded, dirty, infested, unhealthy slums -Crime and corruption in cities Tweed Ring (Boss Tweed and his cronies) helped immigrants get jobs-Reformers and Philanthropists -Helpful organizations-Hull House -Started by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr-Opened Chicago 1889-Offered teaching English, trades, etc.-YWCA -YMCA-Salvation Army-Organizations were created in response to the increase in crime…-Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)-Led by Francis Willard-Attacked liquor – those who sold it and those who drank it -One of best-known members was Carrie Amelia Nation-First husband died of alcoholism-Boldly attacked saloons and bars and occasionally bartenders-“Hatchet woman”-Tall, strong woman-Got arrested, paid her dues, and continued -Flying Squadron of Jesus-Led by Mary Sheriff-Carrie Nation published newspaper “The Hatchet-Anti-Saloon League,
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