7.16.12 Urban America Immigration- all economic development after civil war creates many opportunities- Nearly 11 million immigrants enter this country between 1860-1890- More than 2 million stepped upon - 1880s rushing t orrent, more than 5 million people - 1882: more than 7,880 arrived, 2100 a day; 1903 number is exceeded- Assimilated- British Isles- Western europe (and northern)- Germany- Scandinavia- fair skin, angelosaxin, usually protestant, boasted high degree of literacy - Accustomed to some type of constitutional gov- They were familiar with culture in the US- It was easy to fit in once they came-1880s : “new immigration” - Substantial portion of new arrivals came from southern and eastern europe- italians- croats- Magyars- Greeks- Poles- looked different and were not familiar with the type of institutions that those that came from w europe and British islands- Did the nation become a melting pot? Dumping ground?- People came because US was - Land of opportunity- Parents trying to give their children a better life- Those who came wrote to other people about how great life was in the US- “we eat here everyday what we only eat for easter back home”- Religious freedom, absences of ruling caste, education wasn't that high and they don't look the same, etc- Profit seeking americans would travel around Europe, talking about attractions about the “Promised Land”``- Industrialists needed cheap laborers, RRs wanted buyers for their land, states wanted more population, steam ship wanted more cargo for their hold- Its all about money- Anti-Foreignism- Nativism (happening right now - hispanics)- Fear of foreigners- Southern and Eastern Europe were mostly catholic, illiterate, poverty stricken- Lived together in packed cities- “Little Italys”- “Little Polands” became the slums - Old line americans Protests (inferior people coming from eastern europe) about original angelosaxin paristants stock would be outvoted, mongrolizes by inferior southern european blood- Fear that the mixing is going to destroy something important- T.B Aldrich- Poet- “Unguarded gates”- 1895- From New England, ancestors on May Flower- Last line “Oh liberty, white godess, is it well to leave the gates unguarded’- Meaning we have to be more careful about letting everyone come- Beginning talks about great things about this world, then second verse - Nativism poem- Close to segregation, “If you dont look, talk, etc like me...youre not an american”- employers could drop wages because of how many workers they got- Willing to work for nothing- Use violence when on strikesAsians aka Coolies- Chinese had entered the pacific ports during Gold Rush days, continued to come- Labor was welcome at first- Especially for building for RR- Docile, worked for low wages, expendable- By depression years, with thousands of whites out of work, they were no longer welcome- Economic - Because they were thrifty, they were criticized- Chinese on W coast, are blacks are in the S.- Abused, hanged, murdered- Those most active against chinese were the Irish and Irish themselves faced this kind of hospitality when they arrivedIrish- Dennis Kearney- Leader of Working Men’s Party- Claimed chinese were driving wages down- Many resented them for accepting lower wages- Greatest sin: “Perpetuating those disgusting habits of thrift, industry, and self denial.”- First restrictive law: closed gates in the face of criminals and convicts; Return at the expense at the person who brought them in- 2nd restrictive law = 1882: Chinese Exclusion Act- President Chester Arthur signs- Law brought far bared one racial group- Barred Chinese immigrants from entering countries for 10 years- Later renewed and 1904 made permanent- One keeps criminals from keeping over, the other prevents all chinese from entering country- The way they are getting rid of immigrants, not getting rid of illegal immigrants - 1885: congress passed that importation of workmen under contract is illegal- Couldn't recruit chinese to come over and work- Americans felt threatened by blacks, irish( eventually fit in), ChineseProblems of Immigrants and their descendants- to put down new cultural roots- To replace the old- Language and customs held onto, children rebelled and abandon who they are- Put aside old war ways and replaced with new world equivalent; leads them drifting- In an effort to be an American, abandon cultural heritage- Americans believe they must do so- Began to value their contribution to the US, didn't need to be ashamed of their roots- We did not come empty handed, but brought a rich heritageNew cultures continue to come- dont fit inThe City- immigrants end up in urban areas- Vast cityward movement gathering momentum- 1860: no US city could boast a million people- 1890: NY (“a nightmare in stone”), Chicago, Philadelphia had more than a million people- 1900 NY 3.5 million people was second largest city in the world (1st: London)- NY dubbed “Nightmare in stone” - In 1840 only 1/12 lived in city- More people are leaving their farms and going to cities- Speeded up my machine-made jobs- Seductive high wages- Menonmpty of living on farms- People barely making it on farms-Many advances were very alluring in cities, and transportation - The Slums- Thousands of people trapped in shacks - City may be more exciting but not better- Crime and Corruption- Tweed Ring in NY- Reformers and Philanthropists- Tried to improve living situations - Provide places for children to play- Relief (food and clothing)- Sell houses with specific focus on immigrants- Settlement Houses- Reformers bothered by conditions in slums- Tried to make life better and easier for immigrants- Ex. Hull House- 1889- Opened by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Star- Attempted to provide social/educational advantages that immigrants lacked- If you did not speak language, providing them a skill- Improve life of slums- YWCA 1858, YMCA 1851, Salvation Army- Response to condition in urban areas- Women’s Christian Temperance Union WCTU- Franics Williard- Attacked liquor in those who sold and consumed- Policy was mental-suaisn, and moral-suasin and legal-suaisn- Carrie A. Nation: first husband died of alcoholism, lord kept talking to her and tell her to smash saloons and did so, occasionally attack bartender, violence of her crusade - Mary Sheriff - Wrecked local joint with hatchet- “Flying Squadron of Jesus” smashed saloons- Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio- Tried to control drinking and
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