Immigrants

Policies and Contributions

Policy and Treatment

• Nativist movement:– The policy of favoring native-born

people over immigrants.– Those feared in the 1880s: • Chinese and Irish• Immigrants were willing to work in worse

conditions than most Americans

Chinese Exclusion Act

• Banned Chinese immigration for 10 years.– Americans feared that immigrants would

take their jobs.

Gentlemen’s Agreement with Japan

• Japan agreed not to issue passports for Japanese citizens wishing to work in the continental United States.

• In exchange, the United States agreed to accept the presence of Japanese immigrants already residing in America.– United States would permit the immigration of

• wives • children• parents of Japanese immigrants already in U.S.

Contributions

• Immigrants contribute to American life– Religious diversity– Food– New words– Customs– Source of labor

Urban Reform Efforts

• How the Other Half Lives (Jacob Riis)– Photojournalism: work documenting the filthy living

conditions in New York City slums in the 1880s. – Exposes the slums to New York City’s upper and

middle class

• Riis pushed tenement reform to the front of New York’s political agenda– He called for

• Better housing• Adequate lighting• Sanitation• Construction of city parks and playgrounds

Urban Reform Efforts continued…

• Settlement Houses– Hull House; Jane Addams• Offered services such as

– Daycare– Education– Health care to needy people in slum

neighborhoods