Immigration and Urbanization1880-1920

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A New Wave of Immigration

The Big Idea

A new wave of immigration in the late 1800s brought large numbers of immigrants to the United States.

Main Ideas

• The late 1800s brought a wave of new immigrants from southern and eastern Europe and Mexico.

• Some Americans opposed immigration and tried to enact restrictions against it.

8.12.7

Old Immigrants

• Arrived before 1880s

• Mostly from Britain, Germany, Ireland, and Scandinavia

• Mostly Protestants, but some Catholics

• Many were skilled workers who spoke English.

• Settled in rural areas and became farmers

Main Idea 1: The late 1800s brought a wave of new immigrants from southern and eastern

Europe and Mexico.New Immigrants

• Came after 1880

• From southern and eastern Europe; included Czechs, Greeks, Hungarians, Italians, Poles, Russians, and Slovaks

• Included Eastern Orthodox Christians, Roman Catholics, and Jews

• Wanted job opportunities in cities

Journey to America

Immigrants faced a difficult journey, usually traveling in steerage: the area below the ship’s deck.

New arrivals had to go to immigration processing centers run by state and local governments.

Ellis Island in New York opened in 1892; millions of immigrants came through its center over the next 40 years.

Officials in processing centers interviewed immigrants to determine whether to let them enter the country. Immigrants had to pass medical, mental and legal exams.

Settling in Neighborhoods

• Many immigrants moved into ethnic neighborhoods with others from the same country.

• They could hear their own language, eat familiar foods, and keep their customs.

• Business owners often helped new arrivals by offering loans.

• Many immigrants lived in tenements—poorly built, overcrowded apartments.

Immigrant Workers

• Many immigrants were farmers in their homelands, but had to find jobs in cities in the United States.

• Had to take low-paying, unskilled jobs in garment or steel factories and construction

• Some worked long hours for little pay in small shops or mills called sweatshops.

• Immigrants with appropriate skills sometimes found work in a wide range of occupations.

• Others saved, shared, or borrowed money to open small businesses.

• Some Mexican immigrants worked on large commercial farms in Arizona, Texas, and California.

Main Idea 2: Some Americans opposed immigration and

tried to pass restrictions against it.

• Anti-immigrant feelings grew with increases in immigration.

– Some unions feared immigrants would take their jobs.

• Americans called nativists held racial and ethnic prejudices.

– Thought immigrants’ poverty and presumed lack of education might harm American society

– Some were violent toward immigrants.

• Some nativists worked to pass laws limiting immigration.

– Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882.

– Nativists in Boston founded the Immigration Restriction League in 1894.

City Life

The Big Idea

Cities in the United States experienced dramatic expansion in the late 1800s.

Main Ideas

• New technology and ideas were developed to deal with the growth of urban areas.

• The rapid growth of cities created a variety of urban problems.

8.12.5

Main Idea 1: New technology and ideas were developed

to deal with the growth of urban areas.

• Immigrants and native-born Americans moved to cities in the late 1800s, causing rapid urban growth.

• About 40 percent of Americans lived in urban areas by 1900.

• Some city residents were businesspeople and skilled workers; many more were poor laborers.

• African Americans from the South began moving to northern cities to find better economic opportunities in the 1890s.

New Technology

• Stronger and cheaper steel led to the construction of skyscrapers.

• Mass transit was public transportation designed to move lots of people.

– Elevated trains, subways, electric trolleys

• Many middle-class Americans moved to suburbs outside cities.

New Technology and Ideas

Mass Culture

• Developed forms of mass culture: leisure and cultural activities shared by many

• Giant retail shops, or department stores, appeared in city centers.

• World fairs

• City dwellers became aware of the need for open public spaces, and parks were designed.

Main Idea 2:The rapid growth of cities created a

variety of urban problems.

• Shortage of affordable housing

– Overcrowded tenements

• Disease and health problems

– Caused by overcrowding and lack of sanitation

• Fire and crime

• Help from city governments was limited by lack of funds or internal corruption.

Routes West

Ignore this one