M. CARTERCH 25

Life in the Big City

Immigration

1st wave= prior to 1870s- from England, Ireland and Northern Europe

2nd wave= post 1870s- Southern and Eastern Europe, and Asia and Mexico in the West (until the Chinese Exclusion Act)

General Push and Pull Factors: Poverty and oppression Opportunities

Immigrants often had unrealistic expectations perpetrated by misleading advertisements.

Arrival of new groups led to increased ethnic tension among the working class.

Highest paid immigrants: British and Irish (skilled)

Lowest paid immigrants: Poles, Greeks (unskilled)- began replacing skilled workers

Journey to America

Arrival

The New Colossus

By Emma Lazarus, 1883

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,With conquering limbs astride from land to land;Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall standA mighty woman with a torch, whose flameIs the imprisoned lightning, and her nameMother of Exiles. From her beacon-handGlows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes commandThe air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame."Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries sheWith silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Ellis Island

2% were sent back to their homeland

“six second exam” checked for contagious eye diseases, heart problems, lice and mental issues

Angel Island

Located in California, it was the “Ellis Island” of the West. Asian immigrants were examined here before entering the United States well into the 20th century.

Urban Growth

New York City 1860= 1 million 1900= over 3 million

Chicago 1860= 100,000 1900= over 1 million

Immigration a large part of the growth!!High infant mortality rate, Declining fertility

rate, and high death rate b/c of disease

Migration

Transportation technologies brought families into the cities

Factories brought families within walking distance

African Americans- ongoing exodus to northern cities Emergence of AA communities within cities

Ethnic Communities

Migration from the same region, province, village

Newspapers and theaters in the native language

Native foodsSocial and religious organizationsHelped bring others to the USCulturally cohesiveComfort and familiarityStrong racial/ethnic prejudice from native

born Americans

Little Italy- Mulberry Street, NYC

Reemergence of Nativism

Fear of ethnic groupsResentment among native born AmericansBlamed immigrants for all problems

Lack of jobs Violence Poor conditions of city

Immigrant Restriction League- believed immigrants should be screened before admittance to the US to separate the desirables from the undesirables

Changing City Life

Creation of public spaces Parks- Central Park in NYC Public buildings- libraries, art galleries, museums,

theaters Paid for by philanthropists

Emergence of mass transit systems Streetcars and elevated trains Cable cars (San Francisco) Subway

Problems in Cities

Cities dumped waste into water systemsAir pollution – burning coal (transportation &

heat)Noise pollutionOvercrowdingUnsanitary = disease

Tenements

Tenements

Tenements

Jacob Riis- How the Other Half Lives

American Spirit p.103-106

Read Cleaning Up New York (1897) #3 AND Jacob Riis Goes Slumming (1890) #4

Answer the following questions in your Analysis NB

1. What features of urban life were the worst contributors to unsanitary conditions?

2. Which city dwellers suffered the most from those conditions?

3. What does Riis regard as the chief obstacles to good health and good morals in the slums?

4. Identify key points of life in the city for many Americans.

Were there any programs to help these people?

Social Gospel Movement

Protestant movement to help the poorEstablishment of

The Salvation Army YMCA and YWCA

Help with the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of men and women

Often at odds with the “Gospel of Wealth”

Jane Addams Hull House, Chicago

Settlement Houses

Henry Street Settlement in NYC

Originally opened in 1893 by Lillian Ward, later was operated by many influential women including suffragette Florence Kelley.

Purpose of settlement houses

Offered a variety of services to women and children (primarily)

Daycares and kindergartensSecretarial coursesCivic clubsEnglish classesPlaygroupsReligious organizations“neighborhood centers”