Chapter 15 quiz 1 and 2

What are steerage accommodations on a steamship?

The cheapest accommodations on a steamship, located in the lower levels, with poor conditions.

What was Ellis Island?

The immigration processing station in New York Harbor where European immigrants were inspected before being allowed into the U.S.

Who was Jacob Riis?

A journalist and photographer who exposed the poor living conditions of immigrants in New York City through his book How the Other Half Lives.

What was Angel Island?

The immigration processing center in San Francisco mainly for Chinese and other Asian immigrants, with harsher conditions than Ellis Island.

What does nativism mean?

A belief favoring native-born Americans over immigrants, leading to discrimination and restrictive immigration policies.

What was the Chinese Exclusion Act?

A U.S. law passed in 1882 that barred Chinese immigration for ten years and prevented Chinese immigrants from becoming citizens.

What was the American Protective Association?

An anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant organization founded in 1887 that sought to restrict immigration and influence political policy.

What was the Workingman's Party of California?

A political organization that opposed Chinese immigration, arguing that immigrants took jobs from American workers.

What does the term Muk uk refer to?

A derogatory term used for Chinese immigrants who left for the United States, meaning 'wooden men.'

Who was Edward Steiner?

An author and sociologist who wrote about the immigrant experience and worked to promote fair treatment of immigrants.

What was the Taiping Rebellion?

A massive civil war in China (1850-1864) that caused widespread destruction and economic hardship, leading many Chinese to immigrate to the U.S.

Who was Henry Bowers?

The founder of the American Protective Association, which sought to restrict immigration and limit the influence of Catholics in American society.

Why did many Europeans immigrate to the United States in the late 1800s?

They left due to economic hardship, political instability, religious persecution, and job opportunities in America.

What process did immigrants go through upon arrival in the U.S.?

Immigrants underwent medical inspections, legal questioning, and had to prove they could support themselves.

How did immigration affect demographic patterns in the U.S.?

It led to rapid urbanization, the growth of ethnic neighborhoods, and changes in labor markets.

Why did many Chinese immigrants come to the United States in the late 1800s?

They left due to the Taiping Rebellion, poverty, and opportunities to work on railroads and in gold mines.

What reasons did some Americans give for blaming immigrants for national problems?

They believed immigrants took jobs, increased crime, and changed the culture.

What was the Nativist response to immigration?

Nativists pushed for laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act and supported groups like the American Protective Association.

Who was Frank Lloyd Wright?

A famous American architect known for designing innovative buildings, including the Prairie School style.

What are skyscrapers?

Tall steel-frame buildings that became common in growing urban areas due to space constraints.

Who was Louis Sullivan?

An architect who designed some of the first skyscrapers and promoted the idea that 'form follows function.'

What is mass transit?

Public transportation systems, such as streetcars and subways, that helped people travel within cities.

What are tenements?

Overcrowded, poorly built apartment buildings that housed many immigrants in urban areas.

What role did Jacob Riis play in documenting urban life?

He documented poor living conditions in tenements and wrote How the Other Half Lives.

What is a political machine?

A political organization that controlled local government through patronage and corruption.

Who are party bosses?

Leaders of political machines who controlled votes, contracts, and city governments.

Who was George Plunkitt?

A politician associated with Tammany Hall who defended 'honest graft,' meaning personal gain from politics.

What is the difference between graft and honest graft?

Graft refers to corrupt political practices, while 'honest graft' involves using insider knowledge for personal gain.

What was Tammany Hall?

A powerful Democratic political machine in New York City, led by Boss Tweed.

Who was William M. 'Boss' Tweed?

The corrupt leader of Tammany Hall who controlled NYC politics and was eventually arrested for fraud.

Who were the Pendergast brothers?

Political bosses in Kansas City who controlled local government through their political machine.

How much did the urban population grow after the Civil War?

It increased dramatically, with millions of immigrants and rural Americans moving to cities for jobs.

Why did most immigrants settle in cities instead of rural areas?

Cities had more job opportunities, ethnic communities, and better access to services.

What were the main reasons rural Americans moved to cities in the late 1800s?

Many sought jobs in factories, as farming became less profitable due to industrialization.

What challenges did cities face during the late 1800s?

Overcrowding, sanitation issues, disease outbreaks, crime, and fire hazards.

What were the three social classes in cities during the late 1800s?

The upper class lived in mansions, the middle class in suburban homes, and the working class in tenements.

Which social class grew large due to industrialization and which professions did many belong to?

The middle class expanded due to industrialization, including professionals like teachers, doctors, and office workers.

How did political machines help city dwellers in the late 1800s?

They offered jobs, housing, and services in exchange for votes, helping immigrants but engaging in corruption.