History Vocab

Immigrant

Someone who comes to live in a different country from their home country.

Push Factor

Something that encourages people to leave a country. (economic problems, wars, etc.)

Pull Factor

Something that draws people to go to a country. (ex. freedom, job opportunities, etc._

Ellis Island

American port in NY where many European immigrants were processed

Angel Island

American port on west coast where many Asian immigrants were processed

Nativism

A belief that native-born Americans were superior to newcomers

Americanization

How immigrants adjust to american culture, like learning the language, customs, etc.

Ethinic neighborhood

Urban spaces dominated by one ethnicity, where that culture is most prominent

Chinese Exclusion Act

An act that prohibited immigration by Chinese laborers/limited the rights of Chinese immigrants/forbade the naturalization of Chinese residents

Cultural Heritage

The legacy of physical artifacts (cultural property) and intangible attributes of a group or society inherited from the past

Rural-to-urban migration

When people choose to move from a less populated area to more densely populated areas which often present more work opportunities, better pay, or a better quality of life

Skyscrapers

A very tall building of many stories (made possible by Bessemer process for steel, and elevators)

Mass transport

Public transportation, especially in urban areas. (lots of people)

Suburbs

An outlying district of a city, especially a residential one.

Tenements

A room or a set of rooms forming a separate residence within a house or block of apartments. A piece of land held by an owner (used by immigrants often) lots of people living in one space

Settlement House

An institution in an inner-city area providing educational, recreational, and other social services to the community. (immigrants often used)

Urban planning

The process of guiding and directing the use and development of land, urban environment, urban infrastructure, and related ecosystem and human services

Middle Class

People who live an average lifestyle, have average income. Most of the population

Zoning Laws

Laws for a specific area, construction, military. Controls size of housing,etc.

Infrastructure

The basic structure of something. in cities like roads,etc

Gilded Age

A time of great political corruption and wealth inequality in the late 1800s. (Good on outside, bad on inside)

Conspicuous Consumption

Expenditure on or consumption of luxuries on a lavish scale in an attempt to enhance one's prestige. (buying things to seem rich)

Mass culture

Defines all the power, behaviors, trends, etc. which are difficult to resist and produced by industrial techniques and spread to large masses. (things that everyone does/thinks)

Vaudeville

A type of entertainment popular chiefly in the US in the early 20th century, featuring a mixture of specialty acts such as burlesque comedy and song and dance.

Ragtime

A kind of music played especially on the piano, with a syncopated melodic line and regularly accented accompaniment.

Consumerism

The protection or promotion of the interests of consumers

Department Store

A large store stocking many varieties of goods in different departments.

Advertising

The activity or profession of producing advertisements for commercial products or services.

Amusement Parks

A large outdoor area with fairground rides, shows, refreshments, games of chance or skill, and other entertainments.

Literacy Rate

The percentage of the population of a given age group that can read and write.