Chapter 3.2 Aice US History

Push factors

Reasons that force people to leave their country.

Pull factors

Reasons that attract people to a new country.

Pros of immigration

More workers for factories and more diversity in the U.S.

Cons of immigration

Overcrowding in cities and job competition leading to lower wages.

Ellis Island

Immigration station for European immigrants.

Angel Island

Immigration station for Asian immigrants.

Experiences at Ellis Island vs. Angel Island

European immigrants at Ellis Island were processed quickly; Asian immigrants at Angel Island faced long detentions and interrogations.

Reasons for Asian immigration during the Gilded Age

To work (railroad jobs) and escape poverty and political turmoil.

Melting pot

Many different cultures and ethnic groups blended together.

Nativism

The belief that native-born Americans are superior to immigrants.

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

Prohibited Chinese laborers from immigrating to the U.S.

Americanization

The process of immigrants adopting American customs and culture.

Dawes Act of 1887

Divided Native American land into individual plots.

Urbanization

The growth of cities due to industrialization and immigration.

Housing crisis solutions

Tenements and settlement houses; living conditions were overcrowded, unsanitary, and poorly ventilated.

Working conditions

Long hours, low wages, and dangerous environments.

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

154 people died due to locked doors preventing workers from escaping and poor fire safety measures.

Mass transit

Public transportation systems that move large numbers of people.

Crime and fires in the Gilded Age

Difficult to deal with due to overcrowding, poor infrastructure, and limited police and fire department resources.

Political machines

Controlled city activities, with city bosses leading them in exchange for support.

City bosses

Controlled jobs, built infrastructure, and provided services for votes.

Boss Tweed

Leader of Tammany Hall who defrauded NYC of millions (1869-1871).

Labor unions

a group of employees in a certain trade, industry, or corporation that organize to improve their salary, benefits and working conditions

Obstacles for labor unions

Employers crush unions, US gov always supported employers over employee, Laise Flair policy of gov, immigrants keep wages low and working conditions bad

National Labor Union method

Strikes—workers stop working to demand changes.

SCABS

People who chose to work during a strike

Railroad workers strike in 1877

Wage cuts; resulted in violence and military intervention.

Strike against Carnegie in 1892

Wage cuts; ended in violence, with the company prevailing.

Samuel Gompers

Leader of the American Federation of Labor (AFL).

AFL strategy

Collective bargaining—negotiating for better conditions.

George Pullman

Built a company town; workers struck over wage cuts and high rents.

Mission of The Grange

Supported farmers; founded by Oliver Hudson Kelley.

Purpose of the Populist Party

Represented farmers; pushed for economic reforms.

Capitalism

Economic system with private ownership for profit.

Causes of recession/depression

Bank failures, reduced business activity, financial crises.

Cause of Panic of 1873

Bank failures and railroad investment collapse.

Cause of Panic of 1893

Railroad failures and economic instability.

Election of 1896

William McKinley won; marked the decline of the Populist Party.

Gold standard vs. bimetallism

Gold standard: backed by gold (McKinley, Republicans); Bimetallism: backed by gold and silver (Bryan, Democrats).