Unit 4 US History

Acculturation

When immigrants adopt some of the customs and traditions of their new country while keeping parts of their original culture.

Cultural pluralism

Different cultural groups live together while keeping their own traditions and identities

Americanization

The process of immigrants adopting American language, customs, and way of life.

Melting pot

The idea that different cultures blend together to create one American culture.

Ethnic neighborhoods

Areas where people from the same ethnic or cultural background live together.

Tenement living

Poor, crowded apartment buildings where many immigrants and working-class families lived.

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

A law that stopped most Chinese immigrants from entering the United States.

Robber Baron

A powerful, wealthy business owner who made huge profits through unfair or unethical business practices.

Captain of Industry

A successful business leader who helped grow the economy and industry and may have provided jobs or donated money.

Effects of the Industrial Revolution

Increased production, more factories and jobs, cheaper products, and rapid growth of cities. It also caused pollution, dangerous working conditions, and low wages.

Effects of Urbanization

Cities grew quickly, creating more jobs and businesses but also overcrowding, poor sanitation, crime, and disease.

Middle-class reformers

Middle-class people who worked to improve problems such as poverty, unsafe working conditions, and political corruption

Push factors

Problems that push people to leave their home country, such as poverty, war, famine, or persecution

Pull Factors

Things that pull people to a new country, such as jobs, freedom, land, and better opportunities.

Women’s suffrage

The fight for women's right to vote. It led to the 19th Amendment in 1920.

Anti-immigration

Opposition to immigration or to allowing large numbers of immigrants into the country.

East & West Coast entrances

Ellis Island in New York was the major entrance for immigrants arriving on the East Coast. Angel Island in California processed many immigrants arriving on the West Coast, especially from Asia

Temperance movement

A movement that promoted reducing or banning alcohol because it was believed to cause social and family problems.

Progressive Era reforms

Changes meant to fix problems caused by industrialization, urbanization, and corruption. Examples include food safety laws, child labor laws, women's suffrage, and political reforms

Gilded Age examples

Rapid industrial growth, railroads, big businesses, wealthy industrialists, immigration, urban growth, political corruption, and poor working conditions

Positive effects of the Industrial Era

More jobs, increased production, new technology, cheaper goods, economic growth, and improved transportation

Negative effects of the Industrial Era

Unsafe factories, child labor, low wages, pollution, long hours, overcrowded cities, and poor living conditions.