Unit 6: Immigration Through Industrialization

Asylum

protection granted by a nation to someone who has left their home country as a political refugee

Anarchist

A person who works to create disorder and removal of authority in society

Refugee

A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster

Naturalization

The legal act through which a non-citizen in a country may acquire citizenship of that country

Push Factors

Reasons immigrants LEFT their home country

Pull Factors

Reasons immigrants CAME to the U.S.

Immigration

the action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country

Alien

a person who belongs to a foreign country or naition

Immigrate

Enter INTO a country

Emmigrate

EXIT a country

Ethnic

relating to a population subgroup within a larger nation/cultural group

Exclusion

intentionally denying a person or group from a place, group, or privilege

Reasons why people immigrate to the U.S.

Promise of a better life, escape difficult conditions (poverty, famine, land shortages) and/or escape persecution (religious or political)

Culture Shock

the confusion and anxiety experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar way of life or set of attitudes/behaviors

Nativism

Favoritism towards native-born Americans. Often resulted in anti-immigrant discrimination and restrictions.

Chinese Exclusion Act

United States federal law signed by President Chester A. Arthur on May 6, 1882. It was one of the most significant restrictions on free immigration in US history, prohibiting all immigration of Chinese laborers.

Ellis Island

located in Upper New York Bay, it was the busiest immigrant processing station from 1892-1954. Processed European Immigrants.

Gentlemen's Agreement

informal agreement between the United States and the Empire of Japan whereby the United States of America would not impose restriction on Japanese immigration, and Japan would not allow further emigration to the U.S.

Immigration Act of 1965

abolished an earlier quota system based on national origin and established a new immigration policy based on reuniting immigrant families and attracting skilled labor to the United States.

Melting Pot

Different groups in society blend together to create a common culture and abandon their native language and customs. Often used to describe the assimilation of immigrants in the U.S.

Naturalization

legal act or process by which a non-citizen in a country may acquire citizenship or nationality of that country.

Assimilation

process by which a person or persons acquire the social and psychological characteristics of a group

Cultural Pluralism

smaller groups within a larger society maintain their unique cultural identities, and their values and practices are accepted by the wider culture provided they are consistent with the laws and values of the wider society.

Urban

City

Suburban

Smaller community outside a large city. Residential area with high population of commuters to the city.

Urbanization

process where an increasing percentage of a population lives in cities and suburbs. This process is often linked to industrialization and modernization, as large numbers of people leave farms to work and live in cities.

Collective Bargaining

process of negotiation between employees and a group of employers aimed at agreements to regulate working salaries. The interests of the employees are commonly presented by representatives of a trade union to which the employees belong.

Labor Union

organized association of workers, often in a trade or profession, formed to protect and further their rights and interests

Strike

When a group of employees refuse to work in order to gain a concession(s) from the employer (often done by union)

Scab

A person outside the union who is willing to work with no contract or a bad contract when union workers are on strike

Socialism

a social system or theory in which the government owns and controls the means of production (as factories) and distribution of goods.

National Labor Union

First large-scale union. African Americans and women were allowed to be a part of this union. Persuaded Congress to legalize an 8-hour work day.

Knights of Labor

Membership was open to all workers regardless of race, gender, or degree of skill. Supported 8-hour work day and advocated for equal pay for both men and women. Advocated arbitration versus going on strike.

American Federation of Labor

Union that focused on collective bargaining. Used strikes as a major tactic. Won higher wages and shorter work weeks for union members

Industrial Workers of the World

Union that included miners, lumberers, and cannery/dock workers. Accepted women and African Americans.

Samuel Gompers

He was an early labor leader, first in his own union and later as president of the American Federation of Labor.

Eugene V. Debs

He was an American union leader who formed the first major industrial union - the American Railway Union.

Great Strike of 1877

This strike was a response to the cutting of wages for the third time in a year by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O). Striking workers would not allow any of the trains, mainly freight trains, to roll until this third wage cut was revoked.

Haymarket Affair

Aftermath of a bombing that took place at a labor demonstration in 1886 in Chicago. Unknown person threw a bomb at the police which killed 7 police officers. Eight men were convicted and 4 of them were hung.

Homestead Strike

Steelworkers from the Carnegie Steel Company Homestead plant in Pennsylvania went on strike after a wage cut. The company's president used scabs to keep the company open during the strike.

Pullman Strike

nationwide railroad strike in the United States in 1894 following a large company layoff and cutting employee wages. Although wages were cut, housing costs were not cut.

Market economy/Laissez-Faire

Buyers and sellers decide what is produced and how much without government interference. Buyers use their money to "vote" for products that they like. Lots of choices

Planned/Command Economy

The government determines what will be sold; no choices.

Mixed Economy

Buyers and sellers decide what goods are in the store, but the government is involved in the decision making (road building, hospitals, food/restaurants)

Social Darwinism

the theory that individuals, groups, and peoples are subject to the same laws of natural selection as plants and animals. Survival of the Fittest and Smartest

Social Gospel Movement

Social welfare reformed aimed at relieving the poverty of immigrants and other city dwellers. It preached salvation through the service to the poor.

Settle-House Movement

Community centers in slum neighborhoods that provided assistance and friendship to local men, women, and children - especially immigrants.

Jane Addams

Founded Hull House in Chicago

Robber Baron

powerful businessman or banker who used questionable or unethical business practices to become powerful or wealthy.

Captain of Industry

a business leader whose means of amassing a personal fortune contributes positively to the country in some way. This may have been through increased productivity, expansion of markets, providing more jobs, or acts of philanthropy.

Gilded Age

post-civil war period when the economy of the USA grew at a fantastic rate

Angel Island

Processed Asian immigrants on the West coast. Harsh questioning and long detention periods were normal at this immigrant processing center.

16th amendment

Allowed Congress to levy an income tax

17th amendment

Allowed for the popular election of US Senators by the people

18th amendment

Established prohibition of alcohol

19th amendment

Women get the right to vote

21st amendment

Repealed the 18th amendment

Muckraker

reform-minded American journalists who wrote largely for all popular magazines.

Initiative

the action to begin something

Referendum

general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision.

Woman's Suffrage

Women earning the right to vote

Conservative

holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics or religion.

Square Deal

fair bargain or treatment

Progressivism

began as a social movement and grew into a political movement that had a variety of responses to the economic and social problems that rapid industrialization introduced in the USA