Immigration, Urbanization, and Politics in the Gilded Age

APUSH

Old immigrants

Came to the U.S. during the 19th century up to about 1880 from the British Isles and western Europe (Germany, Ireland), mostly protestant, largely accepted by the Native born, seen as more "American," Generally spoke English or similar languages, Settled largely in farms and small towns.

New immigrants

Came to the U.S. between 1880 and 1920 from southern and eastern Europe (Italy, Poland, Russia, Greece, Hungary), mostly Catholic, Jewish, Eastern Orthodox, Faced stronger discrimination, Spoke non-english languages, Settled mostly in big cities (New York, Chicago, Boston), Worked in factories, mines, railroads, and construction, Lived in crowded tenements.

Jane Addams

Founded the Hull House, which helped improve life in the U.S. for immigrants. Fought for immigrants' rights, women's suffrage, and better working conditions.

Settlement houses

Places that helped immigrants adjust to American life, pushed for social reform. Supported education for immigrants.

Hull House

A settlement house in Chicago. Improved living conditions in urban neighborhoods, offered English classes, provided job training, offered healthcare.

*Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

Stopped Chinese laborers from immigrating to the U.S.. Passed out of fear that Chinese workers were taking jobs and lowering wages. Chinese were willing to provide very cheap labor, which was desirable to business owners.

*Gentleman's Agreement

An informal agreement between the United States and Japan that limited Japanese immigration to the U.S.. Japan agreed to stop issuing passports to Japanese laborers coming to the U.S. The U.S. agreed not to formally ban Japanese immigrants. Reduced Japanese immigration without passing a law.

Ethnic neighborhoods

Immigrant communities that provided support, culture, and safety in unfamiliar American cities.

Pogroms

Violent, antisemitic attacks on Jewish communities in Eastern Europe that pushed many Jews to immigrate to the U.S.

Nativism

The belief that native-born Americans are superior to immigrants and that immigration should be restricted. Nativists feared that immigrants would take jobs and change American culture.

Know nothings

Wanted stricter immigration and naturalization laws. Believed immigrants threatened American values and jobs. Called "Know Nothings" because members secretly said "I know nothing" when asked about the party.

Ellis Island

The main immigration station in the United States from 1892 to 1954, located in New York Harbor. Immigrants underwent medical and legal inspections before entering the U.S. Symbol of hope and new beginnings for immigrants. Served as the entry point for millions of immigrants, mostly from Europe.

Angel Island

The West Coast immigration station where Asian immigrants faced strict inspections and long detentions.

The New Colossus

A poem written by Emma Lazarus in 1883 that became associated with the Statue of Liberty. Welcomes immigrants to America as a "haven" and "home of the free". Symbolizes hope and opportunity for immigrants.

Emma Lazarus

Best known for writing "The New Colossus" (1883), the poem associated with the Statue of Liberty. Used her writing to support immigrants and human rights.

Thomas Nast

A 19th-century American political cartoonist known for using cartoons to influence public opinion. Exposed political corruption, especially Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall in New York City. Helped shape the modern image of Santa Claus and the elephant symbol for the Republican Party.

Samuel J. Tilden

An American politician in the 19th century, best known for fighting political corruption. Famous for exposing the corruption of Tammany Hall and Boss Tweed.

Graft

Political corruption where officials use their position for personal gain, often involving money or favors. Politicians would take bribes, embezzle funds, or overcharge the city and pocket the extra money.

Compromise of 1877

A deal that resolved the disputed 1876 U.S. presidential election between Rutherford B. Hayes (Republican) and Samuel J. Tilden (Democrat). Rutherford becomes President. Federal troops are withdrawn from the South, ending Reconstruction. Southern Democrats gain more control over state governments.

James A. Garfield

The 20th President of the United States (1881). Served only four months before he was assassinated. His assassination was by Charles Guiteau, a disgruntled office seeker. His death highlighted problems with the "spoils system" (patronage jobs in government)

Charles Guiteau

The man who assassinated President James A. Garfield in 1881. Office seeker who believed he deserved a government job. His actions exposed the dangers of the spoils system. Directly led to the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act (1883).

*Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883

Mostly ended the spoils system. Required many federal jobs to be filled based on merit, not connections. Made it illegal to fire employees for political reasons. Reduced corruption and graft in government.

Solid South

Refers to the period after Reconstruction when the Southern states consistently voted Democratic in national elections. Voting was kept "solid" through Jim Crow laws, poll taxes, literacy tests, and violence that suppressed Black voters.

Mugwumps

Republican reformers who opposed corruption and supported Democrat Grover Cleveland in 1884.

Melting Pot

A metaphor used to describe the United States as a place where immigrants from many different cultures blend together into one shared American culture.

Americanization movement

An effort in the early 1900s to assimilate immigrants into U.S. society. Taught English, American history, and civics. Encouraged immigrants to adopt American customs, values, and lifestyles. pressured immigrants to give up their native cultures. Connected to the idea of the melting pot.

Tenements

Tenements were overcrowded, unsafe apartment buildings where many immigrants lived in industrial cities.

Dumbbell tenements

Dumbbell tenements were apartment buildings designed with air shafts to improve light and ventilation, though they often failed to solve health problems.

Mass transit

Mass transit was public transportation that allowed cities to grow and workers to commute more easily.

Waving the bloody shirt

A political tactic after the Civil War where politicians reminded voters of the war and blamed the opposing party for its bloodshed.

Ulysses S. Grant

A Civil War general and U.S. president whose administration worked on Reconstruction but faced major corruption scandals.

Credit Mobilier

Credit Mobilier was a scandal where a railroad company bribed politicians and overcharged the government during Grant's presidency.

Whiskey ring

The Whiskey Ring was a scandal where government officials and distillers stole whiskey tax money during Grant's presidency.

Panic of 1873

Triggered by overbuilding of railroads, risky bank loans, and the collapse of the Jay Cooke & Company bank. Led to bank failures, business bankruptcies, and high unemployment. Contributed to political unrest and increased calls for economic reform. Strengthened the Greenback movement (advocating for more paper money).

Cheap money

Favored by farmers, debtors, and populists. Wanted more money in circulation, including greenbacks and silver coins. Supported by groups struggling with low crop prices and debt.

Hard money

Favored by banks, creditors, and business leaders. Wanted currency backed by gold only (gold standard). Believed this would keep money stable and prevent inflation

Resumption Act of 1875

Required the U.S. to redeem greenbacks in gold, returning the nation to the gold standard.

Bland Allison Act

Required the U.S. Treasury to buy a limited amount of silver and coin it into dollars. Did not fully satisfy "cheap money" supporters, because the amount of silver purchased was limited. Showed the ongoing struggle between debtors and creditors over currency.

Political machines

Political machines were city organizations that controlled politics through patronage and corruption while helping immigrants.

Party bosses

Powerful leaders of political machines who controlled local politics in U.S. cities during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Used patronage (jobs and favors) to gain loyalty.

William Tweed

Leader of Tammany Hall, New York City's political machine. Used patronage, bribery, and graft to control city politics. Stole millions of dollars from the city through fraudulent contracts. Exposed by Thomas Nast's political cartoons and investigations by Samuel J. Tilden. Arrested, jailed, and eventually died in prison.

Jim Fisk and Jay Gould

Corrupt Gilded Age businessmen who manipulated railroads and the gold market.

Tammany Hall

Tammany Hall was New York City's political machine that traded jobs and services for votes and became infamous for corruption.

Kickbacks

Businesses would pay politicians in exchange for government contracts. Party bosses and officials made personal profit. Raised costs for cities and taxpayers. Fueled demands for political reform

Rutherford B. Hayes

The "reformer" president who tried to clean up the government. He famously challenged the party bosses and started the push for hiring federal workers based on merit rather than political favors.

Chester A. Arthur

The ultimate "machine politician" who underwent a shock transformation. After being fired by Hayes for benefiting from the spoils system, he became President and surprisingly signed the Pendleton Act, which helped end the very system that made him famous.

Spoils System

The "to the victor belong the spoils" mindset. It was the practice where a winning political party fired existing government employees to replace them with their own loyal supporters.

Patronage

The actual power to hand out those jobs, contracts, or favors. It was the "currency" Gilded Age politicians used to keep their supporters loyal and their campaigns funded.

Stalwarts

The "old school" faction of the Republican Party. Led by Roscoe Conkling, they loved the spoils system and patronage, fighting tooth and nail against any reforms that would take away their power.

Half Breeds

The "moderate" wing of the Republican Party. They were seen as "half-Republicans" by the Stalwarts because they supported civil service reform (and mostly just wanted to control the patronage themselves).

American Protective Association

A powerful anti-Catholic secret society. They were a nativist group that feared the "Roman threat" from immigrants and pushed to restrict Catholic influence in schools and politics.

Explain the waves of immigration to America. Be able to describe the groups the reasons for immigrating and where they settled.

Old (Pre-1880s): Northern/Western Europeans (UK, Germany); mostly Protestant and English-speaking.

New (Post-1880s): Southern/Eastern Europeans (Italy, Russia, Poland); Catholic/Jewish, lived in ethnic city enclaves.

Asian: Chinese (railroads/mines) and Japanese laborers; settled mostly on the West Coast.

Describe the Push-Pull factors for immigration to the U.S.

Push (Exit): Famine, land shortages, religious pogroms, and political instability. Pull (Entry): Industrial jobs (wages), religious freedom, and free land (Homestead Act).

Describe Nativism and causes in the United States.

Definition: Favoring "native-born" Americans over immigrants.

Causes: Fear of job competition (wage-cutting) and religious prejudice (Anti-Catholic/Anti-Semitic).

Describe the laws passed in the late 19th century curtailing immigration.

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882): First law to ban a specific nationality from entering the U.S.

Immigration Act of 1882: Barred "undesirables" (criminals/paupers) and added a per-head tax.

Describe the power and corruption of political machines such as Tammany Hall. What was the source of machine power?

The Machine: Corrupt city organizations that traded services for votes. Source of Power: Providing jobs, coal, and food to poor immigrants in exchange for their loyalty at the ballot box. Tammany Hall: The infamous NYC machine led by Boss Tweed.

What was the importance of Thomas Nast and what were his most important images.

Role: "Father of the American Cartoon" who used satire to expose Boss Tweed's corruption.

Key Images: The Tammany Tiger, the Republican Elephant, and the modern Santa Claus.

Describe the Spoils system and its role in the assassination of James A. Garfield as well as the importance of the Pendleton Civil Service Act.

The Conflict: Garfield's assassin (Charles Guiteau) was a "Stalwart" who didn't get a patronage job.

Pendleton Act (1883): Ended the Spoils System by requiring civil service exams for federal jobs (merit-based hiring).