Day 2: The Growth of Cities: Urbanization & American Culture

These flashcards cover key concepts related to immigration and urbanization in America, focusing on the experiences of immigrants, living conditions, and cultural impact during the early 20th century.

What racial classification did Italian immigrants achieve in America during the 1940s and 1950s?

They were finally considered white.

Who was Jacob Riis and what did he document?

Jacob Riis was a photographer and journalist who documented the living conditions of immigrants in New York City, notably in his work 'How the Other Half Lives'.

What were the typical living conditions for immigrant families during the Gilded Age?

Many immigrant families lived in extremely crowded tenement apartments, often lacking indoor plumbing and having to rely on shared facilities.

What was the purpose of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882?

It was the first law to specifically prohibit a particular racial group, specifically Chinese immigrants, from entering the United States.

What is the significance of Ellis Island in U.S. history?

Ellis Island served as the main entry point for immigrants into the United States from 1892, processing millions of newcomers.

What were some of the challenges immigrants faced when entering the United States through Ellis Island?

They underwent rigorous medical exams, had to pay a tax, and needed to meet specific financial and social requirements.

What demographic shift occurred in the U.S. population by 1900 regarding immigrants?

By 1900, 15% of the U.S. population was made up of immigrants from various countries.

What movements grew in response to urbanization and industrialization in the early 20th century?

The Progressive Era saw the growth of the suffrage movement, temperance movement, and the social gospel movement.

Who was Frederick Law Olmsted and what is he known for?

Frederick Law Olmsted is known as the father of landscape architecture, notably for designing Central Park.

How did the Statue of Liberty come to symbolize immigration in the United States?

The Statue of Liberty symbolizes hope and opportunity for immigrants, welcoming the poor and huddled masses as made famous by Emma Lazarus's poem.

What were 'dumbbell tenements'?

They were apartment buildings designed in the shape of dumbbells, intended to provide better air ventilation but often lacked proper sanitary conditions.

What was the relationship between capitalism and immigration during the Gilded Age?

Capitalism relied heavily on immigrant labor for industrial growth, leading to both a demand for immigrants and a pushback against them.

What cultural enclaves did immigrants form to adapt to their new environment?

Immigrants lived in ethnic neighborhoods, such as Little Italy and Chinatown, where they recreated their cultural communities in the new city.

What was a 'water closet' in the context of tenement living?

A water closet was a shared bathroom facility in tenement apartments.

What common nativist sentiments were expressed visually in Gilded Age political cartoons regarding new immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe?

These cartoons often caricatured new immigrants as uncultured, dirty, or politically radical, suggesting they were burdens or threats to American jobs and existing social structures. They frequently showed them as a 'horde' or an 'invasion' due to their different appearances and customs.

How did Gilded Age political cartoons often represent the perceived threat of Chinese immigration?

Political cartoons frequently depicted Chinese immigrants with stereotypical features, portraying them as a 'Yellow Peril.' They were often shown as an economic threat, taking jobs, or as a cultural anomaly, reinforcing fears that led to legislation like the Chinese Exclusion Act. Visual metaphors sometimes included large numbers 'swarming' or 'sneaking' in.

When considering the role of business and labor, how might capitalism's reliance on immigrant labor have been depicted in Gilded Age political cartoons?

Cartoons could show powerful industrialists exploiting immigrant workers, often portraying immigrants as interchangeable, oppressed figures toiling in factories for low wages, or as a vast, undifferentiated labor pool. This highlighted the tension between industrial growth and the welfare of the working class.

What satirical approach did political cartoons sometimes take to criticize the crowded living conditions of immigrants, such as those in 'dumbbell tenements'?

Cartoons might visually emphasize the extreme congestion and unsanitary conditions, sometimes using exaggerated imagery of people packed into tiny spaces, overflowing with waste, or struggling for air, to underscore the social problems caused by rapid urbanization and inadequate housing for immigrants.