Immigration Test Vocabulary

Tenements

Apartments located in slums. Characterized by overcrowding, unsanitary, and disease.

Ellis Island

Located in New York Harbor, an immigrant processing station for immigrants that arrived on the East Coast. (1892 to 1924)

Hull House

First settlement house in the U.S. Located in Chicago, made by Jane Addams in 1889, provided basic services such as food, clothing, diapers, medicine, daycare, English classes, etc. She also started the first playground for children in Chicago.

Chinese Exclusion Act

Created in 1882, it banned Chinese laborers from immigrating to the U.S. for 10 years, but renewed two more times for a total of 30 years. It was the first time an ethnic community was banned from entering the U.S.

Garment/Textile Mills

Located in Lowell, Massachusetts, these were 19th century textile mills named after Francis Cabot Lowell who introduced a new manufacturing system called the "Lowell system". A place where many young women went to work.

American "Treasure"

The public education system of America that attracted many immigrants.

William Randolph Hearst

Owner of the New York Journal and used yellow journalism to sell his newspapers.

Political Boss

A person who controls a local branch of a political party.

Political Machine

"A party organization that commands enough votes to maintain political and administrative control of a city, county, or state." They often used bribery or rigged votes to get their boss elected.

Boss Tweed

William Magear Tweed was the leader of the Tammany Hall, the democratic party machine at the time. He was arrested after Thomas Nast made cartoons of him.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The steel manufacturing center of the U.S. where Carnegie Steel was located.

Steerage

The lowest portion of a boat where immigrants stayed for 12 days as part of their journey. It was cheaper but also crowded, cold, wet, dangerous (theft and shaking), dark, sickening (seasickness from rocking), and very stinky.

Jane Addams

Laura Jane Addams was a progressive social reformer and activist. She co-founded Chicago's Hull House."

The Gilded Age

Term used to describe the economic situation in the U.S between 1870-1915. The very few people who were so so rich stayed in mansions, above everyone else, who were in poverty. Gilded means something that is covered in a thin layer of gold. It accurately describes this time period.

Assimilation

To adapt or change to be more like the environment you are moving to. Immigrants did this because they wanted to fit in and be accepted. Older generations had a harder time doing so, so families often got in arguments. "EAT YOUR KIELBASA!"

Jazz

Music that consists of Spirituals, Work songs, African rhythms, and Gospels (SWAG - memory aid) Created in New Orleans.

Joseph Pulitzer

Creator of the New York World. He was the first to use yellow journalism.

Settlement Houses

An institution providing social services to the community. Services include food, clothing, diapers, medicine, daycare, English classes, etc.

Nativism

The belief that old immigrants are better than new immigrants because they've been here longer. Hypocrisy by the American nativists.

New immigrants and old immigrants time period.

Old: 1830-1890 New: 1890-1920

Religious persecution

"the systematic mistreatment of an individual or a group of individuals as a response to their religious beliefs or affiliations or their lack thereof" Push factor of many immigrants.

Chicago

Meat-packing center of the U.S.

Ragtime

"music characterized by a syncopated melodic line and regularly accented accompaniment, evolved by black American musicians in the 1890s and played especially on the piano."

Booker T. Washington

African American Activist
Born as a slave
Created Tuskegee Institute
Advocated development of vocational skills to gain equality.
Wanted to wait for whites to accept them.

Castle Garden

Immigrant processing center in New York before Ellis Island was created. (1855-1890)

YMCA

Stands for Young Men's Christian Association. A place for children to play away from the danger of streets and filthy alleyways. Where basketball was invented.