Cities, Immigration, & Nativism

Reasons for the urbanization of America during late 19th & early 20th centuries

Railroads/improved roads made it easier for the people to move to cities; many people were attracted by the cultural opportunities and variety of city life (attractions); jobs

Tenements

Low cost rental housing barely meeting minimal living requirements; whole families crowded into single room apartments (often without heating, lighting)

Political machine

Organization, usually controlled by a strong leader, that gets citizens to vote for its candidates on election day (people worked for machine for political rewards & favors)

How did many leaders (like Boss Tweed) of political machines amas personal fortunes

City contracts, kickbacks

Old immigrants

Came to escape religious/political persecution (hardships); find new economic opportunities; most spoke English

New immigrants

Came mostly from Southern & Eastern Europe in large numbers; came to escape hardships (poverty, persecution); spoke little to no English; extremely poor, uneducated

Where were most European immigrants who arrived in New York processed for admission to the U.S.

Ellis Island

Where were many Asian immigrants who arrived on the Pacific/West Coast processed for admission to the U.S.

Angel Island

Reasons for Migration to Cities

Growth of railroads; culture & variety; growth of factories; improved technology on farms = less manpower needed

Jacob Riis

Shed light on the condition of tenements in his publication, How the Other Half Lives

What led to the creation of tenements

Increase in migration (overcrowding)

Consequences of Rapid Urbanization

Lack of hospitals, police, fire departments, public schools, sanitation, traffic (horse-drawn carriages)

Spoils system

A political party, after winning an election, gives government civil service jobs to its supporters, friends, and relatives as a reward for working toward victory

Most famous political machine in NYC

Tammany Hall

Boss Tweed

Leader of Tammany Hall

Thomas Nast

Satirical artist who attacked Tweed and Tammany Hall in NYC publications

Positive aspects of political machines

Prvide assistance to those in need at a time where the gov couldn't