political science nyc

1. Ghetto – A section of a city where people from the same ethnic or religious background live, often due to economic limitations and social discrimination.

2. Origin of segregated neighborhoods – A concept that began in 16th-century Venice, Italy, where a specific area was designated for Jewish residents.

3. Immigrant settlement in urban areas – The pattern of newcomers establishing communities in cities where others of the same nationality lived for support and familiarity.

4. Wave of migration beginning in the 1840s – A large influx of people from Ireland and Germany, marking a shift from predominantly British arrivals.

5. Reason for Irish migration – A catastrophic food shortage in the 1840s forced a large population to leave their home country and settle in the United States.

6. Economic role of Irish newcomers – Many took jobs in urban factories and performed manual labor due to their lack of wealth and education.

7. Settlement pattern of German arrivals – Many moved to the Midwest, where they established farming communities.

8. Main differences between earlier and later newcomers – The first major groups arrived before 1880 and were mostly from Northern and Western Europe, while those who came after 1880 were from Southern and Eastern Europe.

9. Religious affiliation of early arrivals – The majority were Protestant, which made assimilation into American culture easier.

10. Religious affiliation of later arrivals – Many followed Catholicism or Judaism, which made their integration into society more difficult.

11. Primary languages spoken by different immigrant groups – Those from Northern and Western Europe often spoke English, while those from Southern and Eastern Europe spoke their native tongues, making communication with Americans more difficult.

12. Definition of cultural adoption in the U.S. – A social expectation that newcomers should abandon their customs and adopt English, Protestant values, and American traditions.

13. Impact of cultural adoption on economic advancement – Those who followed American norms and spoke English had a better chance of finding employment and improving their social status.

14. Factors affecting cultural adoption – Ethnicity, religion, and financial status played a role in how easily someone could integrate into society.

15. Groups that adapted most easily – People from Northern and Western Europe had fewer barriers due to linguistic and religious similarities with Americans.

16. Groups that struggled with cultural adoption – People from Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as Asian and African immigrants, faced more resistance due to differences in language, religion, and race.

17. Definition of cultural integration – A theory that different cultures merge together to form a unified national identity.

18. Definition of cultural coexistence – A belief that multiple cultural groups can exist in one society while maintaining their distinct traditions.

19. Urban structure before mass transit – A city where people lived close to their jobs and traveled primarily by foot.

20. Effect of public transportation on urban development – The introduction of streetcars, subways, and bridges allowed people to live farther from their workplaces.

21. Proximity of newcomers to industrial areas – Living near commercial centers provided easy access to jobs and reduced transportation costs.

22. Criticism of segregated neighborhoods – Some believed these areas slowed integration by preserving foreign languages and customs.

23. Activities seen as threats to American culture – Social gatherings, religious practices, and political movements such as labor unions and socialist organizations were often viewed with suspicion.

The German and Jewish Immigrant Experience

24. German community in New York City – A neighborhood in the Lower East Side where many German immigrants settled.

25. Cultural traditions in German neighborhoods – Public celebrations, drinking, and music on Sundays, which contrasted with the stricter observances of Protestant Americans.

26. Reaction of established city residents to German traditions – Some native-born Americans were disturbed by the relaxed Sunday customs, as they viewed the day as a time for quiet religious observance.

27. Conditions of low-cost housing in cities – Buildings designed to house multiple families in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions.

28. Purpose of ventilation spaces in buildings – Open areas were included in building designs to allow airflow and improve air quality.

29. Effectiveness of ventilation spaces in improving housing – These spaces often became garbage dumps, worsening rather than improving living conditions.

30. Main origins of Jewish newcomers – Many arrived from Russia, Poland, and Eastern Europe, fleeing religious persecution and economic hardship.

31. Newspapers read by Jewish communities – A widely circulated Yiddish-language publication helped new arrivals adjust to life in America.

32. Common jobs for Jewish workers – Many were employed in the clothing industry, worked as street vendors, or operated small businesses.

33. Efforts to adjust to American culture – Many changed their names, learned English, and pursued education to improve their social standing.

34. Barriers to adjusting to American culture – Prejudice, religious differences, and the need to maintain certain cultural practices made full integration difficult.

35. Religious influence on daily life – Places of worship, specialized food markets, and religious schools played a central role in Jewish communities.

36. Movement of Jewish communities after early 1900s – Many left their original neighborhoods in search of better housing in other parts of the city.

37. Reasons for relocation of Jewish communities – Economic success, improved education, and better transportation allowed for movement to less crowded areas.

Citizenship

38. Birthright citizenship – The legal principle that grants nationality to individuals born within a country’s borders.

39. Citizenship through ancestry – A legal principle in which nationality is determined by a person's parents rather than place of birth.

40. Legal protection of birthright citizenship in the U.S. – A constitutional amendment that ensures anyone born in the country is granted nationality, regardless of their parents’ status.

41. Holding nationality in two countries simultaneously – The status of being a recognized member of two different nations at the same time.

42. Legal process of acquiring nationality – A series of requirements and steps that allow a foreign-born person to become a citizen of a country.

43. Minimum residency requirement for U.S. nationality – A foreign resident must live in the country for five years before applying for full legal membership.

44. Citizenship process for spouses of U.S. nationals – Individuals married to American nationals may apply for legal status after three years instead of the standard five.

45. Role of language in acquiring citizenship – Applicants must demonstrate the ability to read, write, and speak the dominant language of the country to qualify.

46. Legal transition versus cultural adaptation – One refers to the process of becoming a citizen, while the other involves adopting the customs and traditions of a new country.

47. System prioritizing certain groups for residency – A policy that favors specific types of newcomers, such as relatives of citizens, skilled workers, and individuals seeking refuge.

48. Major change to U.S. immigration law in 1965 – A legislative act that eliminated restrictions favoring specific nationalities and allowed more people to enter from diverse regions.

49. Previous policy limiting certain ethnic groups – A regulation that set strict quotas on people from Southern and Eastern Europe while favoring those from Northern and Western Europe.

50. Highest priority groups in the modern system – Close relatives of U.S. citizens, individuals with specialized job skills, and those fleeing danger in their home countries.

51. Old Immigrants – People who arrived in the United States before 1880, primarily from Northern and Western Europe, who were often English-speaking and Protestant.

52. New Immigrants – People who arrived in the United States between 1880 and 1920, mostly from Southern and Eastern Europe, who often spoke little English and followed different religious practices.

53. Social Mobility – The ability of individuals or families to improve their economic and social status over time, often through education and employment.

54. Cultural Mosaic – The concept that multiple cultural groups can coexist in society while maintaining their distinct traditions.

55. Pedestrian City – An urban environment where people primarily travel by walking due to the close proximity of work, homes, and businesses.

56. Central Business District – The commercial and economic center of a city where many businesses, factories, and markets are located.

57. Kleindeutschland – A German immigrant neighborhood in New York City known for its strong cultural traditions and community life.

58. Tenement – A densely populated, multi-family apartment building, often with poor living conditions such as inadequate ventilation and sanitation.

59. Yiddish – A language spoken by many Jewish immigrants, combining elements of Hebrew, German, and Slavic languages.

60. Kosher – Foods that comply with Jewish dietary laws, which influenced the types of markets and restaurants in Jewish immigrant communities.

61. Jewish Daily Forward – A Yiddish-language newspaper widely read by Jewish immigrants in the early 20th century that provided news and guidance on adjusting to American life.

62. Urban Migration – The movement of people from overcrowded city neighborhoods to outer boroughs or suburbs for better living conditions.

63. Economic Mobility – The ability to improve financial status through work, business ownership, or education.

64. Jus Soli – A principle of nationality law in which a person acquires citizenship by being born in a particular country.

65. Jus Sanguinis – A principle of nationality law in which a person acquires citizenship through their parents rather than birthplace.

66. 14th Amendment – A constitutional amendment that grants citizenship to individuals born in the United States, regardless of their parents' nationality.

67. Naturalization – The legal process by which a foreign-born person becomes a citizen of a country after meeting residency and other requirements.

68. Civics Test – A government examination that evaluates an applicant’s knowledge of U.S. history, laws, and government as part of the citizenship process.

69. 1965 Immigration Act – A law that ended the national origins quota system and established a new policy prioritizing family reunification and employment-based immigration.

70. Family Reunification Policy – An immigration policy that prioritizes visas for close relatives of U.S. citizens and legal residents.

71. Quota System – A former immigration policy that set limits on the number of people allowed to enter the U.S. from specific countries, favoring Northern and Western Europeans.

72. Catholic – A religious denomination that many Irish and German immigrants in the 1840s belonged to, differing from the predominantly Protestant American population at the time.

73. Ireland – A country from which a significant number of immigrants arrived in the United States during the 1840s, contributing to a major demographic shift.

74. Saxon – A reference to White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) culture, which was the dominant social expectation for immigrants in the 19th century.

75. Ellis Island – A major immigration processing center that opened in the 1890s in New York Harbor, replacing Castle Garden as the primary entry point for new arrivals.

76. Jewish – A religious and ethnic group that became prominent in New York’s immigrant labor force, particularly in retail, wholesale marketing, cigar making, and the clothing industry.

77. Beer/Liquor – Alcoholic beverages that German immigrants commonly consumed on Sundays, a practice that shocked native-born New Yorkers.

78. United States – The country where nativists, who opposed immigration, were born, distinguishing them from newly arrived immigrant populations.

79. Air Shaft – A narrow ventilation space in tenement buildings that was intended to provide airflow but often trapped foul odors.

80. How the Other Half Lives – A book written by Jacob Riis that exposed the poor living conditions in New York City’s tenements, supported by photographic evidence.

81. Protestant – A religious denomination that organizations like the Children's Aid Society attempted to convert Catholic immigrant children to.

82. Fernando Wood – A New York City mayor affiliated with Tammany Hall, who sought the immigrant vote by offering jobs and political favors.

83. Lower East Side – The area in New York City that became the largest Jewish ghetto around 1900, originally home to German and Irish immigrants.

84. International Ladies’ Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) – A labor organization formed primarily by Jewish immigrants to improve working conditions in the apparel industry.

85. Public Bath Houses – Facilities used by many Jewish immigrants in the Lower East Side due to the lack of private bathing spaces in tenements.

86. Five Years – The minimum residency period required for an immigrant to be eligible for U.S. citizenship, though it was temporarily extended to 14 years around 1800.

87. Woodrow Wilson – The President of the United States during World War I, knowledge of whom is required for the citizenship test.

88. $725 (now $760) – The fee required for the naturalization process in the United States, which also includes meeting residency and moral character requirements.

89. Children – Unmarried minors under 18, who receive priority in immigration law when reuniting with immediate family members.

90. African Americans – The group for whom birthright citizenship was originally intended, ensuring their legal status in the U.S. after the Civil War.

91. Asia – The continent from which a significant percentage of immigrants began arriving in the U.S. after the passage of the 1965 immigration legislation.

92. Europe – The continent from which immigration to the U.S. significantly decreased following the 1965 immigration policy changes.