america in transition urban population explosion & westward growth
TRANSCRIPT
America In Transition
Urban Population Explosion& Westward Growth
Who’s coming to the city?• Farmers and Immigrants– Why? • The promise of jobs
Who were most immigrants 1880-1920?
• European • Poor• From rural areas• Moving for the promise of a better life• “New Immigrants” were coming from Eastern
and Southern Europe• Europeans came through Ellis Island Asians came through Angel Island
Immigrants
• Problems?– “Natives” (people born here) resent new
immigrants for competing for jobs – Nativists want new immigrants to behave like
Americans
Immigrants• Solutions?– Legislation to restrict immigration– Chinese Exclusion Act
(1882)temporarily bans Chinese immigration
Urban Living Conditions
• Cities became overpopulated
• Food became difficult to get
• Many people lived in a small apartment (called tenements)
Political Machines
• No, it is not a “machine” with mechanical parts
• It is a corrupt city government• The leader is a “political boss” (he was corrupt
too!)• The “machine” (or organization):– Told people who to vote for– Promised jobs or other services
Political Machines
• Tammany Hall– Political
Machine in New York
– Boss Tweed was one leader
What about out West?
• Dawes Act of 1887– Attempt to assimilate/Americanize native’s– Land provided to families • This is different than reservations for an entire tribe
What about out West?
• Homestead Act– Intended to settle the Great Plains/Midwest– For a small fee, the government provided:• 160 acres• You work the land for 5 years, it’s yours
What about out West
• Gold Rush!!!– California• ‘49er’s
– Alaska• Klondike
– Didn’t require much skill– City populations exploded near gold mining areas