New Immigrants

Up until the 1880s, most immigrants came from Britain or western EuropeProtestantsHigh rate of literacy

By the late 1880s, many were coming from Southern & Eastern EuropeOrthodox, Jewish, or CatholicIlliterate and poor

Americans felt immigrants should quickly assimilate, buy many retained elements of their own culture

Nativism

Nativists gave new immigrants a rude reception & believed that old-stock values & social patterns were preferable to those of immigrants

Anti-foreign organizations developedAmerican Protective Association (APA) was

against Catholics

Congress first restricted immigration in 1882 by banning paupers, criminals, & convicts; then passed the Chinese Exclusion Act 1882

“Looking Backward” 1893

"They would close to the new-comer the bridge that carried them and their fathers over.”

Urban Growth

Population of cities tripled between 1870-1900New immigrants settled hereMechanization of agriculture meant farming

required fewer workers1900 New York City was the 2nd biggest city

in the world (3.4 million)

Urban Growth

Urban Growth

Louis Sullivan the skyscraper“form follows function”

Separated by classWealthy established fashionable

districts in the heart of the cityMiddle class lived on the

outskirts of the city in the “streetcar suburbs”

The poor/working class lived in dark, crowded tenements

Tenements

Urban Growth

New transportation Elevated rail linesElectrical streetcarsSubways