Monday: Forum post leaders talked about their topics. Taking my notes on here: Chapter 7 Notes
Ch. 7.1:
Why did immigrants come to the US?
Now:
Push-Pull Factors
Famine - Push
No food,
Land Shortages
Religious political persecution
Political Persecution
In debt or in trouble
More opportunities - money - The American Dream
Farming(Homestead Act), minding, working on the railroad, cattle ranching, factory work
Then
The Old Immigrants
Came from northern or western Europe
were Protestant
were liberate and skilled
came over as families
were quick to assimilate
were experienced in the ways of democracy
had some money in their pockets
were tall and fair
What is immigration?
Moving of one person to another country legally
What is illegal immigration?
The moving of one person to another country without paperwork
Why do people want to come to the US either legally or illegally?
To achieve the American Dream, to become free from their country, job opportunities, drugs
Why do US citizens get upset about illegal immigration?
Racism, takes their jobs
Why is it easy for politicians to ignore the problem of illegal immigration?
Republicans are seen as anti-illegal immigration, Hispanics think Republicans hate them so they vote Democrat, most Republicans don't talk about it
What is birthright citizenship?
If you are born in the United States, you have citizenship/you are a US citizen
What are anchor babies?
The baby of an illegal immigrant, the reason that the parents can stay in the United States
Reasons to Come:
Famine, land shortages, religious and political persecution, in debt or in trouble
More opportunities. farming, mining, working on the railroad, cattle ranching, factory work
Reunite with family
Tuesday:
Where did immigrants come from?
Steps to America:
1) Leaving Home
- It was common for one person from a family to come to American first
- They would save to eventually bring others
- 95% of immigrants were meeting family
2) On Board The Ship
- A ticket to America cost $30
- Three types of accommodations - First Class, Second Class, and Steerage
- Only Steerage passengers were processed at Ellis Island
- First and second class passengers were quickly "inspected" on board the ship
- Larger ships could hold from 1,500 - 2,000 passengers
- For many immigrants the experience of steerage was a nightmare
3) Inspection
- Passengers were inspected for contagious diseases such as cholera, plague, smallpox, typhoid fever, yellow fever, scarlet fever, measles and diphtheria
- If immigrants had any of the diseases they would be deported
- Sick children age 12 or older were sent back to Europe alone
- 2% were sent back to Europe
4) Beyond Ellis or Angel Island
As they left Ellis Island, the next stop was the Money Exchange
- Cashiers exchanged paper money
Now:
Legal Immigrants: Top Countries
Mexico (12.7%)
India (6.4%)
Philippines (5.6%)
Dominican Republic (5.1%)
China (3.9%)
Illegal Immigrants
- 11.4 Million here -- Mexico (59%)
Wednesday: Watched videos on Ellis Island and Angel Island. Taking my notes on here: Chapter 7 Notes
Thursday: Taking my notes on here: Chapter 7 Notes
What problems/issues did immigrants face on the trip over and once they got here?
Racism/look different
Different cultures
Sickness
Some had to be sent back
Why did some people want to put restriction on immigration? What were those restrictions?
Chinese Exclusion Act - 1882
Banned all Chinese immigration the US from 18882-1902
Why ban Chinese Immigrants?
Gentleman’s Agreement - 1907
Informal agreement between the Unites States and Japan
The U.S. would not restrict Japanese Immigration
The goal was to reduce tensions between the US and Japan
Ch. 7.2
Why did cities grow so quickly in the late 1800's and early 1900's?
Immigration
It got more industrials
Farmers were in debt, farmers decided to give up and go to the city
African-Americans moved to the cities
Cities offered more jobs and opportunities
Cities offered more entertainment
What problems did cities face due to the rapid increase in population?
Problems:
Cramped, old, dirty housing-tenements
Lack of good transportation
Lack of safe drinking water
Disease was common
Streets were filthy
Crime
Fires happened in almost every city
- Poverty due to low pay at work
Friday:
What did some people do to try to help the bad situation in the cities?
Tenement House Law - 1901
Outlawed the construction of new tenements on 25-foot lots and mandated improved sanitary condition
Current tenements were updates and more than 20,000 new apartments were built over the next 15 years
Most were destroyed in the 1920’s
Problem: Cramped, old, dirty housing-tenements
Solution: Cities put restrictions on building wood-frame structure in the center of the city, why? Cities encouraged the construction of lower-income dwelling on the city's outskirts.
Problem: Lack of good transportation
Solution: Trolleys, Cars (Automobiles), Subways, Airplanes, Electric Street Cars
Problem: Lack of Safe Drinking Water
Solution: In late 1800’s, scientists had proven that diseases were spread through unsafe drinking water. In early 1900’s, chlorine was added to the water to help eliminate disease.
Problem: Disease was Common and Streets were filthy
Solution: Horses being replaces, eliminating the manure problem. Added Chlorine to water. Introduction to indoor plumbing.
Problem: Crime because of Poverty
Solution: In 1911 fingerprints are first accepted. Organized Police Force: Police became full time employees of the city - not volunteers.
Problem: Fires
Solution: Better building codes. Full time, paid firefighters. Made sure buildings were spread out a little bit.
Problem: Poverty due to low pay at work
Solution: Labor Unions: minimum wage laws, shorter laws, child labor laws
Ch. 7.3
Other Information-
The Gilded Age: 1870’s-1900
Gilded: To be covered with gold
What was the political machine and what did they do for a city?
A political organization, usually controlled by a single “boss” that controlled votes and had administrative control of a city, county, or state
People liked the boss because they gave them something (social services, a job, etc.)
This would lead to people voting for them
Very corrupt (dishonest)
Came about due to the rapid increase of population in cities and poor government in the 1800’s
Died out in the early 1900’s
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