America Enters the 20th Century Flashcards
How did the US population change near the start of the 20th Century?
- The overall population increased significantly.
- Many new immigrants began to arrive in America.
- More people lived in large, urban communities.
How did changes in population impact American cities?
As cities grew rapidly, they faced a significant decline in living conditions: increase in crime, high poverty rates, unsanitary conditions, overcrowding.
How were immigration patterns during the late 19th century different from earlier decades or today?
Earlier Decades: Mostly Northern and Western European; Ex. Ireland, Germany, Great Britain.
Late 19th Century: mostly Southern and Eastern European; Ex. Italy, Poland, Russia)
Today: Mostly South and Central America and Asia;
What caused the significant increase in immigration that occurred during the late 19th century?
Push and Pull Factors.
What are “pull” factors of immigration?
Qualities or opportunities that
attract someone to a new place. Ex: religious freedom, political freedom, peace, economic or job opportunities.
What are “push” factors of immigration?
Conditions within an individual’s home country, that prompt someone to leave. Ex: Religious persecution, political repression, war, starvation, limited economic opportunities.
What was Ellis Island?
*Immigration processing station located in New York City, where many European immigrants entered the US during the late 19th and early 20th century.
*While the process of entering the US was easiest for wealthy European immigrants, 98% of immigrants that arrived at Ellis Island were admitted.
What was Angel Island?
*Immigration processing station located in San Francisco, where many Asian immigrants entered the US during the late 19th and early 20th century.
*Practices at Angel Island were more strict due to anti-Asian attitudes, leading far fewer immigrants to be admitted to the US through Angel Island than Ellis Island.
How did increased immigration impact the American culture near the turn of 20th century?
*The United States was considered a “melting pot” of diverse cultures, languages, foods, religions, and traditions, all shaping what it meant to be American
* However, many immigrants settled in cultural neighborhoods by choice (ex. German Village) or by law (ex. Chinatown).
What is nativism?
Belief held by individuals who had resided in the US for many decades that “native-born” Americans were superior to new immigrants.
How did nativist beliefs impact some new immigrants near the turn of the 20th century?
- Many struggled to find work or housing because of their immigrant background.
- Racial violence and segregation laws targeted some new immigrants.
- Some immigrant groups saw their immigration to the US more restricted compared with groups from other countries.
Which group of immigrants faced the most nativism near the turn of the 20th century?
Asian immigrants; especially the Chinese.
What was the Chinese Exclusion Act?
- Federal government policy adopted near the turn of the century that limited Chinese immigration to the US and the ability of Chinese Americans already residing in America to gain citizenship.
- Example of nativism.
How did the poor conditions of Gilded Age cities contribute to destructive disasters near the turn of the century?
- Cities were rapidly built, primarily out of wood, allowing fires to spread faster
- Sharp population increases led many buildings to be built close together- also contributing to rapid spread of fire.
- Greed led business leaders to make unsafe decisions that put their workers or local community members in danger.
What was the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire?
- One of the most deadly workplace disasters in US history.
- After a fire was accidentally started in a NYC business, it spread quickly due to the large amounts of fabric in the business.
- Many workers were unable to escape because the business owners locked the doors to prevent workers from taking breaks.
- Nearly 150 workers died in the fire, mostly poor immigrant women, leading to the adoption of new regulations for fire safety in public and private buildings.
What was the Great Chicago Fire?
- Destructive disaster that impacted Chicago during the late 19th century, killing hundreds and leaving thousands homeless.
- Although it was unclear what started the fire, it spread quickly due to drought, damaged fire equipment, lack of firefighters, and the large number of wooden buildings built close together.
- Afterward the city was rebuilt with fire resistant materials, including steel which was used to construct skyscrapers in the city.
What was the Johnstown Flood?
- Deadliest manmade disaster in American history before 9/11.
- Occurred in a small city near Pittsburgh shortly after Henry Clay Frick requested changes to a nearby dam- that greatly weakened the structure.
- Shortly after a storm hit the area causing the dam to burst– flattening the nearby community.
How effective were Gilded Age politicians at responding to the needs of the American public near the turn of the 20th century?
- Local, state, and federal officials struggled to respond to the needs of the public.
- Corruption and political gridlock/ divisions made it nearly impossible to pass meaningful legislation.
What were political machines?
- Organizations of average Americans that emerged in large cities near the turn of the 20th century.
- These groups helped provide basic services that were not provided by elected politicians, such as building parks, schools, libraries, and more.
- Although they provided good services, they were oftentimes corrupt.
Who was William “Boss” Tweed?
- Well-known political machine leader, or boss, that led the most powerful political machine in NYC, Tammany Hall.
- Tweed was an excellent example of the political corruption and greed that plagued political machines after he was busted for embezzling $13 million from NYC– and was sent to prison.
What challenges continued to face Black Americans near the turn of the 20th century?
- Jim Crow Laws
- Segregation
- Voter disenfranchisement
- Racial etiquette rules.
- Racial violence and lynching.
What is segregation?
When separate facilities are created for different groups of people; such as separate facilities being created for Black and white Americans under the Jim Crow Laws.
What is lynching?
- An act of racial violence that was common during the late 20th century; thousands of Black men and women were shot, burned, and hanged during mob lynchings after northern troops were removed from the South after Reconstruction ended.
