Section 1
Why did immigrants come to America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?
They sought to escape conditions such as famine, land shortages, or religious or political persecution.
What factors led many immigrants to settle in cities?
Cities were the cheapest and most convenient places to live. They offered steady jobs to unskilled workers.
What role did the Social Gospel movement play in addressing urban problems?
Preached salvation through service to the poor. It led to the development of settlement houses to help those in need financially, educationally, or in health.
What was a political machine, and how was it organized?
An organized group that controlled the activities of a political party in a city. It is organized like a pyramid: City Boss (top), Ward Boss (Middle), Local Workers (Bottom).
How did political machines gain support from immigrants?
Political machines helped immigrants with naturalization (gaining citizenship), housing, and jobs.
What was the National Reclamation Act of 1902, and how did it affect Mexican immigration?
The National Reclamation Act of 1902 encouraged the irrigation of dry land, and created new farmland in western states which drew Mexican farm workers northward.
What was the Americanization movement, and what did it aim to do?
The Americanization movement was designed to assimilate people of wide-ranging cultures into the dominant culture.
What dangers did fire pose to cities in the late 1800s?
Cities were mainly built with wooden materials making cities easily susceptible to burning down. Furthermore, cities lacked a way to stop fires from spreading. This led to the development of cities made of stone and brick.
What role did the city boss play in the political machine system?
He controlled access to municipal jobs and business licenses, and influenced the courts and other municipal agencies.
How did high tariffs benefit big business but hurt consumers?
High tariffs protect domestic industries from foreign competition. High tariffs cause the consumer to pay more money for business products.
How did nativism influence American attitudes toward immigrants?
Nativists thought that problems were caused by immigrants from the "wrong" countries or from countries with different religious backgrounds (ex. Jews and Catholics)
Why did many African Americans move north and west between 1890 and 1910?
They wanted to escape racial violence, economic hardship, and political oppression.
How did technological changes in farming contribute to urban migration?
Inventions such as the McCormick reaper and the steel plow made farming more efficient but meant that fewer laborers were needed to work the land.
What was graft, and how did it contribute to political corruption?
A graft is the illegal use of political influence for personal gain. Example would be "kickbacks" making politicians and political machines richer.
Who was Boss Tweed, and what was the Tweed Ring scandal?
Boss Tweed was the head of Tammany Hall, New York City's Democratic political machine. The Tweed Ring exaggerated the costs for the construction of New York City's courthouse, requiring more money than needed from tax payers.
What was Ellis Island, and what process did immigrants go through there?
Ellis Island is home to an immigration station where immigrants must pass inspection. Immigrants must pass a physical examination by a doctor and then must pass government questioning to meet the legal requirements for entering the country.
What sanitation problems did cities face as they grew? Name two.
Manure piled up on the streets, sewage flowed through open gutters, and factories spewed smoke into the air. Cities lacked indoor plumbing and safe water leading to disease.
How did cities attempt to improve water quality in the late 19th century?
To make the city water safer, filtration and chlorination were introduced to clean water.
What was patronage, and how did it lead to government corruption?
Patronage is the giving of government jobs to people who had helped a candidate get elected. Also known as the spoils system Under Andrew Jackson's administration. Political appointees, qualified or not, used their positions for personal gain.
Why did politicians turn to big business for campaign contributions after the Pendleton Act?
Employees were no longer a source of campaign contributions, leading politicians to create an alliance with business owners.
What was the Gentlemen’s Agreement, and what did it accomplish?
Japan's government agreed to limit emigration of unskilled workers to the United States in exchange for the repeal of the San Francisco segregation order.
What were settlement houses, and what services did they provide?
They were community centers in slum neighborhoods that provided educational services (English, health, college extension, etc.) and social services such as providing for the sick and widowed.
What problems did African Americans face in Northern cities?
African Americans still faced some segregation and discrimination in the city, especially with the rise of job competition between black and white immigrants.
What reforms were introduced by the Pendleton Civil Service Act, and what were its effects?
The Pendleton Civil Service Act authorized a bipartisan civil service commission to make appointments to federal jobs through a merit system based on candidates' performance on examination. This led to more honest and efficient administrations.
What were Grover Cleveland’s and Benjamin Harrison’s views on tariffs, and how did they differ?
Grover Cleveland was for lowering of tariffs to help the consumer afford more goods. Benjamin Harrison wanted higher tariffs to keep domestic industries protected from foreign competition.