Chapter 7

Ellis Island

1892-1924; an immigration station in the New York Harbor where immigrants were inspected and admitted into the United States.

Angel Island

1910-1940; an immigration station located in San Francisco where Chinese immigrants were inspected and admitted to the United States.

Social Gospel movement

A 19th century reform movement based on the belief that Christians have a responsibility to help improve working conditions and alleviate poverty. Basically it preached salvation through service to the poor. This movement inspired many 19th century reformers to establish settlement houses for the poor.

Settlement house

A community center providing assistance to residents-particularly immigrants-in a slum neighborhood. These houses helped cultivate social responsibility towards the poor. Middle class, college women educated ran the houses and often hoped to learn about the problems caused by Urbanization and help create solutions.

Pendleton Civil Service Act

A law, enacted in 1883 that established a bipartisan civil service commission to make appointment to government jobs by means of the merit system. Basically got rid of patronage.

Tenement

A multifamily urban dwelling, usually overcrowded and unsanitary. Working class families previously occupied these houses before they moved to the outskirts of the city or into the central area of the city. Once they left, two or three immigrant families took over a one family dwelling.

Rutherford B. Hayes

A republican president, elected in 1876. He tried to get rid of patronage by naming independents to his cabinet. He also investigated the nations customhouses, notorious for patronage. Based on the report, he fired two of the top of New York City's customhouse. Quote- "Nobody ever left the presidency with less regret... than I do"

Americanization movement

An education program designed to help immigrants assimilate to American culture. This social campaign was sponsored by the government and by concerned citizens. This was significant because it help the newcomers to learn the ways of the native born Americans.

Patronage

An officeholder's holder power to appoint people—usually those who have helped him or her get elected—to positions in government. Some of these people the officeholders appointed were not qualified for the positions they filled. Sometimes they even used their positions for personal gain.

Political Machine

An organized group that controls a political party in a city and offers services to voters and businesses in exchange for political and financial support. After the Civil War, the political machines gained control of local government in major cities.

Benjamin Harrison

Former Indiana senator who planned to raise tariffs even higher once in office because he was sponsored by companies that wanted higher tariffs. Signed the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890, which raised tariffs to the highest level yet.

Grover Cleveland

President who tried to lower tariffs yet failed. First democratic candidate in 28 years that actually became president. First president to serve two non-consecutive terms.

Urbanization

The growth of cities, mostly in the regions of the Northeast and Midwest. Urbanization was the result of the technological boom in the 19th century that contributed to the growing industrial strength of the United States.

Graft

The illegal use of political influence for personal gain. Usually used one a political machine got its candidates into office.

James A. Garfield

The independent presidential candidate settled on at the Republican Convention. Gave reformers jobs once elected. "Assassination can be no more guarded against than death by lightning"

Civil Service

The nonmilitary branches of government administration. Reformers believed that these jobs should go to the most qualified persons, and it should not matter what political views they had or who recommended them for the job.

Chester A. Arthur

The vice president nominated by the Republicans. Passed Pendleton Act. "There doesn't seem to be anything else for an ex-president to do but...raise big pumpkins."

Boss Tweed

William M. Tweed, (Boss Tweed) became head of Tammany Hall, New York City's powerful Democratic political machine, in 1868. He led the Tweed Ring, a group of corrupt politicians, defrauding the city.

Gentlemens Agreement

a 1907-1908 agreement by the government of Japan to limit Japanese emigration to the United States.

Chinese Exclusion Act

a law enacted in 1882 that prohibited all Chinese except students, teachers, merchants, tourists, and government officials from entering the United States.

Melting Pot

a mixture of people who blend together by abandoning their native languages and cultures.

Nativism

favoring the interests of native-born people over foreign-born people.

Mass Transit

transportation systems designed to move large numbers of people along fixed routes. These made it much easier for workers to go to and from jobs. As the population rose, people struggled to repair old transit systems and to build new ones. Without these systems, it would be very difficult to travel far for jobs.

Jane Addams

was one of influential members of the Social Gospel movement, who founded the Hull House in 1889. Addams became a role model for middle-class women who volunteered to uplift their communities. In 1931 she became the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize