U.S. History 1 Chapter 15

Gentlemen's Agreement

A 1907-1908 agreement between the U.S. and Japanese governments to limit Japanese immigration to the United States.

Re read the quotation from James Pendergast on page 474. Explain whether you agree of disagree that machine politicians did not coerce people.

Agree: Immigrants chose to support the machines because the machines could help them with everyday problems. Disagree: Immigrants were coerced into supporting the machines. If they didn't, no politicians would help them

What arguments can you make against nativism and anti-immigrant feeling?

America is a country that is almost completely composed of immigrants Immigrants have been exploited for their labor, however used as scapegoats for problems that arise in the country as of ways to reform the political, economic, and social institutions. Anti-immigrantionists feelings have risen in the country on these minority groups. An example of such explicit racial discrimination is on Mexican and Latino immigrants who make up about a third of the country's immigrants. They are targeted and harassed by legal policing institutions, whereas the rest of the immigrant population of the English and Asians are not. Anti-immigrantionists arguments include damaging and harming impacts on immigrants on social services, educational systems, and labor force. These anti-immigrant arguments have been from nativists or racists in that they ignore statistical analysis of populations and the contributions that immigrants' labor has brought to America, including the wealth and productivity of the country, the tax base and the welfare programs, and the educational system.

Angel Island

An immigration station in San Francisco Bay, California

Ellis Island

An immigration station in a New York City Harbor

Why do you think tariff reform failed?

Because the companies that benefited from the tariff donated money to Harrison, the pro-tariff presidential candidate

Grover Cleveland

Democratic presidential candidate in 1884; won; attempted to lower taxes; lost 1888 election; won 1892 election

How do you think politics in the United States would have been different if the Pendleton Civil Service Act had not been passed?

Federal employment would have continued to be dominated by politics, politicians would have been less dependent on big business for campaign funds, a key issue would have continued to divide the Republicans.

Which group of immigrants do you think faced the greatest challenges in the United States? Why?

I think that the group of people that faced the worst times and the greatest challenges were the Chinese immigrants. These immigrants came to the United States to work for a better life. They worked mainly on the railroads and constructing new railroad tracks. When the railroads were completed and the railroad companies needed no more tracks, then the Chinese opened their own businesses, which were mostly a failure to them because the Americans would not go to their shops.

James A. Garfield

Ohio Congressman; independent presidential candidate in 1880 election; won election; shot twice on July 2, 1881

Which solution (or attempted solution) to an urban problem discussed in this section do you think had the most impact? Why?

I think the solution to an urban problem that had the most impact was mass transportation. Innovations in transit systeams made it easier for people to get to and from jobs in big cities more easily. I think it was the most important because mass transit is still a large convenience in big cities today.

What were the effects of the massive influx of immigrants to the U.S. in the late 1800s?

In the late 1800s, due to the huge entry of immigrants to the U.S., a lot of anti-immigration feelings came forward. A huge effect on immigrants coming to the U.S. appeared in nativism. Nativism was when people showed favoritism toward native-born Americans

Why did immigrants tend to group together in cities?

Many immigrants congregating with people who shared same cultural values, religions and languages.Ethnic communities were life rafts for immigrants. People pooled money to build churches and synagogues.They formed social clubs and aid societies.Founded orphanages and old peoples homes. Published newspapers in their own languages.

What effects did the migration from rural areas to the cities in the late 19th century have on urban society?

Migration from rural areas to cities in the late 19th century had a few effects on urban society. Since racism was still prevalent, many businesses were still segregated and different races recieved very different treatment. There were also more jobs in the city, so migration to cities from rural areas increased and expanded the business market as opposed to the farming industry. The large increase in city populations, in turn, created many health issues such as unclean living conditions, prevalent crime, and greater fire risk.

Rutherford B. Hayes

Republican President; elected in 1876; couldn't convince congress to support reform

Chester A. Arthur

Vice president under Garfield and Hayes; ran for 1880 election --> didn't win; Republican candidate; Garfield's successor

Boss Tweed

William M. Tweed; head of Tammany Hall (NYC's powerful democratic political machine); led the Tweed Ring (corrupt politicians); 120 counts of fraud; 12 years in jail-> reduced to 1 year; arrested again-> escaped-> Spanish captured him

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

Settlement House

a community center providing assistance to residents—particularly immigrants—in a slum neighborhood

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

Pendleton Civil Service Act

a law, enacted in 1883, that established a bipartisan civil service commission to make appointments to government jobs by means of the merit system.

Melting Pot

a mixture of people from different cultures and races who blend together by abandoning their native languages and cultures

Tenement

a multifamily urban dwelling, usually overcrowded and unsanitary

Patronage

an officeholder's power to appoint people—usually those who have helped him or her get elected—to positions in government

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

Jane Addams

one of the most influential members of the Social Gospel Movement; co-founder of Chicago's Hull House; co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931

Americanization Movement

education program designed to help immigrants assimilate to American culture

Nativism

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

Benjamin Harrison

grandson of President William Henry Harrison; won 1888 election; former Indiana senator;

Urbanization

the growth of cities

Graft

the illegal use of political influence for personal gain

Civil Service

the nonmilitary branches of government administration

Mass Transit

transportation systems designed to move large numbers of people along fixed routes