The Rise of Industrial America (1865-1900)

The Rise of Industrial America (1865-1900)

• America's population and size expanded dramatically, driven by immigration.
• A desire for freedom and opportunity spurred European immigration in the 19th century.
• Nativists, native-born Americans, opposed immigration, fearing job competition and cultural loss.
• The "Gilded Age" (1865-1900) saw a transition from agrarian to industrial society.
• Vast wealth inequality existed between industrialists and workers.
• Key inventions included the steam engine, the transcontinental railroad, and dynamite.

Immigration During the Industrial Revolution

• Immigration shifted to unskilled laborers and people from poorer backgrounds (1870-1900).
• Earlier immigrants were typically white, skilled, and Protestant.
• New immigrants were from Eastern Europe and lacked English language skills due to this the distrust of nativism grew.
• New immigrants filled dangerous jobs (canal building, excavation).
• Some immigrants sought to retain their cultures, others to assimilate, with the American "melting pot" ideal.

Settlement of Immigrants

• Immigrants often settled in ethnic communities.
• Ellis Island in New York and Angel Island in San Francisco were immigration stations.
• New arrivals were screened for health and mental conditions before gaining entry.
• Process included physical and mental examinations, review of past criminal records
• Immigration station processes were similar to those in New York and San Francisco.

Nativism in the Gilded Age

• US government immigration policy changed in the late 19th/early 20th centuries.
• Anti-immigrant sentiment, or nativism, favored established citizens over newcomers.
• Fear of job losses by immigrants fueled xenophobia.

Anti-Immigration Laws

• The Page Act (1875) aimed to restrict unskilled labor and specifically targeted Chinese/Japanese immigrants
• The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) limited Chinese immigration, marking a first-of-its-kind law.
• Immigration Act of 1924 severely restricted immigration, setting quotas based on the 1890 census, favoring Northern/Western Europeans over Southern/Eastern Europeans, drastically lowering the numbers of immigrants permitted into the United States yearly.

Why Did Nativists Support Immigration Reform in the 1920s?

• Nativists feared that new immigrants threatened American society in the 1920s and wanted to restrict immigration.
• Factors fueling nativism included concerns over unskilled labor, diverse religions, and perceived job competition.
• Social Darwinism theory promoted the idea of white wealthy businessmen as natural leaders.
• Groups like the Know-Nothing Party, formed earlier in history in response to increased immigration from several countries, advocated for these strict immigration reforms.