Post on 27-Dec-2015
Immigrants in the United States
Chinese helped build the Transcontinental RR
Slavs, Italians, Poles worked in coalmines.
Immigrants were willing to work for less money in more dangerous working conditions.
The immigrants moved to the cities where they were not welcomed kindly by the “natives”.
The immigrants became competition for jobs and were persecuted against because of this and their religion and customs.
Staying in the City…. Most immigrants who
moved to the United States remained the cities: Lack of money to buy
farms Lacked education to
obtain higher paying jobs Cultural influences
Many of the immigrants settled in “ethnic neighborhoods” within the major cities.
Italian immigrants share this one bedroom “slum”
Assimilating into American Society Becoming American
citizens meant that the immigrants would be forced to adapt or assimilate their culture.
The United States began to have the nick-name “melting pot” because of the blending and meshing of cultures.
Immigrant children were “Americanized” by attending public schools.
“Tenements” Dark, crowded,
multi-family apartments.
Children were forced to work in factories to help pay rent.
“Urbanization” The process of
moving from rural areas to the city.Better paying jobs
(not dependent on weather)
Utilities (running water, lights, plumbing)
Entertainment!
“Building Up” Price of land
increases with demand.
Rather than buy more land and expand outward, cities grew upward.
Transportation Innovations Mass Transit Cable Cars Electric Trolley Elevated Railroad New York City was
the location of the first subway system.