Introduction

The Gilded Age, which lasted from roughly 1865 to 1898, saw a significant influx of immigrants to the United States. This period was marked by rapid industrialization and economic growth, which created a high demand for labor. Many immigrants came to the US in search of economic opportunities, particularly in the growing cities and factory towns in the Northeast and Midwest. The majority of immigrants during this time were from Europe, with the largest groups coming from Ireland, Germany, and Italy. Additionally, there were also significant numbers of immigrants from China and Japan during this time. The Gilded Age also saw the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment and the passage of various laws, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, aimed at restricting the flow of certain immigrant groups.

Old vs New Immigrants

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw a shift in the national origins of immigrants to the United States. Prior to the 1890s, the majority of immigrants came from Northern and Western Europe, with large numbers of Irish, German, and British immigrants. However, beginning in the 1890s, there was a significant increase in the number of immigrants coming from Southern and Eastern Europe, particularly from Italy, Greece, and the Russian Empire. These "new" immigrants were often poor and uneducated, and many were members of non-Protestant religions, such as Catholicism and Judaism. They also faced discrimination and prejudice from the earlier waves of immigrants and from native-born Americans, who viewed them as culturally and socially different.

Restrictions

After the opening of Ellis Island in 1892, the majority of immigrants to the United States came through this port of entry and settled in urban areas to work as unskilled laborers. The urban areas of the Northeastern and Midwestern United States, particularly New York City, Boston, and Chicago, saw a large influx of immigrants during this time.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

African Americans began to leave the south and migrate to urban areas as well. 

African Americans also began to leave the South and migrate to urban areas during this period, particularly during the Great Migration. Many Chinese immigrants also came to the United States during the Gilded Age, mostly through San Francisco, and worked in mines and on railroads, particularly in the West. After 1910, Chinese immigrants were required to pass through Angel Island in San Francisco and prove that they fit one of the exceptions to the Chinese Exclusion Act.

With the growth of industries such as steel and transportation, cities became centers of commerce and culture. The popularity of entertainment such as vaudeville and the rise of department stores led to cities becoming cultural centers as well. Improved methods of transportation also allowed wealthy and middle-class Americans to live outside the city and come into the city for business or entertainment.

🎥 Watch: AP US History - Industrialization and Gilded Age

Important Vocabulary

• "Old Immigrants" refers to the immigrants who came to the United States primarily before the 1890s, mostly from Northern and Western Europe. They were largely Protestant, and included many Irish and German immigrants.

• "New Immigrants" refers to the immigrants who came to the United States primarily after the 1890s, mostly from Southern and Eastern Europe. They were often poor, uneducated, and members of non-Protestant religions, such as Catholicism and Judaism.

• An Ethnic Enclave refers to a community of a particular ethnic group that lives together in a specific area, and often maintains distinct cultural practices and traditions. Many immigrants in the Gilded Age formed ethnic enclaves in urban areas, particularly in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States.

• Push Factors are the conditions or factors that drive people to leave their home country and migrate to another country. Push factors for immigrants during the Gilded Age could include poverty, unemployment, political instability, and religious or ethnic persecution.

• Pull Factors are the conditions or factors that attract people to migrate to a particular country. Pull factors for immigrants during the Gilded Age could include economic opportunities, the prospect of a better life, and the possibility of reuniting with family members who had already migrated.

• The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was a federal law that prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers to the United States. It was the first law implemented to prevent a specific ethnic group from immigrating to the United States and remained in effect for over 60 years.

• The Immigration Restriction League was an organization founded in 1894 with the goal of limiting the number of immigrants coming to the United States, particularly from Southern and Eastern Europe. It advocated for literacy tests and other restrictions on immigration.

• Settlement Houses were community centers that provided services such as education and job training to immigrants and working-class families in urban areas. They were often run by social reformers and were an important resource for new immigrants during the Gilded Age.

• Ellis Island is an island in New York Harbor that served as the main point of entry for immigrants to the United States from 1892 to 1954. Millions of immigrants passed through Ellis Island during this time, and it is estimated that 40% of all current US citizens can trace their ancestry to an ancestor who passed through the island.

Key Concepts

Similarities and Differences Between Immigration Before and After Civil War

Similarities

Similarities between the waves of immigration before and after the Civil War include:

• Both waves of immigration were primarily driven by economic factors, as immigrants sought better economic opportunities in the United States.
• Both waves of immigration were characterized by a large number of people coming from European countries, particularly from Ireland and Germany.

Differences

• Before the Civil War, the majority of immigrants were from Northern and Western Europe, while after the war, there was a significant increase in immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe.
• Before the Civil War, the majority of immigrants were farmers and rural people, while after the war, many were skilled workers and urban people.

What fueled Nativism?

Nativism was fueled by both economic and cultural forces. Economic factors contributed to nativism as immigrants were perceived as competing for jobs and resources, and were often blamed for reducing wages and driving up the cost of living. Cultural factors contributed to nativism as many native-born Americans feared that the large influx of immigrants would change the cultural fabric of the country and dilute American identity. Additionally, many of the immigrants, particularly those coming from Southern and Eastern Europe, were seen as culturally and ethnically different from the dominant Anglo-Saxon Protestant population, which further fueled nativism.

Historical Significance of Americanization

Americanization is the process of acculturation by which immigrants to the United States become Americanized in terms of customs, values, and traditions. Americanization has been an ongoing process throughout US history, and has played a significant role in shaping the cultural and social landscape of the country.

Historically, Americanization was seen as a means of assimilating immigrants into American society and promoting national unity. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Americanization programs were implemented by schools, organizations, and government agencies to teach immigrants the English language, American customs, and civic values. These efforts were often viewed as a way to assimilate immigrants and reduce the perceived threat of ethnic and cultural diversity.

However, Americanization also had a significant impact on the immigrants themselves, as it often involved a process of cultural loss and identity negotiation. Many immigrants were forced to abandon their own cultural traditions and practices in order to conform to American norms and values.

What caused migration from Rural to Urban areas?

Economic factors were a major cause of rural-to-urban migration during the Gilded Age. Many rural residents were farmers who faced economic challenges such as falling crop prices, rising costs of inputs, and limited opportunities for growth and expansion. Urban areas, on the other hand, offered a wider range of economic opportunities, such as factory jobs, retail, and service work. Additionally, many rural residents were attracted to the higher wages and better working conditions that were often found in urban areas.

Social factors also played a role in rural-to-urban migration during the Gilded Age. Many rural residents were seeking to escape the isolation and limited social opportunities that were often found in rural areas. Urban areas, on the other hand, offered a wider range of social and cultural activities, as well as a diverse population with which to interact.

Technological factors also contributed to rural-to-urban migration during the Gilded Age. Advances in transportation, such as the expansion of the railroads, made it easier and cheaper for people to travel to urban areas. Additionally, advances in communication technology, such as the telegraph and telephone, made it easier for people to stay in touch with friends and family who had already migrated to urban areas.

Overall, the combination of economic, social, and technological factors during the Gilded Age made urban areas more attractive and accessible for many rural residents, leading to a significant migration from rural to urban areas.

To what extent were political machines immoral?

Political machines, which were often found in urban areas during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, have been criticized for a number of immoral practices.

One of the main criticisms of political machines is that they used corrupt and unethical means to maintain power. This often included bribery, vote-buying, and intimidation of voters. Additionally, many political machines had strong ties to criminal organizations and were involved in activities such as gambling, prostitution, and bootlegging.

Another criticism of political machines is that they often focused on serving the interests of their leaders and the party, rather than the needs of the community. This often led to neglect of important social issues such as poverty, housing, and education, and instead prioritized political patronage, nepotism and cronyism.

Political machines also were often criticized for their lack of representation of minority groups, particularly African Americans and immigrants. They were often controlled by white Anglo-Saxon Protestant men who were not sensitive to the needs of these groups and often used them as a source of votes without providing them with the same services and benefits as the other members of the community.