During the growth of American cities in the late 19th century, there was a drastic increase in immigration for several reasons. Many immigrants came seeking better opportunities, religious freedom, or escape from oppressive governments. They arrived through places like Ellis Island and provided a source of cheap labor that fueled the rapid industrialization and urbanization occurring in the United States. This rapid development led to overcrowded immigrant neighborhoods with unsanitary tenement housing and problems that organizations like settlement houses and political machines attempted to address.

1. IMMIGRATION
& THE GROWTH OF AMERICAN CITIES
USII.4b

2. During the time of growth for American cities and industries,
why was there a drastic increase in immigration?
The Century: America’s Time
Seeds of Change (1 of 3)
Start 14:05 (to end)
The Century: America’s Time
Seeds of Change (2 of 3)
Start 0:00 (beginning)
End 1:50
The Century: America’s Time
Seeds of Change (3 of 3)
Start 0:00 (beginning)
End 2:30

3. REASONS FOR INCREASE
IN IMMIGRATION
• Hope for better opportunities
• Desire for religious freedom
• Escape from oppressive
governments
• Desire for adventure

4. IMMIGRATION
THROUGH ELLIS
ISLAND
http://youtu.be/u4wzVuXPznk

5. REASONS WHY
CITIES GREW
AND
DEVELOPED

6. Reasons cities grew and developed…
• Specialized industries such as steel in Pittsburgh, or meat
packing in Chicago
• Immigration to America from other countries
• Americans began moving from rural areas to urban areas for job
opportunities
America: The Story of Us
Episode 7: CITIES
http://youtu.be/lB2Lh8RgsVI

7. Lead to…
Rapid Industrialization
Rapid Urbanization
Overcrowded Immigrant Neighborhoods
Tenements

8. WANT TO LEARN MORE LIFE IN THE TENEMENTS?
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY TUFTS UNIVERSITY: JACOB RIIS COLLECTION
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchresult.cfm?parent_id=1060669 http://www.tufts.edu/programs/mma/fah189/2005/kaplan/gallary.html
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ma01/davis/photography/images/riisphotos/slideshow1.html

9. FIVE POINTS…NYC TENEMENT
NEIGHBORHOOD
FROM “THE GANGS OF NEW
YORK” MOVIE
PRIMARY SOURCE IMAGE OF
THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD

10. IN COMPARISON…
FIFTH AVENUE DURING 19TH
CENTURY
ASTOR FAMILY HOME ON FIFTH
AVENUE

11. IN COMPARISON…
MADISON AVENUE
MANSION…NOW THE RALPH
LAUREN STORE
ANOTHER 19TH CENTURY
MADISON AVENUE MANSION

12. ONE OF THE VANDERBILT’S FAMILY HOMES

13. EFFORTS TO
SOLVE THE
IMMIGRATION
PROBLEM
Settlement Houses & Political Machines
Source: http://www.uic.edu/depts/lib/specialcoll/exhibits/7settlements/main.htm

14. SETTLEMENT HOUSES
• Hull House founded by Jane
Addams
http://www.swarthmore.edu/library/peace/Exhi
bits/janeaddams/hullhouse.htm
http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?
id=4948

15. POLITICAL
MACHINES
• Gained power by attending
to the needs of new
immigrants
• Helped them find jobs,
housing, and more

16. POLITICAL MACHINES…TAMMANY HALL

17. POLITICAL MACHINES…TAMMANY HALL

18. DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
IMMIGRANTS
CHINESE IRISH

19. CHALLENGES FACED BY CITIES…
• Tenements & Ghettos • Political corruption…
(from Political Machines)