I
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Section
Words to Know
a neighborhood where people of
ghetto
the same race,
religion, or country live
tenement
an apaftrnent house with poor safety, sanitation,
and comfort conditions
skyscraper
a very
tall building with many floors, elevators, and
a steel frame
M.r,
early immigrants came to the United States
from northern and western Europe. Beginning in the
1880s, immigrants arrived from southern and eastern
Europe. These newcomers weÍe different in some ways
from the earlier immigrants.
New lmmigrants
Fewer than one million immigrants came to the
United States between 1790 and 1840. Then between
1840 and the 1870s, most immigrants came from Great
Britain, Ireland, and Germany. These immigrants started
many of the early customs that became part of the
American way of life.
The people who arrived from the 1880s on were
often called "ne\ r" immigrants. The word nØlv was
used to show that the immigrants were different in
some ways from the old, or earlier, immigrants. The
new immigrants came from such countries as Russia,
Poland, Italy, and Greece. Most of the new immigrants
settled in New York City, New York, or Newark, New
Jersey. Other new immigrants went to Cleveland,
Detroit, or Chicago.
254
Unit
irÌ
4.
A Growin{ Nation
It
These newcomers were alike
l¿".
in several ways.
1. Their religions were mostly Catholic, Jewish,
and Greek Orthodox.
2. Most of the new immigrants did not speak English.
3. Most new immigrants were used to living and
working conditions that were different from
those of people living in the United States.
The new immigrants left their homelands for
many reasons, just as the old immigrants had. Wars,
violence, and religious freedom caused many people
to leave their homes. They saw the United States as a
place to begin a new life.
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what ways were the new immigrants alike?
lmmigrants Came
t
861-I 880
I90I-r920
73/"
14o/o
T
Noñhern ond
Westem Europe
Soulhern ond
other
Eostefn Europe
Ploces
Source: HlsloricolSfofi$tlcs of the Unlted Stqtes
l.
Belween I861 ond 188O did mosl immigronts come lrom
nodhern ond weslern Europe or soulhern ond eoslern Europe?
2. Between 190'l ond 1920, whol percenloge of immigronts
c0me from soulhern ond eoslern Europe?
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Chapter 14 . Cities and lmmigration
. 1880-1920 255
Coming to America
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Most of the immigrants entered the United States
through New York. Those who arrived after L892
landed on a small island near the Statue of Liberty.
This place was called Ellis Island. There the immigrants
were checked for disease. Records of their arrival were
kept. Ellis Island became a gateway to America for
millions of immigrants for the next 60 years.
Only a few of the new immigrants ever saw their
dreams come true. Most did not speak English. Most
were not skilled workers. Many immigrants did not
After arriving
256
Unit
in the lJnited States, these immigrants are waiting in a room on EIIis lsland.
4.
A Growin{Nation
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have enough money to buy land to farm. Most
immigrants ended up living in cities and working
at low-paying factory iobs.
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happened to most immigrants who came to
the united states?
Ghanging Gities
With the coming of new immigrants, the population
of many U.S. cities increased almost overnight. Most
immigrants settled in cities, near people from their
homeland. They wanted to share their language,
religion, and customs with people they knew. Between
1870 and 1920, the number of people living in U.S. cities
grew from almost 1O million to more than 50 million.
J{*ø*
tF"h
ln 1890, four out of
five children in New
York had been bom
in another country
or had a parent who
had been born in
another country.
Often immigrants settled in the parts of a city that
were set apart from other areas of the city. The areas in
which the immigrants lived became known as ghettos.
A ghetto is a neighborhood where people of the same
race, religion, or country live.
Even though many ghettos were poor places, they
were places where immigrants could get used to life in
their new country. Getting used to the new life was not
easy. Sometimes dishonest Americans cheated the
newcorFrers by charging them higher prices for goods.
Often iinmigrants were targets of hate from people
who disliked newcomers.
ffivrifi:r+ettos
important to immigrants in the
Living in Gities
Cities grew quickly between 1860 and 1900. The rapid
growth of cities led to problems. Often there were not
enough places for people to live. Tenements were built
quickly to provide homes for the many people moving
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Chapter
14. Cities and lmmigration
.1880-19ã)
257
to the cities. A tenement is an apartment house with
poor safety, sanitation, and comfort cohditions.
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ii
Usually, tenements were poorly built. Many families
were crammed into the buildings. The rooms in
tenements were small with little light or air. Tenements
were in neighborhoods that were dirty and crowded.
There was lots of noise, rotting garbage, and bugs and
rats. The unclean conditions led to disease as well.
Unsafe Workplaces
Most of the new immigrants took iobs in factories.
They worked long hours for little pay. Workers often
found themselves working in poorly lit buildings with
little fresh air.
Fire
Fire was always a danger in overcrowded cities. In
1911, a fire broke out in the Triangle Shirtwaist
Company in New York City. Workers in the clothing
factory could not leave the building quickly because
A Gloser Look
THE TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST COMPANY FIRE
It was a Saturday just before the end of the work day'
Fire suddenly broke out on the eighth floor of a
building in New York City. Smoke filled the air as
flames spread quickly. Frightened women could not
get out because the doors were locked.
*
Firefighters could do nothing. Their tallest ladders only
reached the sixth floor. Many women jumped in an
attempt to escape. "l thought I saw a bundle of
burning cloth falling," said one person. "Then I saw it
was a young girl." ln the ashes of the fire, firefighters
found several engagement rings.
CriticalThinking What new laws might have been
passed as a result of this fire?
258
Unit4. AGrowing
i:f'
Ñation
The burning Triangle
Shirtwaist Company
most of the doors were locked. More than L4O workers,
mostly young women, were killed in the fire.
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Crime
Crime was a big problem for people living in pooç
crowded neighborhoods. Thieves stole wallets and
purses. Street gangs often attacked and robbed people..
Many cities added more officers to their police
departments to fight crime. However, crime rose too
fast for.the police to control.
While cities had problems, they also had many
good points. In the growing cities, people found
excitement and new opportunities. Cities had public
schools and colleges, museums, libraries, theaters,
shops, and sports fields.
The growth of the steel industry and the
development of electric power helped to bring taller
buildings to cities. Skyscrapers rose high above city
streets. A sþscraper is a very tall building with many
floors, elevators, and a steçl frame.
lr; --
Ë,;ffhat
&f
was ciw life like?
Section
I Review
1. Whdt did the new immigrants hope to find
America?
in
2.Why did most new immigrants settle in cities?
tI
3. CriticalThinking What challenges did people in
cities have to f.ace?
4. Write About History You are a reporter who is at
the Ttiangle Shirtwaist Company fire. Write a
news article about the event.
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t
Chapter 14 . Cities and lmmigration
i
{4:
. 1880-1920 259
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CONNECTING HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY
Skyscrapers, Streetcars, and Bridges
Before the Civil War, no building in the
United States stood more than five stories tall.
The first skyscraper was built in Chicago, Illinois.
It was ten stories tall. Three things made it
possible to build tall buildings.
.
Steel frames could hotd up the weight of
the building.
.
New materials could make the building
walls fireproof.
.
Electric elevators could carry people up
and down.
Skyscrapers made it possible for cities to
build up. Other inventions helped people
The Home lnsurance Building
to move around cities. For example, before
the electric streetcar, people did not travel very was the first skyscraperfar outside the area where they lived. Streetcars
powered by electric lines carried people from place to place.
People were able to commute, or travel to and from work,
over longer distances. Steel was also used to build bridges
that carried people into and out of cities.
Answer the questions below.
L. Why were steel frames important in building
skyscrapers?
2. How did electricity help people move in and
around cities?
CHALLENGE What kinds of transportation have
replaced the electric streetcar today?
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