RESPONSES to Immigration in the GILDED AGE [APUSH Review Unit 6 Topic 9] Period 6: 1865-1898
Summary
TLDRThis video script from Heimler's History delves into the American responses to international immigration during the period 1865-1898, a time when millions of European and Asian immigrants, particularly the Irish and Chinese, arrived in the U.S. Settling in urban industrial areas, these immigrants faced hazardous working conditions and low wages. The script discusses the rise of nativism, led by figures like Henry Cabot Lodge, who advocated for the protection of native-born Americans against what they perceived as an 'inferior' immigrant threat. Groups like the American Protective Association opposed the influence of Catholicism, which was associated with the Irish immigrants. Labor unions also resisted immigrants, fearing they would accept lower wages and weaken their bargaining power. Social Darwinism further fueled anti-immigrant sentiment, with some believing that Irish immigrants were racially inferior. The Chinese faced similar hostility, culminating in the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which banned Chinese immigration. Despite these challenges, Jane Addams and others provided support through the establishment of settlement houses like Hull House, which aimed to help immigrants assimilate and improve their social and economic conditions. The video concludes by highlighting the hardships immigrants faced during the Gilded Age and the efforts of individuals like Addams to aid their integration into American society.
Takeaways
- 📚 **Period of Immigration**: The time between 1865-1898 saw a massive influx of European and Asian immigrants to the United States, particularly to urban industrial centers.
- 🏭 **Working Conditions**: Immigrants often worked in factories under dangerous conditions and were paid very little for their labor.
- 🗣️ **Cultural Concerns**: There was widespread debate over the cultural impact of immigrants, who were perceived as not fitting the American identity.
- 🧩 **Identity Struggles**: Immigrants themselves grappled with whether to assimilate or maintain ties to their native cultures, often choosing a balance between the two.
- 🤬 **Nativism**: Nativists, like Henry Cabot Lodge, argued against the 'inferior races' intermingling with 'pure-blooded' Americans, leading to the formation of groups like the American Protective Association.
- 💼 **Labor Unions' Opposition**: Labor unions were concerned that immigrants, willing to work for low wages, would undermine their bargaining power and the potential for strikes.
- 🧬 **Social Darwinism**: The pseudoscientific concept of Social Darwinism influenced views on immigration, with proponents believing that certain immigrant groups, like the Irish, were racially inferior and a threat to the gene pool.
- 🚫 **Chinese Exclusion Act**: The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was a significant piece of legislation that banned further Chinese immigration, marking a low point in U.S. immigration policy.
- 🌐 **West Coast Immigrants**: Despite a common misconception, immigrants on the West Coast, particularly those from Asia, faced similar hostility and challenges as those on the East Coast.
- 🏗️ **Transcontinental Railroad**: Chinese immigrants played a crucial role in the construction of the transcontinental railroad, taking on difficult jobs that others were unwilling to do.
- ⛩ **Jane Addams and Hull House**: Jane Addams established settlement houses, like Hull House, to help immigrants assimilate and improve their economic and social conditions through education and social opportunities.
Q & A
What was the period discussed in the video regarding American responses to international immigrants?
-The period discussed in the video is from 1865 to 1898, which covers the Gilded Age.
Why did immigrants during the Gilded Age often settle in urban industrial centers?
-Immigrants often settled in urban industrial centers because they provided job opportunities in factories, despite the dangerous working conditions.
What was the main concern of Americans regarding the influx of immigrants during the Gilded Age?
-The main concern was the potential loss of American identity due to the large number of non-American immigrants who looked, acted, and spoke differently from the native-born population.
What is nativism, and how did it manifest during the Gilded Age?
-Nativism is a policy that protects the interests of native-born individuals over immigrants. During the Gilded Age, it manifested through groups like the American Protective Association, which opposed immigration, particularly from Catholic and Chinese populations.
Why were labor unions opposed to the influx of immigrants?
-Labor unions were opposed to immigrants because they were willing to work for lower wages, which threatened the unions' ability to negotiate better wages and conditions with manufacturers.
What was the role of Social Darwinism in shaping attitudes towards immigrants?
-Social Darwinism, a pseudoscientific idea, was used to argue that immigrants, particularly the Irish, were racially inferior and that their integration would degrade the American gene pool.
How did the Chinese immigrants contribute to the development of the United States during the Gilded Age?
-Chinese immigrants played a significant role in the construction of the transcontinental railroad and took up jobs that others were unwilling to do, contributing to the nation's development.
What was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and why was it significant?
-The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was a law that banned any further Chinese immigration to the United States. It was significant because it was the only law in U.S. history to target a specific nationality for exclusion from immigration.
Who was Jane Addams, and what was her contribution to helping immigrants during the Gilded Age?
-Jane Addams was a social worker who established settlement houses, most notably the Hull House in 1889, to help immigrants assimilate into American society by providing education, social opportunities, and support.
What was the general attitude towards immigrants on the West Coast of the United States during the Gilded Age?
-The attitude towards immigrants on the West Coast was similar to that on the East Coast, with hostility and resistance from nativists, despite the significant contributions of immigrants, particularly the Chinese, to the local economy and infrastructure.
What were the challenges faced by immigrants during the Gilded Age, and how did some Americans, like Jane Addams, try to alleviate these challenges?
-Immigrants faced challenges such as dangerous working conditions, low wages, and societal discrimination. Some Americans, like Jane Addams, worked to alleviate these challenges by establishing support systems like settlement houses, which provided education, social integration, and advocacy for immigrants.
Outlines
🌊 Immigration and American Responses (1865-1898)
This paragraph discusses the American reactions to the massive influx of immigrants during the period of 1865-1898. It highlights the challenges faced by immigrants, particularly from Europe and Asia, who settled in urban industrial areas and worked in factories under hazardous conditions for low pay. The text explores the societal debates on immigration, the concerns over American identity, and the dilemmas faced by immigrants regarding assimilation versus maintaining their cultural identities. It also touches on the rise of nativism, led by figures like Henry Cabot Lodge, and its impact on groups like the American Protective Association, which was particularly opposed to Catholics. Furthermore, it mentions the opposition from labor unions due to wage competition and the influence of Social Darwinism, which perpetuated the idea of racial superiority and inferiority among immigrants, notably the Irish. Lastly, it addresses the plight of Chinese immigrants on the West Coast, their significant contribution to the transcontinental railroad, and the discriminatory Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.
🏡 Jane Addams and the Support for Immigrants
The second paragraph shifts the focus to the support and assistance provided to immigrants, particularly in the form of settlement houses established by Jane Addams. It emphasizes the hardships immigrants faced during the Gilded Age and how figures like Addams helped to alleviate these challenges. The narrative underscores the establishment of the Hull House in 1889 as a pivotal moment in providing immigrants with resources to integrate into American society. The settlement houses offered English lessons, early childhood education, exposure to democratic values, and recreational activities. The paragraph concludes by acknowledging the efforts of individuals like Jane Addams in countering the negative effects of nativism and supporting immigrants in finding better economic and social opportunities in America.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Immigration
💡Nativism
💡Labor Unions
💡Social Darwinism
💡Chinese Exclusion Act
💡Assimilation
💡Gilded Age
💡Urban Industrial Centers
💡Hull House
💡Jane Addams
💡Panic of 1873
Highlights
The video discusses the American responses to international immigrants between 1865-1898.
During the Gilded Age, millions of European and Asian immigrants arrived in the U.S., settling in urban industrial centers.
Immigrants often worked in factories with dangerous conditions and received low pay.
Nativists were concerned about the impact of immigrants on American identity and culture.
Immigrants faced the dilemma of assimilating to American society or maintaining their native culture.
Many immigrants chose a path of partial assimilation while retaining elements of their ethnic identity.
Nativists, such as Henry Cabot Lodge, argued against the 'inferior races' intermingling with 'pure-blooded' Americans.
The American Protective Association was formed to protect the interests of native-born Americans against Catholics.
Labor unions opposed immigrants due to concerns over undercutting wages and undermining their bargaining power.
Social Darwinism influenced some to view immigrants, particularly the Irish, as racially inferior and a threat to the American gene pool.
Despite being white, Irish immigrants were considered by Social Darwinists to be of a different race due to their socio-economic status.
On the west coast, Asian immigrants, especially the Chinese, faced similar hostility as their eastern counterparts.
Chinese immigrants contributed significantly to the construction of the transcontinental railroad.
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was a response to economic pressures and halted further Chinese immigration to the U.S.
The act was the only U.S. law to specifically target a nationality for exclusion from immigration.
Jane Addams established settlement houses, such as Hull House, to help immigrants assimilate and find better opportunities.
Settlement houses provided English lessons, early childhood education, and exposure to democratic ideals and recreational activities.
Despite hardships, figures like Jane Addams helped mitigate the negative impact of nativism on immigrants.
Transcripts
Well hey there and welcome back to Heimler’s History. We’ve been going through Unit 6 of
the AP U.S. History curriculum, and in the last video we talked about the huge waves
of immigrants and migrants moving into and around the United States. In this video it’s
time to talk about the American responses to international immigrants, and if you can
already taste the sauce, then get them brain cows ready because I’m about to milk them.
SO in this video I’m basically trying to do one thing:
I’m trying to explain the various responses to immigration in the period 1865-1898.
So just as a refresher, during the Gilded Age European and Asian immigrants were arriving
in America by the millions. Many of them settled in urban industrial centers and
took up work in factories where they were exposed to dangerous working conditions,
but don’t worry, they got paid a pittance for such risks.
And right along with this wave of immigration, debates sprang up over what to do about all
these immigrants. I mean, they don’t look American, they don’t act American, and they
shore as Moses don’t speak American. And so many Americans began to grow concerned
over the identity of America with all these non-Americans running around. Additionally,
the immigrants themselves were grappling with their own identity in American society. Should
they assimilate to American society or hold on to their native society, or some mixture of both?
Ultimately, many immigrants partially assimilated and partially held on to their ethnic identities.
But it was the nativists who were nigh unto having an apoplectic stroke about what they
considered to be the immigrant attack on American culture. Now nativism, when being defined, is
essentially a policy of protecting the interests of native born folks over against the interests
of immigrants. And nativism reached a fever pitch in the hands of Protestant ministers like Henry
Cabot Lodge who argued that white Anglo-Saxon Americans were committing, and I quote, “race
suicide” by allowing so many members of “inferior races” to intermingle with pure-blooded Americans.
Nativists formed groups like the American Protective Association which was a powerful
organization against Catholics. Wait, I thought we were talking about resistance to immigrants, why
were they against Catholics? Well, as it happened, the millions of Irish immigrants who were coming
to America just so happened to be Catholic in large measure, and so you can see why the APA
was resisting Catholicism. Now, if you asked them, they would say that they had no quarrel
with Catholicism, per se, they just couldn’t handle the fact that with many Irish Catholics
being voted into office, the Catholic Church was clearly planning a hostile takeover of America.
But it wasn’t only nativists who opposed immigrants, it was also labor unions. At
the end of the day, labor unions feared this huge influx of immigrants precisely because
they were desperate for work and would therefore agree to be hired for meager wages. Union leaders
in particular worried that immigrants would undermine their ability to negotiate with
manufacturers, because if the union decided to strike, then manufacturers could just
fire all the unionized workers and replace them with underpaid immigrants.
But it wasn’t only labor unions that opposed immigrants, so did the thinky-thinky
people. Owing to the growing popularity of a pseudoscientific idea called Social Darwinism,
immigrants had to bear the brunt of philosophical racism too. Now,
proponents of Social Darwinism applied biological Darwinism to societal realities. In nature,
they argued, the strong eat the weak and only the fittest survive. Why wouldn’t that also apply to
culture as well? And so Social Darwinists believed that immigrants, especially Irish immigrants,
were racially inferior to the true standard of American whiteness, and that if they were allowed
to intermingle with our American ladies, then the gene pool would be forever degraded. Now, as I’ve
mentioned before, this is kind of an astonishing theory because the Irish immigrants showing up to
America were, in fact, white. But under the auspices of this kind of thinking, Social
Darwinists actually came to believe that the Irish were in fact a different race altogether.
Now those were the responses people had to immigrants mainly on the east coast,
but the immigrants on the West coast were treated with utmost dignity and honor.
Wouldn’t that be hilarious if that’s how it went? No, it was the same in the west.
Now remember that on the west coast, the bulk of immigrants arriving there were from Asia,
and no small portion of those people were Chinese. By 1852 something like
20,000 Chinese were living in California, for example. By 1870, it was over 50,000.
Chinese immigrants were responsible for the lion’s share of the work done on the
transcontinental railroad and others largely took up jobs that no one else was willing to do anyway.
Even so, Chinese immigrants experienced the same kind of hostility from nativists that
we talked about earlier. When the Panic of 1873 hit, Californian nativists blamed their
economic troubles on the Chinese because since they were willing to work for such low wages,
that, they argued, depressed wages for everyone else. And so the nativists got to work and
one of their crowning achievements against the Chinese was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.
This law banned any further Chinese immigration to the United States. Like,
all of it. And this act represents the only law in U.S. History to target a specific nationality to
be excluded from immigration. So, you know, not one of our prouder moments in American history.
However, even with all the bleakness I just mentioned, there was a little light with respect
to immigrants, and now is where I introduce you to Jane Addams. She could see that the immigrants
streaming in to Chicago were suffering, and therefore she sought to do something about
it. Addams’s solution was the establishment of settlement houses, the most famous of which was
the Hull House which she opened in 1889. The purpose of these settlement houses were to
help immigrants better assimilate to American society so they could find better economic and
social opportunities. In the settlement houses immigrants were taught English and their children
were enrolled in early childhood education programs. Immigrants were taught democratic
ideals and given opportunities to attend recreational outings in, for example, theaters.
So the point of all of this basically comes down to this: immigrants had it hard during the
Gilded Age, and many people worked against their inclusion in American society. But
folks like Jane Addams softened the nativist blow and helped them get on their feet.
Okay, that’s what you need to know about Unit 6 Topic 9 of the AP U.S. History
Curriculum. If you need help getting an A in your class and five on your exam in May,
and want me to keep making them, then let me know by subscribing. Heimler out.
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