RESPONSES to Immigration in the GILDED AGE [APUSH Review Unit 6 Topic 9] Period 6: 1865-1898

Summary

This 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.