Urbanization and City Governance (Immigration, Problems, and Reform)

Notes

📘 Module 4: Immigration & Urbanization 🛬 IMMIGRATION Ellis Island (East Coast Gateway) • Federal immigration station in NYC (1892–1954). • Processed millions of Europeans through medical + legal inspections. • Symbol of opportunity and hardship. Angel Island (West Coast Gateway) • San Francisco Bay immigration station. • Mainly processed Chinese & Japanese immigrants. • Known for long detentions, interrogations, and discriminatory treatment. Nativism • Ideology favoring native‑born Americans. • Rooted in fears of job competition, cultural change, and religion (e.g., anti‑Catholic sentiment). • Fueled political movements and restrictive laws. Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) • First major federal law restricting immigration by nationality. • Banned Chinese laborers; required certificates and documentation. • Renewed in 1892; made permanent in 1902. • Reflected racism, labor tensions, and political pressure from white workers. 🌍 WHY IMMIGRANTS CAME & WHAT THEY FACED Push Factors • Economic collapse, famine, unemployment • Political persecution, war, unstable governments • Environmental disasters, lack of safety Pull Factors • Industrial jobs • Freedom, safety, opportunity • Promise of...