During the time between the late 1800's and the early 1900’s the Industrial society emerges in the US. Industrialization was the process of a shift from an agricultural to urban society marked by the increasing presence of factories and the growth of cities. Millions of Americans flocked to cities in the post–Civil War era. By the 1900's, 40 % of Americans lived in urban areas which was an increase of 20% percent in less than 30 years.
The original inhabitant of America, were the Native Americans. The colonists and African slaves represent the first wave of immigrants in America. In the third wave of immigration populations increased in major cities causing the cities to grow or urbanization. Immigrants went to cities rather than the rural areas because industrialization created many factories that needed labors meaning more jobs in the cities. More than 1 million immigrants came from China and war-torn regions of Europe, such as Italy, Greece, Poland, and Russia. This new group of immigrants was considered poorer and less educated than the immigrants who had made the journey earlier during the second wave who were mostly Irish and German immigrants considered ‘Old Immigrants.
The original inhabitant of America, were the Native Americans. The colonists and African slaves represent the first wave of immigrants in America. In the third wave of immigration populations increased in major cities causing the cities to grow or urbanization. Immigrants went to cities rather than the rural areas because industrialization created many factories that needed labors meaning more jobs in the cities. More than 1 million immigrants came from China and war-torn regions of Europe, such as Italy, Greece, Poland, and Russia. This new group of immigrants was considered poorer and less educated than the immigrants who had made the journey earlier during the second wave who were mostly Irish and German immigrants considered ‘Old Immigrants.
Many immigrants could barely make a living, working as unskilled laborers in factories or packinghouses for low wages. Chinese immigrants working in the mines and on the railroads were singled out by unions. Nativists like the American Protective Association and Unions pressed Congress to pass the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. The main reason for the passing of this act and others limiting immigration to America was nativism, or the political position of demanding a favored status for ‘old immigrants’ over of newcomers or immigrants.
Immigrants faced a culture shock or had difficulty adjusting to life in the cities in America because they did not speak the language and were not prepared for the difficult life in the city. Immigrants in America adopted the culture by learning English, going to school, working, and becoming citizens. This represents the idea of America as a melting pot because immigrants from different cultures adopt US culture to become American. Today America is known for its cultural pluralism because we have a strong dominant American culture, but other distinct culture groups remain.
Immigrants faced a culture shock or had difficulty adjusting to life in the cities in America because they did not speak the language and were not prepared for the difficult life in the city. Immigrants in America adopted the culture by learning English, going to school, working, and becoming citizens. This represents the idea of America as a melting pot because immigrants from different cultures adopt US culture to become American. Today America is known for its cultural pluralism because we have a strong dominant American culture, but other distinct culture groups remain.