Chinese Exclusion Act
A federal law passed in 1882 that prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers to the United States. It was the first significant legislation restricting immigration based on ethnicity or nationality.
Ghettos
Urban neighborhoods predominantly occupied by one ethnic or racial group, often characterized by poverty and substandard living conditions. During this era, many immigrants lived in ghettos.
Mutual Aid Societies
Organizations formed by immigrants and minority groups to provide support to their members, including financial assistance, insurance, and social services, during times of need.
Nativism
A political and social movement favoring the interests of established inhabitants over those of immigrants. It often involved opposition to immigration and a preference for native-born individuals.
Eugenics
A movement aimed at improving the genetic composition of the human race through selective breeding and sterilization. It was often used to justify discriminatory practices and policies.
Melting Pot
A metaphor for a society in which different cultures and ethnicities blend together to form a unified national identity. It suggests the assimilation of immigrants into mainstream culture.
Skyscrapers
Tall, multi-story buildings made possible by advances in steel construction and elevators. These structures became symbols of urban growth and economic power in American cities.
Tenements
Overcrowded and poorly maintained apartment buildings where many urban working-class families, including immigrants, lived during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Sweatshops
Factories or workshops, often in the garment industry, where workers were employed at very low wages for long hours under poor conditions.
Triangle Shirtwaist Company
The site of a tragic factory fire in 1911 in New York City that resulted in the deaths of 146 garment workers, highlighting the need for improved industrial safety standards.
Political Machine
A political organization led by a boss or small group that commands enough votes to maintain political and administrative control of a city, often through patronage and corruption.
Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act
Enacted in 1883, this law established a merit-based system for federal employment, aiming to reduce corruption by making government jobs accessible based on qualifications rather than political connections.
Settlement Houses
Institutions in urban areas that provided educational, recreational, and other social services to immigrants and the poor. Notable examples include Hull House, founded by Jane Addams in Chicago.