Westward Migration, Industry, Immigration and Urbanization in American History, 1865 - 1920

After the Civil War, many Americans moved West, and new states were added to the Union. People moved to the West with the railroads in order to pursue prosperity in farming, mining, ranching, and in business. Cheap land, mining prospects, and the opportunity to start again after the Civil War were motivators for many Americans, including “Exodusters” and ex-Confederates.

After the Civil War came to an end, the long process of Reconstruction began. For many Americans eager to remake their lives, the West offered opportunities which did not exist in the South or in emerging Northern cities.

Cattle Trails – The Open Range

Although it is a major part of Americans share history, in fact, the open range did not persist for very long. As railroads made there way to the West, it became profitable to drive large herds of cattle out of Texas to the so-called cowtowns of the Midwest. Huge profits were made by ranchers, but the cowboys themselves rarely profited. By the 1890s, drought, blizzards, and barbed wire had reduced the size of the herds and made the cattle drive too difficult to be prosperous.

The Homestead Act of 1862

The Homestead Act of 1862 offered 160 acres of land to anyone who would “improve” the region by establishing a farm, herding animals, or constructing houses, barns, or businesses. Middle class and poor Americans took up the government on its offer and settled the West. Immigrants poured onto the Great Plains, as well, making the land produce. Homesteaders played a major role in the settlement of the West.

Resources like lumber were scarce on the Great Plains, and making the land produce was difficult work. Many families started off living in sod houses – like the one pictured above. If they made it five years, though, all the land was their own.

Railroads and Mechanization

Farmers on the Great Plains used mechanized labor in order to increase the size of their crops dramatically. Tools to sow, irrigate, harvest and sort crops rapidly allowed farmers to plant vast regions of the Great Plains, and the railroads allowed them to get their crops to market much faster. The productivity of “bonanza” farmers was astonishing during the late 19th Century and early 20th Century.

Farmers planting large acreage with the use of mechanized agricultural products could grow huge crops. But they were dependent upon the railroads to move their products to market, and often, they bought goods and storage space from the railroads, too.

Broken Treaties and Violence Robbed Native Americans Native Americans were removed from the West through violent force and broken treaties. By the year 1890, almost all Native American tribes had been confined to reservations. Major battles took place in Dakota Territory and throughout the West, resulting in the confinement of tribes to the least productive land in the area.

By the year 1890, Americans had used dishonest treaties and brutal violence to place almost all Native American tribes onto reservations.

Old Immigrants VS. New ImmigrantsOld Immigrants were generally from Northern and Western Europe, and might be described by the old acronym WASP: White, Anglo-Saxon Protestants. The majority of Old Immigrants came from regions in Germany, Scandinavia, and Ireland, were familiar with the English language – if not fluent – and practiced the Christian faith. All but the Irish were Protestant.

Old Immigrant came from Northern and Western Europe, and they rarely encountered problems with assimilation into the United States. Most “Old Immigrants” came from England, Holland , Belgium, or Scandinavia.

New ImmigrantsNew Immigrants generally came from Southern and Eastern Europe. Many were Catholic, Jewish, or of an Orthodox religious faith. Often, they spoke languages which could not be represented with the same alphabet: Greek, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, or Hebrew, for example. The religious denominations of the “New Immigrants” was diverse, as well.

Immigrants were the Backbone of The United States Workforce.

Although frequently targeted for criticism by union leaders for accepting low wages and driving down the price of wages, Immigrants who came to the United States were often the backbone of the nation’s workforce. Projects like the Erie Canal, the Transcontinental Railroad, or the development of industries in coal and steel would not have been possible were it not for immigrant laborers.

Ellis Island & The Statue of LibertyMost European immigrants to the United States entered the nation by sailing to the port of entry at New York City. They were processed at an immigration station in New York Harbor – Ellis Island. Many would pass by the Statue of Liberty, which was put up in 1886.

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fameWith conquering limbs astride from land to land;Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall standA mighty woman with a torch, whose flameIs the imprisoned lightning, and her nameMother of Exiles. From her beacon-handGlows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame,"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries sheWith silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

by Emma Lazarus, New York City, 1883

The United States encouraged Assimilation with Schools and the so-called “Melting Pot.”

Not everyone who came to the United States wanted to stay forever and “become American.” However there were strong social pressures towards assimilation: pressure to speak English, adopt American ways of life, and participate in the civic community. Public schools taught the children of immigrants to “become more American.”

Unions Opposed Immigrant LaborBecause poor immigrants were willing to accept the first job they could find – even if the job was for long hours and low wages in dangerous working conditions – many labor unions sought to end immigration from other nations. The California Workingman’s Party, for example, sought to restrict immigration from China with the Exclusion Act of 1882.

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 forbid any immigration to the United States of America from China. The rule was enforced strictly, and the United States Congress renewed the law on several occasions. Similar laws slowed down or prevented immigration from Japan and the Philippines.

Chinese immigrants were feared for their influence in the West; meanwhile, in the East, anti-Irish sentiment was just as strong.

Immigration Act of 1921 Restricted Immigration and Set QuotasThe Emergency Immigration Act of 1921 restricted immigration to the United States from certain countries. “New Immigrants” access to the County was cut back; meanwhile, “Old Immigrants” were allowed to come in slightly larger numbers.

As Urbanization Occurred, Immigrants live in Slums and Tenements. Because most immigrants came to the United States seeking economic opportunities, they started of relatively poor. To save money for the future, taking residence in the poorest sections of town – the slums – and living in overcrowded buildings – or tenement – was a common path.

Jacob Riis was a photo-essayist who’s muckraking journalism focused on the plight of the poor. In tenements across all major American cities, the poor lived in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions.

Cities create sewage systems, public services, and transportation Systems. As cities began to grow and change, major innovations took place. Sewage systems were created to clean up the public streets. Trash collection was managed by the cities to improve sanitation. Police, fire fighters, and ambulance services became much better organized. And public transportation became more common as well.

Transportation Systems

Electric Trolley Car – Richmond, VA Brooklyn Bridge