Chapter 7

The Transformation of American

Society
 Section One: The New
Immigrants
» Old immigrants were mostly protestant
and from North-West Europe
» Most new immigrants were from
Southern or Eastern Europe
» Traveled in poor conditions (steerage)
» They arrived at either Ellis Island (East
Coast) or Angel Island (West Coast)
» They were inspected by officials and
then given a physical exam
» Benevolent Societies- aid organizations
that helped immigrants in cases of
sickness, unemployment, or death
 Section One Continued
» Nativists- Many native born Americans saw
immigrants as the source of problems
» Denis Kearny- Irish immigrant, leader of
workingman’s party who incited people to be
violent towards the Chinese
» Chinese Exclusion Act- passed by
congress in 1882, denied citizenship
and prohibited immigration of Chinese
laborers.
» Immigration Restriction League- tried
to impose literacy tests on immigrants
 Section 2: The Urban World
» Skyscrapers- large, multistory building,
steel frames made them possible.
» Elisha Otis- Developed mechanized
elevator.
» Mass tranist- forms of public transport such
as electric trains, subways, etc.
» Suburbs- residential neighborhoods on
edges of city
 Section 2 continued
» Upper Class Life
» Nouveau Riche- a new class of wealthy
people like Carnagie and Rockefeller

» Conspicuous Consumption- spending

wealth freely to show it off
 Section 2 continued
» How the poor lived

» Tenements- poorly built apartments.

Sickness and death were common.
 QuickTime™ and a
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» Settlement Houses- community
service centers in poor neighborhoods,
like Jane Adams Hull House in
Chicago.

» Social Gospel- applying Christian

principles to address social problems.
» The end :]