front 1 Chinese Exclusion Act | back 1 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. |
front 2 Ghettos | back 2 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. |
front 3 Mutual Aid Societies | back 3 Organizations formed by immigrants and minority groups to provide support to their members, including financial assistance, insurance, and social services, during times of need. |
front 4 Nativism | back 4 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. |
front 5 Eugenics | back 5 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. |
front 6 Melting Pot | back 6 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. |
front 7 Skyscrapers | back 7 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. |
front 8 Tenements | back 8 Overcrowded and poorly maintained apartment buildings where many urban working-class families, including immigrants, lived during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. |
front 9 Sweatshops | back 9 Factories or workshops, often in the garment industry, where workers were employed at very low wages for long hours under poor conditions. |
front 10 Triangle Shirtwaist Company | back 10 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. |
front 11 Political Machine | back 11 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. |
front 12 Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act | back 12 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. |
front 13 Settlement Houses | back 13 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. |