1920s urbanization and immigration | Period 7: 1890-1945 | AP US History | Khan Academy;
TLDRThe video explores the significant urbanization of the United States during the Gilded Age, highlighting the shift from rural to city living by 1920. It discusses the economic opportunities in cities for immigrants and African Americans despite harsh working conditions. Women also found new roles in clerical and professional jobs. The era saw a rise in consumerism and leisure activities but also a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan and strict immigration laws favoring Northern and Western Europeans. The video concludes by questioning the evolving definitions of American citizenship leading up to the Great Depression and World War II.
Takeaways
- 🏙️ During the Gilded Age, the U.S. population shifted towards urban living, with 1/3 in cities by 1900, and a majority by 1920.
- 🏭 Cities provided economic opportunities for immigrants and internal migrants, despite dangerous factory jobs and low wages.
- 👩💼 The rise of big corporations created clerical job opportunities for white women, leading to 25% of women working outside the home by the end of the 1920s.
- 👩⚕️ Women began to fill roles in professions like nursing and teaching, with some continuing to work after marriage.
- 🚫 Minority women faced limited job opportunities, often restricted to domestic service or agricultural labor, though some trained for segregated professions.
- 🏠 Mass production techniques in the 1920s lowered consumer goods prices, making appliances and cars affordable for average people.
- 🎉 The post-World War I era saw a shift towards leisure and consumption, with people enjoying theater, amusement parks, and speakeasies.
- 😡 Not everyone welcomed the modern urban lifestyle; fears of radical communism and racial pseudoscience fueled anti-immigrant sentiments.
- 🚫 The Ku Klux Klan resurged in 1915, targeting Jews, Catholics, and African Americans, and gained large memberships in northern and western cities.
- 🗳️ Immigration restrictions in the 1920s, such as the Emergency Quota Act and Immigration Restriction Act, favored Northern and Western Europeans while severely limiting others.
- 🛑 Asians were completely barred from entry, Africans were limited to 1,000 per year, but Mexican immigration remained unrestricted for labor needs.
- 🇺🇸 In 1924, Congress granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans, although they often faced difficulties accessing their rights.
Q & A
What significant demographic shift occurred in the United States during the Gilded Age?
-The population of the United States shifted sharply towards living in urban environments rather than rural areas.
By 1920, what significant milestone was reached in terms of urban living in the United States?
-For the first time, the majority of people in the United States lived in cities.
What drew many people to cities during the early 20th century?
-The wide availability of factory jobs drew many people to cities.
How did the living standards and working conditions in factories compare to previous circumstances for immigrants and African Americans?
-Although factory jobs were dangerous and wages were low, the pay and standard of living were usually an improvement over their previous circumstances.
What new opportunities did the modern industrial city offer to women in the 1920s?
-The rise of big corporations created a need for clerical workers, such as secretaries and typists, roles that white women began to take on.
What percentage of women worked outside the home by the end of the 1920s?
-About 25% of women worked outside the home by the end of the 1920s.
What types of jobs were generally closed to minority women, and what were their options for work outside the home?
-Clerical jobs were generally closed to minority women, who were often limited to domestic service or agricultural labor.
What impact did mass production techniques of the 1920s have on consumer goods?
-Mass production techniques meant that the price of consumer goods dropped, making them more affordable for average people.
How did the cultural atmosphere change in the United States after World War I?
-After World War I, many people embraced a carefree attitude of self-fulfillment through leisure and consumption.
What led to fears of radical communism in the United States after World War I?
-Labor strikes and a series of bombings in 1919, combined with the Russian Revolution, led to fears that radical communists were threatening the country.
How did the Ku Klux Klan change during its resurgence in the 1920s compared to its Reconstruction Era activities?
-During its resurgence in the 1920s, the Klan had large membership numbers in northern and western cities and targeted Jews and Catholics, in addition to African Americans.
What immigration restrictions were implemented in the 1920s in the United States?
-The Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the Immigration Restriction Act of 1924 limited the number of immigrants, favoring those from Northern and Western Europe while severely restricting those from Southern and Eastern Europe, Africa, and completely barring Asians.
What were the implications of the 1924 law granting U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans?
-While the law established that all Native Americans were U.S. citizens, they often had difficulty accessing the rights of citizenship from reservations.
What does the script suggest about the changing definitions of citizenship in the United States during the 1920s?
-The quotas and efforts at defining the racial makeup of the United States indicate that definitions of who was eligible to be part of the American people were influenced by racial and national origin biases, which evolved over time.
Outlines
🏙️ Urbanization and Economic Shifts in the Early 20th Century
During the Gilded Age, the United States saw a significant shift in its population distribution, with an increasing number of people moving to urban areas. By 1900, one-third of the American population lived in cities, drawn by factory jobs. This trend continued, and by 1920, the majority of Americans resided in cities, marking the start of a new modern era. Economic opportunities in cities attracted both international immigrants and internal migrants, including African Americans seeking better lives in the North. Factory jobs, despite being low-paid and dangerous, offered better living standards compared to previous conditions.
👩💼 The Rise of Women's Employment and Clerical Work
The modern industrial city created new opportunities for women, particularly in clerical roles such as secretaries and typists due to the rise of big corporations. By the end of the 1920s, about 25% of women worked outside the home, including in fields like nursing and teaching. However, these clerical jobs were mostly unavailable to minority women, who were often limited to domestic or agricultural work. Some African American women trained in segregated institutions to work in black hospitals.
🏭 Consumer Goods and Leisure in the 1920s
The 1920s saw mass production techniques making consumer goods more affordable, allowing average people to buy appliances and cars. With increased disposable income, people engaged in leisure activities like theater, amusement parks, and speakeasies. This period marked a shift towards a culture of self-fulfillment through leisure and consumption, especially after the conservative Progressive Era and the trauma of World War I.
🇺🇸 Anti-Immigrant Sentiments and 100% Americanism
During World War I, the emphasis on 100% Americanism suppressed dissent against the draft and U.S. involvement in the war. Following the Russian Revolution, labor strikes and bombings in 1919 fueled fears of communist threats. Combined with racial pseudoscience, these fears led to a sense among native-born, white Protestants that the country was becoming less American. The Ku Klux Klan resurged in 1915, targeting Jews, Catholics, and African Americans.
🚫 Immigration Restrictions of the 1920s
In response to fears about immigrants, Congress passed the Emergency Quota Act in 1921, limiting European immigration to 350,000 per year, and further restricted immigration with the Immigration Restriction Act of 1924. These quotas favored Northern and Western Europeans, severely reducing Southern and Eastern European immigrants. African immigrants were limited to 1,000 per year, and Asians were barred entirely. The law did not restrict Mexican immigration, crucial for western farmers. In 1924, Native Americans were granted U.S. citizenship, though they faced challenges in accessing citizenship rights.
🤔 Reflections on Immigration and Citizenship in the 1920s
The immigration quotas and racial definitions of the 1920s highlight who was considered eligible to be part of the American populace. As the narrative moves towards the Great Depression and World War II, the evolving definitions and access to citizenship will continue to be significant themes.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Gilded Age
💡Urbanization
💡Great Migration
💡Clerical Work
💡Mass Production
💡Ku Klux Klan
💡Immigration Quotas
💡100% Americanism
💡Consumer Culture
💡Native American Citizenship
Highlights
During the Gilded Age, the population of the United States began shifting towards urban living.
By 1900, one-third of the American population lived in cities, attracted by factory jobs.
The majority of Americans lived in cities by 1920, marking the start of a new modern era.
Cities offered economic opportunities for international immigrants and internal migrants like African Americans.
Despite low wages and dangerous conditions, factory jobs improved the standard of living for many.
The rise of big corporations created a demand for clerical workers like secretaries and typists.
By the late 1920s, approximately 25% of women worked outside the home.
Women also began to work in 'female professions' such as nursing and teaching.
Clerical jobs were generally not available to minority women, who were limited to domestic service or agricultural labor.
Some African American women trained in segregated institutions for jobs in segregated settings.
Mass production in the 1920s reduced the cost of consumer goods, making appliances and cars affordable.
People had disposable income for leisure activities like theater, amusement parks, and speakeasies.
A carefree attitude emerged post-World War I, focusing on self-fulfillment through leisure and consumption.
Not everyone embraced the new era of diverse city living, leading to social tensions.
The emphasis on 100% Americanism during World War I suppressed dissent and questioned U.S. involvement.
After the Russian Revolution, fears of radical communism and labor strikes arose.
Racial pseudoscience and the Ku Klux Klan's resurgence targeted immigrants and minorities.
New immigration restrictions in the 1920s favored Northern and Western European immigrants.
The Immigration Restriction Act of 1924 heavily limited Southern and Eastern European immigrants and barred Asians.
Mexican immigration was not limited due to the reliance on seasonal labor in the west.
In 1924, Native Americans were declared U.S. citizens, though they faced difficulties accessing citizenship rights.
The immigration laws and racial definitions of the 1920s reflect the evolving concept of American citizenship.
Transcripts
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