Industrial Age

The first Industrial Revolution in America began in the early 1800's. It changed the way products were made, from handwork to machines. It moved the workplace from cottages to factories. Later, it brought advances in transportation and communication. The Second Industrial Revolution built on these changes, introducing new technology and new sources of power.

How did industrialization and immigration change the face of American life?

Limiting Immigration

In the early 20th century, the immigration debate began. Many people felt immigration should be limited; others felt it should open to all.

Argument in favor of limiting immigration:

• Immigration needs to be limited so the people already in America can become "pure" Americans.

• Only immigrants who fit in and can contribute to the American character should be allowed to immigrate.

Argument against limiting immigration:

• America is a melting pot, where all races from all countries come together and melt into Americans.

• America gives everyone a fresh start, and every person deserves the opportunity for that fresh start.

Should immigration be limited? Explain

Chinese Exclusion

The Chinese Exclusion Act, the law that was made in 1882 was meant to control people from China living and working in the U.S. How do you feel about that law? Is it fair or unfair? Why?

Ellis Island

Ellis Island was often referred to as the "Gateway to the New World" because people were ushered from place to place until they exited a gate that would allow them access to America. The process of checking the immigrants was to make sure that each individual passed tests before being allowed to enter America. As many as one out of five immigrants did not pass the tests and were denied access to America. These people were returned to their homelands. If a person was sick and could possibly infect others, was suffering from mental illness, or was thought to be a criminal; the immigrant would be detained, eventually returned to the boat, and then returned to his or her homeland.

1.     What is your opinion of the immigrant testing process? Is it fair or unfair? Explain.
2.     Explain the purpose of the process.
3.     What modern ideas about immigration can you compare it to? Explain 

The Great Migration

As African Americans looked to the North for hope, Northern industries looked to the South for help. Railroad companies came to the South to find workers. They bought train tickets for African Americans willing to travel north for jobs. They promised black workers better jobs, better pay, and better lives.

         1.How was the Great Migration a result of Reconstruction?
  2. Do you think white southerners understand why African American were leaving the South?

15th Amendment

The success of Congressional Reconstruction was short-lived. By the early 1900s,
Southern states had found new ways to rob African Americans of basic rights. It was
not until the 1960s that African Americans in the South would get to exercise their
full rights as U.S. citizens.

Why was the success of Congressional Reconstruction short lived?

Explain why it took nearly 100 years for African Americans to be able to exercise the rights they gained?

13th Amendment

Abraham Lincoln was opposed to slavery. He believed it to be morally wrong. He pointed to the
Declaration of Independence as proof that America was a nation where all men should be equal. But
Lincoln’s main goal in the Civil War was not to end slavery. He wanted to bring America back
together. He believed that someday slavery would fade away on its own.
By 1862, Lincoln had changed his mind. He was ready to free the slaves. On September 22, 1862,
Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. It promised that on January 1, 1863, all slaves in the
Confederacy would be freed.

1.    What choice would you have made in Lincoln's place? Explain you decision.

2.    What is your opinion of the 13^th Amendment? Explain you answer.

War: Good for Business

Before President Woodrow Wilson made his war request to Congress, a member of the New York Stock Exchange wrote a letter in favor of the United States entering the war, saying it would be good for business.

Do you believe that war’s effect on business is ever taken into consideration when deciding to fight? Who might benefit from the business of war? Explain. Who might lose? Explain.  

Support or Silence

Although many Americans supported the United States involvement in World War I, there were some who were against sending young men to die in a war in another country. President Wilson did everything he could to gain support for the war and keep its opponents quiet. To gain this support, he had films , posters, and booklets made to show that " Great War" was being fought between the sides of good and evil. He had his opponents silenced with his use of emergency war powers.
Do you think his methods are helpful or harmful to Americans at home and fighting in the war? Explain

Minding Our Own Business

When World War One started in 1914, most Americans wanted no part in the war. Neutralism- a policy to not get involved with either side of a dispute- was an important part of United States foreign policy ( how we deal with and treat other countries) at the time. We took care of business in our own hemisphere, period. The United States eventual entry into the war forever changed our foreign policy. We were no longer a country that minded it's own business; we were a world power that looked out for the rest of the world.
What is your opinion of the policy of neutralism? Do you think the United States should go back to that policy? How do you feel about this policy in your personal life? When should you mind your own business?

The United States and Latin America

You are an engineer, and you’ve been working on the Panama Canal for almost eight years. Your work crews used huge steam shovels to slice through a ridge of mountains and built a huge artificial lake. You planned a system to move ships through different water levels. Now your work is done. You can watch massive ships travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Which part of the work on the canal
was the most challenging?

The Rights of Women and Minorities

You are a member of the graduating class of 1912 from an excellent women’s college. You have always been interested in science, especially biology. You would like to be a doctor, but you know that medical schools accept very few women. One career path for you is to go into social work. Yet that’s not what you really want to do.
How would you want to use your education?

Social Reform

You have been working in a hat factory since 1900, when you were eight years old. Now you are experienced enough to run one of the sewing machines. You don’t earn as much as older workers, but your family needs every penny you bring home. Still, the long hours make you very tired. One day you hear that people are trying to stop children from doing factory work. They think that children should be at school or playing.

Would you be for or against this social reform? Why?

Immigration Restrictions

Throughout history, Congress has passed laws to restrict immigration. Sometimes these laws were aimed at specific countries, like the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which barred Chinese laborers from entering the United States for 10 years. Others were aimed at entire regions, such as the Johnson-Reed Immigration Act of 1924, which limited immigration from Europe. Others were aimed at classes of people, such as an 1882 immigration act that barred entry to criminals, paupers, and the mentally ill, among others.

Questions to think about:

1. Why do you think Congress passed some of these restriction acts? 
2. Rate the effectiveness of these acts? (1-5, 1 Worst, 5 Best) Explain your rating.
3. Should anyone who wants to live in the United States be able to live here, or should there be some restrictions on immigration? Defend your thinking. If you believe there should be restrictions, explain what they should be.