6.8 Immigration and Migration in the Gilded Age

New Waves of Immigration

The Gilded Age saw massive "New Immigration" from Southern and Eastern Europe (Italians, Poles, Jews, Greeks) alongside continued arrivals from Northern/Western Europe. On the West Coast, Chinese immigrants came seeking work, especially in mining and railroads. Most settled in growing industrial cities, providing cheap labor for factories.

Nativism and Restriction

Rising immigration fueled nativism — fear that immigrants would take jobs, undermine wages, or threaten Protestant culture. Groups like the American Protective Association promoted anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant sentiment. The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) banned Chinese immigration and naturalization, marking the first major federal law restricting immigration by nationality.

Urbanization and Internal Migration

Immigrants and rural Americans, including many African Americans leaving the South, flocked to cities seeking industrial jobs, fueling rapid urbanization. This created ethnic neighborhoods, tenement housing, and demand for social services. Political machines like Tammany Hall gained power by providing jobs and aid to immigrants in exchange for votes.

Key terms

New Immigration

Wave of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe (Italians, Poles, Jews, Greeks) arriving in the late 1800s.

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

First major federal law banning immigration and naturalization based on nationality; targeted Chinese immigrants.

Nativism

Hostility toward immigrants based on fear they would take jobs or undermine American culture.

Political machine

Urban organization (e.g., Tammany Hall) that traded jobs/services for votes, often benefiting immigrants.

Urbanization in the Gilded Age

Rapid city growth driven by immigrant arrivals and internal migration, including African Americans leaving the South.

Try an AP-style question

"New immigrants" after 1880 came mainly from…

1. southern and eastern Europe
2. Africa
3. Latin America
4. northern and western Europe