Read the article posted below (two formats available):http://www.vanells.com/125-22.pdf (with images, PDF requires Adobe Acrobat)
http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:vJ8_Q9ffkMgJ:www.vanells.com/125-22.pdf+gilded+age+and+immigration,+disease&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=us(HTML/ will work on any computer)
(NOTE: You read pages 3-5 in class on a long handout Friday)
AND Chapter One of Jacub Riis' How the Other Half Lives:
A) Discuss how health, sanitation and scientific theory affected the lives of "old immigrants" in the Gilded Age.
B) Consider Riis' arguments for social reform and Herbert Spencer's theory of Social Darwinism.
In your opinion, was the government responsible for the health and safety of immigrant communities at the turn of the 20th Century?
In your opinion, was the government responsible for the health and safety of immigrant communities at the turn of the 20th Century?
Should undocumented (alien) immigrants recieve social services in modern US society?
How do your opinions on these issues relate to the Riis and Spencer's ?
12 comments:
Janell McBean
F-Block
[I already read and answered each question from the blog of February 7th that you posted]
[3b] The Underside of Urban Life.
1. Life in an early-20th-century tenement was not the greatest since there wasn't enough space for these immigrants in their tenement houses. No space, meaning there is less air to breath in; making life harder than what it is.
2. Dumbbell tenement - a house that was structured to look thinner in the center than on its extremes to allow light to enter the building, no matter how tightly packed the tenements may be. However, the "vents" were often filled with garbage. The air that managed to penetrate also allowed a fire to spread from one tenement to the next more easily.
3. Some factors that contributed to the stench of most American cites was from old sewage pipes dumped the waste directly into the rivers or bays. The rivers were often the very same used as water sources. Trash collection had not yet been systemized. Trash was dumped in the streets and/or in the waterways. Those problem have been solved with better sewers, water purification, and trash removal. These good changes happened once the 20th-century came along but the cities were far from sanitary.
[3d] Corruption Runs Wild.
1. The political machine of Gilded Age cities was that bosses knew they also had to placate big business other than only keeping his constituents happy, and did so by rewarding them with lucrative contracts for construction of factories or public works. These industries would then pump large sums into keeping the political machine in office. "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." Was the quote followed by that. However, bringing diverse interests together in a city as large as New York, Philadelphia, or Chicago required hours of legwork and great political skill. The problem
2. Political bosses appealled to immigrant populations because for example the most notorious political boss of the age was William "Boss" Tweed of New York's Tammany Hall. For twelve years, Tweed ruled New York. He gave generously to the poor and authorized the handouts of Christmas turkeys and winter coal to prospective supporters. In the process he fleeced the public out of millions of taxpayer money, which went into the coffers of Tweed and his associates. Immigrants looked highly at those people who did this for them. Many bosses were doing this all over since it made them look very good at their work. This is why bosses were so appealing to immigrants.
3. The legitimate and illegal sides of the political machine was that many political machines broke their own laws to suit their purposes. As contracts were awarded to legal business entities, they were likewise awarded to illegal gambling and prostitution rings. Often profits from these unlawful enterprises lined the pockets of city officials. Public tax money and bribes from the business sector increased the bank accounts of these corrupt leaders. Voter fraud was widespread. There was much more and this did not make the political machine look good at all.
Saman mahmood
F-block
Us History
Post #2
1- A)During the 20th century, there wasn’t enough space in the urban cites for the immigration, that lead to unsanitary living spaces. also made it easier for diseases to spread more quickly. This made life a lot harder, to live. Also people who we would call” white” today, were the victims at the time of racism. They were different parts of Europe, and all had different characters & tares. These Attitudes towards race and ethnicity would affect our social policy and legislation, and sometimes to led to violence. But most importantly it effect the future .the thing that makes me the most mad is that when we are all immigrants., what makes you better then others. The emgers of “social sciences” which was later proved to be a fake sciences.( sciences likes these which like the ones made up by people like Hitler and Nazi army) a lot of the racism first begin of theses theories, and fake made governments believes this as well. It all began with Social Darwinism is the application of Charles biological theory of evolution to the study of human affairs. Many scientist even today still believe on this theory , but it still remains a controversial issue. Social dawns were the ones who, made up the survival of the fittest. They believes the certain races, were better than to ours.
B)In my opinion the government wasn’t responsible for the health and safety of immigrants communities at the turn of the 20th century. The government did ask these people to come here, they came them selves. I believe that if u are able to work, then there no need to be poor. The only time I feel bad for the poor is when they have tried everything and have no choice because there is no work out there. The only thing I believe the government could have done is make more jobs available for them. The only thing the government could have done was protect them when they wearing going 2 get attacked .com But when they came into this country does that automatically make them citizens of our country?
C) The Undocumented immigrants shouldn’t be allowed to get social services in the our modern US Society, because what proof do these people have? My opinion doesn’t really relate to Riis and Spencer’s.
At the beginning of the 20th century immigrants poured into america. Many these immigrants had small amounts of money and many barley knew how to speak english. Many immigrants moved to big cities and lived in unsanatray condotins and familes were squeezed into one room apartments. Many immgrants lived in one room appartments, many complanned about the smell from the apratments had this was cause from garbage being tossed into the air vents. Another problem of cities of the early 1900's were horrbile smell of the cities this was caused by waste being pumped into the cites rivers.
I think that the government was not respbile of immgrants safty and health. Many immgrants lived in much worse condiotns before they came to america. Many immgrants were unemployed for a some because they did not know how to speak engilsh. That is not the goverments prolem. But the government did over look the safety of workers in factoies which many immgrants worked and died in.
Undocumented immigrants shouldn’t be allowed to get social services because they are not a legel citzen of america. Why should someobe that government doesn't know about get the benfitts of a citzen my opinion isnt even close to Riis and Spencer’s opiaon.
During the Gilded Age immigration flourished. With all of the immigrants coming to America, there were many effects that came with it. Becuase of the increase, there was not much room for housing, competition for jobs with low wages, and over population.
The lives of immigrants were affected by scientific theory, health and sanitation. The scientific theory took characteristics of differnt nationalities, and used those traits to decide who had superiority over the other. Health was important to the immigrants, but many did not have sufficent health care, becuase they coudl not afford it with the little money they had, thatthey needed to support their families with.
The government was defientyl repsonsible for the health and safety of the immigrants to a certain extent. Since not everyone is legal, it is not fair that those who were not elgal recive the same benefits than those who were legal. Since the immigrants were living and residing in the America, America in a way is responsible for them. Obviously those who were illegal should not recieve as many benefits as those who are legal, they should recieve minimal benefits, to ensure that they are safe and healthy under the watch of the United States.
Kristina Sanzone*
A Block
Feb 10th, 2008
Responding to Samantha’s post, I feel the same way. The government should be responsible for its citizens and should be able to take care of their health and safety. Better health care is a main issue for the immigrants. Knowing this, the government should have taken it into careful consideration and made a facility for them to go to. When they came to America, they were not given a safe environment or health care as they were promised. Also, since racism was a massive problem in the early nineteen hundreds violence broke out between different ethnic groups. This became a problem for the immigrants. “Attitudes toward race and ethnicity would affect social policy and legislation, and sometimes to led to violence.” It affected their safety because they were leaving their country and entering American where they thought all is good. However, with the constant violence between the diverse groups this thought was not reality. Also, once they got here, disease spread quickly and no one benefited from this. Since this was affecting the naturally born American citizens as well, they no longer wanted these immigrants allowed access into their country. In result, many anti-immigration leagues began to form and take action. Not only did these immigrants have to live in small houses with many other people, get paid barely anything, and work extremely hard, but also now they had to fear these terrible people would kill them. In my opinion, due to the extreme competition for power in our country today, there are issues that are needed to take a stand for in order to succeed. I agree with Riis and Spencer. However, if immigrants can not afford to live in America, than I feel that the government should have ways to help them get on their feet to begin to understand the life of America and then they can make enough money to stay. However, forcing them out is not the best thing to do.
Health and sanitation affected the lives of "old immigrants" in the gilded age greatly.I agree with Sanzone when she says that the immigrants were not able to have a sanitary place to come into. Also when she said that racism was a major issue during this time. Many people were discriminating against different races, which created more commotion and problems during the time. This also made it harder on the immigrants, which is why they were treated in unsanitary conditions. During the gilded age there was also much competition. Jobs, housing all these things were difficult. Places were getting overpopulated as well which was another cause for the unsanitary conditions. Many of the immigrants did not have sufficient money in order to care for themselves, which is why health care was a problem. The government is responsible for the health and safety of immigrant communities. Its the governments responsibility to ensure that they have proper health care and they are not going to get sick in the country and contaminate the others residing in the area. Even if the government did not feel that they should provide them with health care, its their job to care for the people, no matter what. The government should of made things more available to them. They come here to recieve a better life, but instead people make it harder for them to get the things they need in order to live.
T-Rez
Health Sanitation and scientific theory affected the lives of old immigrants in the gilded age. During the age of mechanization, older immigrants were running out of jobs. They were unskilled making them unfit for the duty. With all the immigrants coming in, health and sanitization were also a factor. The streets were overpopulated and with many immigrants with out jobs, poverty came into effect. From poverty, poor sanitation also appeared making disease spread like wildfire.
The government should not have been responsible for the safety of the immigrants because of social dwarnism. The “survival of the fittest” theory comes into effect as of this moment and would contradict what is going on. Since people are earning wealth based on how determined they are, it would only be fair for the lazy to gain nothing due to their lack of wanting to act upon the opportunity.
In my opinion alien immigrants should receive benefits because if they are brave enough to journey over and determined enough to want something for themselves over here they should be granted benefits. Like “survival of the fittest” they worked harder than other so they should receive better benefits, if not, some benefits at least.
tarina Meaders
f block
2/11/08
With the boom of big business came the arrival of thousands of immigrants and their many troubles. Health is always a main concern in peoples lives, especially those who are commuting to a new home. Most times immigrants were often labeled with the thought of being unhealthy and thought to have carried many faal diseases. Also, since immigrants didn't have the priviledge of making large amounts of money sicknesses must have been at an all time high. Without medicine or special care, bacteria was only liable to breed and infect. This factor goes well with sanitation. Unfortunately, immigrants had opportunities to start anew in the U.S. but they weren't given a 'fresh start'. Tenements were a lifestyle known all to well by an immigrant. It's small, cramped quarters were not the easiest to keep clean with a large family. Being tidy takes time and with everyone in an immigrant family working hard, no ones around to make sure things are neat and sanitary for the family...maids were out of the question. Social Sciences only added to the chaos of the tiresome life of an immigrant. These theories caused people to have a rationale for racism, and only complicated the possible success for a struggling immigrant. The discrimination of others nationalities adopted a name and a few bodies to give it a concept. Typically, Northern Europeans were considered the most noble and superior because they carried traits of the survivor Social Darwinists preached of. With all of the ignorance floating around that day and age, things weren't guaranteed to get easier for a group of people new to this land and who were so very different from the majority. Because most people fear what they don't know, this cause immigrants to be abused, cheated, and thought less of by almost everyone they were expected to prosper around.
The government isn't fully responsible for the downfall of certain communities and people, but that doesnt mean they can't help. If a government happily takes control in most areas, why not be just as eager to step in when things are getting difficult and crazy. I think that immigrants should recieve social security services in todays world, if they legally gained citizenship, thats wat they deserve.
During the time of the gilded age in the twentieth century there was a wave of immigrants came to America. Most did not have enough money to support themselves in America, or knew how to speak English. Most immigrants migrated to the city and would live in anything that they could afford even if it meant living in a house with strangers. The immigrants would pollute the apartments and make it almost impossible to live a healthy life.
I feel like the government is responsible for their safety, because if the government lets these immigrants into the country than they should be able to provide them with a safe life. If the government was not able to give the immigrants safety than there should either be warnings about how life would be tough , and give them a choice to stay or go, or the government should not have let the immigrants in America.
Immigrants who were undocumented should not be able to get social service just because of the fact that they most likely snuck into America, and are not legal. If you break the law and sneak into the country you should not be expecting to get the same treatment as everybody else, because technically you are a criminal and should be in jail.
-Mike Orr
Kevin Zhao
(Why is Janell, Saman, and Tarina in our blog?)
During the Gilded Age, it was known as a peak of immigration. Scientific theory has just developed in "Germs". Therefore, our "old immigrants" cared less about their sanitation. However, to modern society, the lives of the "old immigrants" were horrible in terms of sanitation (not to mention wages.) Immigrant's health were taken into a huge caution. If there were any sort of diseases or problems with the immigrant, they were sent back to their homeland.
Herbert Spencer's theory of Social Darwinism. This theory influenced most Americans during the Gilded Age. This theory basically states that: those animals unable to compete with others for food and mating partners would perish. This ideal affected the immigrants widely. Social Darwinists believed that some races of people were superior or inferior over others. For example, respected/famous scientists ranked European scientist as most intelligent. Following the Europeans were Asians, Native Americans, and then African-Americans.
The U.S government should take responsibility of the health of the immigrants. However, due to the amount of immigrants, there was no way that every immigrant could have been attended to. Even today, our country struggles with Universal Health Care.
Short Response to Mike:
Theres no way that the government can ensure the immigrants that they can provide health care. But I do in fact agree that they should at least take some form of responsibility. But on the other hand, it IS the gilded age. People cared more about money than anything else. So the doctor's probably wanted money more than charitable health care. Right?
1. During the Gilded Age, sanitary conditions weere nonexistent and health was no issue. Since Theodore Roosevelt didn't establish the FDA yet, everything that was put in food went unchecked. Water pollution and abandoned children were also a major issue. There were small living spaces and people getting sick everywhere. Poor sewage and garbage disposal also led to the bad name of the Gilded Age.
2. In my opinion, the Government should have been more responsible for the health and safety of the immigrant communities. They came to the Americas for new opportunities and the did get it but they were seen as inferior. I believe that if they are working to keep America up and running, their health should have been looked after. i agree with samanzie when she said The government did ask these people to come here, they came them selves. Say if someone was working for you, dont you think they would deserve better living conditions. Mike said Many immgrants lived in much worse condions before they came to america. Just because they didnt have good conditions in their own country doesn't mean that we should give them as little as possible. If you are willing to work you deserve to be taken care of
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