Photo Analysis:
I chose the photo of the family looking out into the statue of Liberty because the photo is of a family of immigrants that just came over from their foreign country into the United States. They are most likely looking out from Ellis Island, where all immigrants would be inspected upon coming over. It is a fantastic picture that demonstrates the pure symbol of oppertunity.
Political Theme: Ellis Island
Ellis Island is an island in the New York Harbor and became the gateway for Immigrants traveling to the United States. Ellis Island was the biggest immigration inspection agency between the years 1892-1954. In the 35 years before Ellis Island opened, immigrants coming over to the United States had been examined by New York State Officials. The first federal immigrant inspection station was a three-story tall structure containing all of the amentities that were thought to be necessary. By the time Ellis Island closed in 1954 it had processed more than 12,000,000 Americans.
Economic Theme: Immigration makes $ in United States
During the 1800's and 1900's citizens were fleeing their homes that resided all over Europe. The Italians were fleeing poverty, Jews were escaping economic and political oppression, and other countries were fleaing famine. Immigrants became fond of escaping the disruption in there homeland due to the money they felt they could make in the United States. The United States became a safe heaven for men that needed to raise money to support there familys. Immigrants began to obtain difficult jobs in the States upon coming over.
Social Theme: Pollution disease in the Cities
Diseases amounted for many deaths in urben areas during the Industrial Revolution. With people lacking hygene, and no knowledge of what caused diseases, diseases such as typhoid, cholera, and typhus became quite fatal. The problem obviously increased as the population increased. Cholera was caused by contaminated water and typhus is carried by lice. Smallpox was a fatal disease as well as tuberculosis.
How did Industriaization/Immigration lead to Progressivism?
Industrialization and Urbanization in the United States led to the Progressive Movement. The Movement was a response to political and corporate abuses at the turn of the Twentieth Century. Immigration accelerated between 1890-1920, with over 18,000,000 immigrants coming to the United States. From 1960 the population in urben areas began to rapidly increase.