Editor's Choice
How did social reformers aid New Immigrants and alleviate urban problems?
Quick answer:
Social reformers aided New Immigrants and alleviated urban problems during the Progressive Era by advocating for political solutions and providing direct assistance. Muckraking journalists like Jacob Riis exposed poor living conditions, while others like Upton Sinclair highlighted labor exploitation. Organizations such as the YMCA, Salvation Army, and settlement houses offered services like medical care, education, and meals. Progressives also pushed for political reforms, zoning laws, and compulsory education to integrate immigrants and improve urban living conditions.
During the Progressive period from the 1890s-1920s, a huge wave of what were known as the New Immigrants arrived in the United States. Unlike earlier Protestant and northern European immigrants, this group often came from southern and eastern Europe and included large numbers of Catholics and Jews, adding a new level of diversity (and anxiety) to U.S. culture. At this time, there were no restrictions on immigration. People did not even need a passport to come here.
Immigrants crowded into cities such as New York and Chicago. Because there were so many, because there were almost no labor laws, and because they did not know the language or customs of their new country well, the immigrants were often exploited.
Already established Americans became muckraking journalists who did their best to expose the problems facing immigrants. These investigative reporters advocated for political solutions to problems immigrants faced, arguing for labor laws,...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
unions, and stricter zoning and housing regulations. For example, Jacob Riis used photography to expose the deplorable conditions in the tenements of the lower East Side of New York City. He advocated for citizen housing boards which could point out problems and to which absentee property owners would be legally liable. He believed if repairs and improvements were made promptly, immigrants would not have to live in such deplorable conditions. Likewise, through his novelThe Jungle, Upton Sinclair tried to expose the many ways eastern European immigrants were exploited in Chicago. Although the public was far more alarmed about the unsanitary conditions of the meat packing industry depicted in his novel than the plight of exploited immigrants, his book did help propel change.
References
There were attempts by reformers to aid the new immigrants and reduce urban problems. Several things were done to help the new immigrants.
A spirit of reform spread over the country in the late 1800s. Groups formed to help the urban poor, many of whom were immigrants. The YMCA and the Salvation helped the poor by providing services to help these people fulfill their basic needs. Some religious activities, such as bible study groups, were also conducted. The settlement house movement also helped the new immigrants. These groups, led by middle-class people such as Jane Addams, provided medical care, meals, and educational activities for the immigrants. More public schools were created and eventually compulsory school attendance laws were passed. These schools could help immigrant children get an education and learn about the American way of life.
The Progressives tried to deal with some of the urban problems. They tried to bring about political reforms to get more people involved in the political process. They wanted laws passed to make neighborhoods where people lived free from factories being nearby by passing zoning laws. Some people wanted to bring an end to the use of alcohol by banning it. The Progressives tried to take actions to reduce some of the problems that existed in the cities.