SAQs for APUSH Topic 6.8 — Immigration and Migration in the Gilded Age

Ten questions designed to help students review for the annual exame to live permanently in the United States, as well as those who, during the same time period, moved from one part of the country to another.

1. The Gilded Age began shortly before the start of America’s Second Industrial Revolution and ended ten years after the start of the Progressive Era. It also overlapped the Era of Reconstruction. When did the Second Industrial Revolution begin? When did the Progressive Era begin and when did it end? Same question for the Era of Reconstruction.
2. During the Gilded Age, the industrial workforce expanded and became more diverse through internal and international migration; child labor also increased. The ‘international migrants’ (aka immigrants) that came to the United States prior to the Gilded Age are often referred to as the Old Immigrants (Irish and Germans mostly). Name one push and pull factor that helps to explain Irish immigration to America. Same question for German immigration to America. What part of the United States did most of the Irish immigrate to. Same question for the Germans. What did many of the Irish do to earn an income after having immigrated to the United States? Same questions for the Germans.
3. During the Gilded Age, the industrial workforce expanded and became more diverse through internal and international migration; child labor also increased. The ‘international migrants’ (aka immigrants) that came to the United States during the Gilded Age are often referred to as the New Immigrants (Italians, Russians, and Jews mostly). How did the New Immigrants differ from the Old Immigrants in terms of the following: the ability to speak English, the ability to make things that mattered in America, the past experience with democracy, the kind of boat that was used to come to America, and the amount of money in the pocket upon arrival? Last two questions. What percent of the New Immigrants would stay permanently? What percent were “birds of passage?”
4. During the Gilded Age, the industrial workforce expanded and became more diverse through internal and international migration; child labor also increased. One group of immigrants that came to America both before and during the Gilded Age were the Chinese. Name one pull factor that helps to explain Chinese immigration to America. The majority of Chinese who first immigrated to America were young males in search of gold during the California Gold Rush of 1848–1855. What was one historically important thing that many Chinese immigrants worked on after the Gold Rush? Name and briefly describe a law that was passed during the Gilded Age that reflected an anti-Chinese sentiment (aka attitude).
5. During the Gilded Age, the industrial workforce expanded and became more diverse through internal and international migration; child labor also increased. One group of migrants that moved from the South to the North were the Exodusters. Name one famous set of laws (a pull factor) that helps to explain the Exoduster migration to the North (namely, Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma.) Unfulfilled Reconstruction Era promises are often cited as a push factor that helps to explain the Exoduster migration to the North. Name one unfulfilled Reconstruction Era promises that gave the Exodusters reason to move to the North. Last question.
6. During the Gilded Age, the industrial workforce expanded and became more diverse through internal and international migration; child labor also increased. One group of migrants that moved from the South to the North and to the West consisted of white Southern farmers. Name one push factor that helps to explain why so many white Southern farmers moved to the North and to the West during the Gilded Age. Name one famous set of laws (a pull factor) that helps to explain the migration of white Southern farmers to the North and to the West.
7. During the Gilded Age, the industrial workforce expanded and became more diverse through internal and international migration; child labor also increased. Child labor during the Gilded Age often consisted of children from poor immigrant families. The newsboys for example. What was a newsboy? Child labor consisting of the offspring of poor immigrants could also be found in “the street trades, mines, cotton mills, glass bottle production factories, home workshops, and farms. What’s a “street trade?” Lastly, a term that is often used to describes the worst example of immigrant child labor is the term “padrone system.” What was the padrone system” as it relates to child labor during the Gilded Age?
8. During the Gilded Age, cities increasingly attracted immigrants from Asia. What is one group of immigrants from Asia (other than the Chinese) that was attracted to the cities during the Gild Age?
9. During the Gilded Age, migrations westward led to an increase in violent conflict with Native Americans. Name and briefly describe one piece of historical evidence in support of this claim.
10. During the Gilded Age, the population of what animal that once roamed North America in vast herds was decimated?
11. During the Gilded Age, urban neighborhoods based on particular ethnicities, races, and classes provided new cultural opportunities for city dwellers. Name and briefly describe one piece of historical evidence in support of this claim when it comes to the New Immigrants.
12. True or false. The Great Mormon Migration is a good example of migration during the Gilded Age.
13. True or false. The Great Migration is a good example of migration during the Gilded Age?
14. The term “melting pot” is often used when discussing the impact of the New Immigrants. What does this mean?
15. The phrase “helped to fuel consumer culture” is often used when discussing the impact of the New Immigrants. What does this mean?