In the film “New York, New York: Power and the People”, the filmmaker Ric Burns tells the story of the changed that had occurred in New York. According to Ric Burns, over 10 million immigrants came into New York and big changes stared to happened. For example, when the immigrant arrived to New York the emerge of skyscraper began and immigrant were the main constructers of those tall buildings. Of course, with the help of the new arrival technology, steal and electric elevator made the construction of this buildings possible. Also, another big change that occurred because of the arrival of the immigrants was the consolidation of the City. Since people where leaving in crowds they decided to spread, however, most of the jobs were in the Lower …show more content…
This theory is based on that society come together and make agreement. For example, in the film we saw people in the street selling out different goods. So, I sell you peppers and I buy you the pot so that I can cook. This shows that society is coming together in order to bring changes and fulfill the necessities of the city. Also, the construction of the subway is an example of the basic agreement. The society came together and decided that they would need a method of transportation that came take them to their jobs, so they agree to the construction of the subway. Another sociological concept used in the film was Assimilation. Assimilation is when a culturally distinct group within a larger society adapt the language, values, and norms of the whole society. For example, when, Abraham said “We should learn English, we should love America, and we must erase our old house from our heart”. This is showing that in order for him to be successful and began his new life, he must adapt to his environment and perhaps millions of immigrants had to the same thing. However, I don’t believe that you need to set your culture, customs, language, and norms apart in order to start fresh. You take what works and what doesn’t work you change it. Another example, of Assimilation was that people were having difficulties interacting with different races. Immigrants did not have to deal with such diverse mix of cultures in their homelands, as they have to in New York. But, they had no choice then to get used to deal with different people with different norm, beliefs, and
With little money in their pockets and no idea of where they might stay, the search for jobs was desperate. However having thousands of immigrants arriving in NYC around the same time caused job opportunities to be limited. With no money, many were left homeless with no place to go but the streets of New York. Having people living on the streets caused overpopulation of the city and left the city dirty and dismantled. Along with the fall of the city the crime rate began to increase dramaticlly due to immigrants going to desperate measures to make money. When an immigrant was lucky enough to find a job they faced the challenge of language barrier, poor working conditions and low wages. These low wages could hardly afford to feed their families let alone provide a decent shelter. This created what would be known as the slums of New York City. The city was being filled with large apartment buildings that were run down and overpopulated with immigrants. Over population began creating conflicts between different ethnic groups throughout New York City. Eventually leading to the divison of the city into sections based on common ethnic backrounds. Nativism however would be a common problem as it increased because of hatred towards immigrants over such issues including the loss of opportunities for already settled natives to the area. To avoid this hatred many immigrants chose to take on other names or alter their own last name. Due to many families
The immigration was considered not to be easy to assimilate, and therefore a bigger problem than before. Nativist developed, as immigrants increased the urbanization problems and formed ethnic ghettos throughout the city while competing for jobs and working at lower wages than native-born citizens. This immigration brought on an increased fight for labor power, urban machines for maximizing the immigrants' large collective power, another form of organization, and plans for urban reform especially the 'Wisconsin idea", and the city-manager plan.
An outburst in growth of America’s big city population, places of 100,000 people or more jumped from about 6 million to 14 million between 1880 and 1900, cities had become a world of newcomers (551). America evolved into a land of factories, corporate enterprise, and industrial worker and, the surge in immigration supplied their workers. In the latter half of the 19th century, continued industrialization and urbanization sparked an increasing demand for a larger and cheaper labor force. The country's transformation from a rural agricultural society into an urban industrial nation attracted immigrants worldwide. As free land and free labor disappeared and as capitalists dominated the economy, dramatic social, political, and economic
The gap between the rich and the poor was big and there were a lot of immigrants coming into cities.
Labov, W. (1997). The social stratification of (r) in New York City department stores. In N. Coupland & A. Jaworski (Eds.), Sociolinguistics: A reader and coursebook (pp. 168-78). Houndmills: Palgrave
It analyses scientific, historic and social information to decipher how and why the myth of race developed. The film maintains that race persists as a category of social difference and inequality even though it is socially constructed and not biological. This is because the notion of race is ingrained in everyone’s brains, even the non-racist brains to conclude there is a hierarchy. The film indicates that race is an idea that we ascribe to biology, as well racial lines justify past and present wrongs; slavery, imperialism and genocide. As well, a lot of scientific work on race was individually and culturally influenced, therefore social differences become naturalized or biological i.e. infant mortality, living conditions etc- even in today’s society we ignore poverty and social neglect of health; not real science. Race does not relate to genetic diseases a way to show that we are able to have or not have
1. The American city was changed drastically in the first half of the 20th century with the beginnings of the industrial revolution and the ongoing flow of foreigners into an already crowded United States.
In the late 1800s , America became the land of new opportunities and new beginnings and New York City became the first landmark for immigrants. New York City was home to Ellis Island, the area in which migrants were to be handed for freedom to enter the nation. Living in New York City gave work and availability to ports. In time the city gave the chance to outsider's to construct groups with individuals from their nation , they were classified as new and old settlers. Old outsiders included Germans, Irish and, English. The new outsiders incorporated those from Italy, Russia, Poland and Austria-Hungary. In 1875, the New York City populace was a little 1 million individuals contrasted with the 3,5 million it held when the new century
In its long and illustrious history, New York City (NYC) has gone through tremendous change. From a small trading post on the tip of Manhattan Island, to the greatest metropolis in the world, NYC has continued to evolve over time. One period in particular that had more degrees of change than many others, was 1860 to 1865. The lives of the residents of the great port city would be completely changed forever.
As a larger number of immigrants began to move to the United States from eastern and southern Europe, cities began to increase. Due to these patterns of global migration, between 1870 and 1900, cities increased by at least eleven million people from these immigrants (p.507). While the idea of a growing city benefits big businesses in hiring low-waged workers, this opportunity for work in large industries opened the flood-gates for multiple waves of immigrants. The first wave, those known as the skilled workers “…criticized the newcomers. One Irish worker complained, ‘There should be a law…to keep all the Italians from comin’ in and takin’ the bread out of the mouth of honest people’” (American
In addition to this major shift from rural to urban areas, a new wave of immigration increased America’s population significantly, especially in major cities. Immigrants came from war-torn regions of southern and eastern Europe, such as Italy, Greece, Poland, Russia, Croatia. This new group of immigrants
Between the periods of the Civil War and the Great War, economy and culture development led to the urbanization and industrialization in America. The most remarkable development of American history was the immigration of foreigners from outside countries to the United States, causing quick growth in urban populations and a transformation of American union. In the early 19th century, thirteen million immigrants came from the United States, most from Italy and Russia, and the Progressive Era immigration forming the process of migration set by the expansion and the industrial revolution. Immigrants coming to the United States came for the American dream of freedom, and the desire to escape poverty and seek for jobs. The urbanization and growth
New York City’s population is a little over 8.3 million people. 8.3 million people are spread out among five boroughs and each have their own set routine. Each one of those 8.3 million see New York in a different way becuase “You start building your private New York the first time you lay eyes on it” (“City Limits” 4). Some people are like Colson Whitehead who “was born here and thus ruined for anywhere else” (“City Limits” 3). Others may have “moved here a couple years ago for a job. Maybe [they] came here for school” (“City Limits” 3). Different reasons have brought these people together. They are grouped as New Yorkers, but many times, living in New York is their only bond. With on going changes and never ending commotion, it is hard to
New York City is the largest and one of the oldest cities in the United States, having been 'rediscovered' by Henry Hudson in 1609 while working for the Dutch East Indies Company. New Amsterdam, as it was then known, was settled in 1614 by Dutch fur traders and became the most important port in America. (Reed, 2011) The two rivers flowing on each side of Manhattan grant easy access to the ocean, and Henry Hudson remarked that the harbor was the best natural harbor he had ever seen in the world. For hundreds of years the city has been at the epicenter of world trade, and immigration to the new world. Millions of immigrants have filled the streets of New York, from Europe, Africa, South America, Asia, and elsewhere.
In the introduction part of the film, it gives a snapshot of how the area is overpopulated due to an increased number of individuals living in the city. Population being a social aspect in the society need to be considered to know how its growth can be controlled with careful attention to the scarce resources available. The society in New York has grown to a level that it is becoming hard to be accommodated in that particular area. The overflowing population has caused the shortage of essential requirements by the human race due to each striving