Immigration: A Changing Society
Unit description: In this unit, students will investigate how industrialization and immigration contributed to the urbanization of America. Students will study industrialization and the increased demand for labor leading to migration to cities and increased immigration to the United States. Students will investigate challenges and progressions that came with this industrialization period including population density, diversity, poor working conditions as well as social, cultural, and economic lives of people and conflicts over immigration. In addition, students will also have the opportunity to investigate women’s rights and the suffrage movement that spurred the creation of government reform policies.
All Standards Addressed in this Unit
- (Standards: 1, 2, 4; Themes: MOV, SOC, TECH, EXCH)
Essential Questions and Big Ideas
- Big Idea of the Unit: Industrialization and immigration contributed to the urbanization of America.
- How did technology change life as people knew it during this time of industrialization?
- Technological developments changed the modes of production, and access to natural resources facilitated increased industrialization. The demand for labor in urban industrial areas resulted in increased migration from rural areas and a rapid increase in immigration to the United States. New York City became the nation’s largest city, and other cities in New York State also experienced growth at this time.
- How did industrialization and urbanization affect the lives of people living in cities?
- Population density, diversity, technologies, and industry in urban areas shaped the social, cultural, and economic lives of people. Increased urbanization and industrialization contributed to increasing conflicts over immigration, influenced changes in labor conditions, and led to political corruption. In response to shifts in working conditions, laborers organized and employed a variety of strategies in an attempt to improve their conditions.
- What was the effect of addressing political and social issues during this time?
- Progressive reformers sought to address political and social issues at the local, state, and federal levels of government between 1890 and 1920. These efforts brought renewed attention to women’s rights and the suffrage movement and spurred the creation of government reform policies.
Prerequisite Skills
This immigration unit is one part of three parts of study on “A Changing Society” which also includes the study of industrialization and urbanization. This unit represents unifying themes of social studies – development and movement of cultures, social structures, and global connections and exchange and enduring issues of Urbanization, Industrialization, Power, Population Growth, Cultural Diffusion, Technology, Tension between Traditional and Modern Culture. This unit can be done first as an introduction of urbanization or it can be done second after a study of industrialization/urbanization.
Download the complete Grade 8 Social Studies – Immigration: A Changing Society framework to customize for your own planning.