Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Episode 7: Cities
Before or after watching this episode,
Introduction
encourage students to define and
review the terms below. Students
Between 1880 and 1930, nearly 24 million new immigrants arrive
may also want to make their own
in the United States. Many go to work building a new frontier:
lists of new vocabulary words and
the modern city. The high cost of land in cities like New York and
identification terms as they watch.
Chicago means the only way to build is up. A new kind of building,
the skyscraper, is made possible by steel. Produced on a massive
Audacious scale, steel production underpins the infrastructure of the modern city.
Filament
Irrevocable This new urban frontier depends on the labor of rural migrants and
Molten newly arrived immigrant workers to grow. For many, the Statue
Rogue of Liberty is their first sight of the New World and Ellis Island
Tenement is the gateway to the American Dream. The lawless city offers
Unscrupulous opportunities for many and astronomical wealth for a few. Police
Veritable chief Thomas Byrnes uses his harsh new innovation “the third
degree,” to keep a lid on crime.
2. W
hy do you think so many everyday Americans contributed money to help build
the Statue of Liberty?
3. W
hat was the “rogues’ gallery” and what was its importance? What were some
of the other methods used to curb crime?
4. W
hat was the key factor in Thomas Edison’s success in designing the light
bulb? What were some of the new things that were possible because of this
invention?
5. W
hy do you think the Triangle Shirtwaist fire happened? What were some of
the results of this tragedy?
Further Explorations:
The New Colossus What else was going on during this time
ame,
period? Explore the sites below to learn
lc o m e ; h e r mild eyes co
d-wide we rame.
Additional background on Ellis Island
Glows worl th at twin cities f www.history.com/topics/ellis-island
ged h ar b o r
The air-brid ri e d p o mp!” cries s
he
to
The Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum
r s
t lands, you oor,
“Keep ancien tired, your p
feature on the Wright Brothers and early
e m e y o u r aviation
lips. “Giv
With silent g to breathe
free, www.nasm.si.edu/wrightbrothers
s e s y e ar n in
d mas
Your huddle y our teeming
shore.
ed re f u s e o f Places to Visit:
The wretch te m p e s t-tost to m
e,
s s ,
the homele
Interested in what you saw in this episode?
Send these, n door!”
ide the golde
Visiting historic sites is a great way for
y la m p b e s teachers, students, and families to learn more
I lift m about the past. Explore these historic sites,
or look for local historic sites in your town or
city to visit.
1. W
hat do you think the phrase “world-wide welcome” means
in relation to immigration in the U.S.? What are some other
phrases from this poem that are meaningful?
2. W
hy do you think this poem is considered an American
classic today?