Assimilation of newcomers has always been a pressing issue in America; however, ever since the American Revolution, the concern of accommodating to a rising and diversifying wave of people troubled America even more. One would expect the population to expand due to an increase in job opportunities in the city and the abandonment of rural duties, but the aftermath of war, such as the French Revolution, also “encouraged both republicans and monarchists … to seek refuge on Manhattan island” (34). For instance, the slave revolt in Santo Domingo produced an influx of 4,000 refugees. The demographics change constantly, as while some remain as permanent residents, the rest move back to their home country, providing space for the next wave of immigrants. Established communities would assimilate into the larger white society, visible through tangible objects such as local newspapers; For instance, the German Society aided refugees and promoted useful knowledge. The Council of Revision became afraid that this would horde immigrants who will be ignorant of the Constitution. On the other hand, New Yorkers still proved to be “charitable towards newcomers in difficulty” (35), raising money and opening hospitals. Essentially, the Atlantic wars discouraged migration, and the restoration of peace encouraged this wave. The concentration of skills brought over to New York established it as a magnet for mercantile affairs and domestic trade. As a result, NYC emerged as a financial center of the nation. The demand for “banks, insurance companies, auction houses, and permanent stock exchange” (36) rose, and by the 1840’s Wall Street became the center of the city’s financial district, as it is still today. European nations constituted the largest group of foreign businessmen, establishing the long line of white control. Historian Richard B. Scott pointed out that the majority of the immigrants arriving to New York City in the period prior to the Civil War were young rural men.

Moreover, many issues came up to the surface with the new wave of immigrants which demanded accommodation. As time progressed, immigration became more accessible due to advancements in technology; establishment of private passenger lines and invention of steam ships served as a catalyst for New York City’s dynamic growth and diversity. With this growth, as anticipated, immigrants faced troubles other than being in a foreign country with limited financial resources. “Runners” would falsely gain the trust of disordered migrants and misinform them to rob them of their cash as much as possible. To accommodate to these issues, new facilities were set up such as central landing stations for immigrants, like Castle Garden, which was later replaced by Ellis Island.

The effects of the rapid population growth also led to pushed physical boundaries, northward. Lower Manhattan was converted for commercial use as residents moved upwards or to Brooklyn, while Staten Island was used to hold quarantined or ill immigrants.  The need for an easy commute transformed the city as mass transportation took place; omnibuses and horse-drawn railways increased the pace of the city. The people, jobs, transportation, infrastructure, and poor housing undoubtedly led to hygiene issues and disease, causing yet another need for new agencies and establishments. The Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor (AICP) documented “appalling conditions and called for reform legislation” (43). To place in a nut shell, the dynamic growth of New York City triggered a chain of events that only pointed in one direction: to reform and adaptation. However, adaptation often leads to exclusion rather than inclusion, paving the path for discrimination and racism, jumpstarting the loop of accommodation once again. The need to immigrate led to an increase in jobs, leading to a rise in industry and housing. Rise of industry led to the expansion of living quarters and the need to repurpose infrastructure. The trial and error aspect of trying to adapt to all the needs led to the development of agencies and legislations, many of which helped New York City become what it is still today: a bustling microcosm.

V.B.