THE OTHER HALF…

Thurs. Nov. 18, 2010

U.S. History

Paulson

SPARK# 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EACoIbokOcc&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

1. Have you ever been so shocked, so mad, so upset about something, that you just had to respond? What was it? And what did you do?

Watch the following clip:

2. List 3 characteristics of life in the tenements.

3. What aspect of their lives shocked you the most?

THE “GILDED” AGE

"What is the chief end of man?--to get rich. In what way?--dishonestly if we can; honestly if we must."-- Mark Twain-1871

Mark Twain called the late nineteenth century the "Gilded Age." Why did he sarcastly give it this name?

By this, he meant that the period was glittering (gilded) on the surface but corrupt underneath. In the popular view, the late nineteenth century was a period of prosperity, invention, and advancements, but it was also a time of greed and guile: of rapacious Robber Barons, unscrupulous speculators, and corporate buccaneers, of shady business practices, scandal-plagued politics, and vulgar display.

HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES…

"Long ago it was said that 'one half of the world does not know how the other half lives.' That was true then. It did not know because it did not care. The half that was on top cared little for the struggles, and less for the fate, of those who were underneath, so long as it was able to hold them there and keep its own seat."  Riis wrote How the Other Half Lives to call attention

to the living conditions of more than half of New York City's residents. He described the cheap construction of the tenements, the high rents, and the absentee landlords. He lamented the city's ineffectual laws and urged private enterprise to provide funding to remodel existing tenements or build new tenements.

POPULATION BOOM

1880-1920: 11 million Americans move from farms to cities

During same time, millions immigrate from other countries

Neighborhoods swell, overcrowd, slums and tenements built out of necessity AND profit

HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES

Groups 4 “perspectives”

1. Rocky/Carny2. Citizen in favor of reform3. Tenement landlord4. Poor recent immigrant

Bandit's Roost,59 1/2 Mulberry Streetc. 1888

1.

HOME OF AN ITALIAN RAGPICKER1888

2.

MULLEN'S ALLEY, CHERRY HILL1888

3.

FIVE CENTS LODGING, BAYARD STREETC. 1889

4.

BASEMENT OF A PUB IN MULBERRY-BEND AT 3:00 AM 5. C. 1890

A BLACK-AND-TAN DIVE IN "AFRICA"C. 1890

6.

BLIND BEGGARC. 1890

7.

A DOWNTOWN "MORGUE" (UNLICENSED SALOON)C. 1890

8.

POLICE STATION LODGER, A PLANK FOR A BEDC. 1890

9.

10.

Mulberry Street Police Station-Waiting for the Lodging to Openc. 1892

WOMEN'S LODGING ROOM IN THE WEST 47TH STREET STATIONC. 1892 11

12.

Men's Lodging Room in the West 47th Street Stationc. 1892

MULBERRY BENDC. 1896

13.

THE GILDED AGE Friday Nov. 19, 2010 /// US History ///Mr. Paulson

SPARK # 4

1. Take a guess, what do you think was the result of Jacob Riis’ groundbreaking photojournalism and book, “How the other half lives?”

2. What was the basis of Charles Darwin’s theory of “evolution” and “natural selection?”

3. Considering what you know about the Gilded Age and it’s business practices/workers problems, how might Darwin’s ideas be connected to labor and business?

THE “GILDED” AGE "What is the chief end of man?--to get rich. In what

way?--dishonestly if we can; honestly if we must."-- Mark Twain-1871

Mark Twain called the late nineteenth century the "Gilded Age." Why did he sarcasticly give it this name?

By this, he meant that the period was glittering (gilded) on the surface but corrupt underneath. In the popular view, the late nineteenth century was a period of prosperity, invention, and advancements, but it was also a time of greed and guile: of rapacious Robber Barons, unscrupulous speculators, and corporate buccaneers, of shady business practices, scandal-plagued politics, and vulgar display.

HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES…

"Long ago it was said that 'one half of the world does not know how the other half lives.' That was true then. It did not know because it did not care. The half that was on top cared little for the struggles, and less for the fate, of those who were underneath, so long as it was able to hold them there and keep its own seat."  Riis wrote How the Other Half Lives to call attention

to the living conditions of more than half of New York City's residents. He described the cheap construction of the tenements, the high rents, and the absentee landlords. He lamented the city's ineffectual laws and urged private enterprise to provide funding to remodel existing tenements or build new tenements.

IMPACT OF JACOB RIIS

Lecture tour with his book/photos in NYC Many of NYC’s wealthier citizens agreed that

something had to be done As a result of his work, NY state passed the

nation’s first meaningful tenement reform laws!!

Leads to the PROGRESSIVE era!!

SOCIAL DARWINISM

Natural Selection-only the strong survive---and they WILL survive!

Government should STAY OUT of business and labor disputes

Strongest workers will survive NO MATTER what the conditions---and this will make the economy and the nation stronger

Those most fit survive and get RICH!!

AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Vid clip and film notes

Then “Gilded Age” clip-no film notes 6:02-9:02