URBAN AMERICAURBAN AMERICA1865-18961865-1896

WHY IT MATTERSWHY IT MATTERSEuropean and Asian immigrants arrived in the United States European and Asian immigrants arrived in the United States in great numbers during the late 1800s. Providing cheap in great numbers during the late 1800s. Providing cheap labor, they made rapid industrial growth possible. They also labor, they made rapid industrial growth possible. They also helped populate the growing cities. The immigrants’ presence helped populate the growing cities. The immigrants’ presence affected both urban politics & labor unions. Reactions to affected both urban politics & labor unions. Reactions to immigrants & to an urban society were reflected in new immigrants & to an urban society were reflected in new political organizations and in literature and philosophy.political organizations and in literature and philosophy.

• Industrialism & urbanization changed American society’s Industrialism & urbanization changed American society’s ideas & culture in the late 1800sideas & culture in the late 1800s

• THE PRESSING PROBLEMS OF THE URBAN POOR IN THE LATE 1800s AND THE PRESSING PROBLEMS OF THE URBAN POOR IN THE LATE 1800s AND EARLY 1900s EVENTUALLY STIMULATED ATTEMPTS TO REFORM INDUSTRIAL EARLY 1900s EVENTUALLY STIMULATED ATTEMPTS TO REFORM INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY SOCIETY The Progressive Era The Progressive Era

URBANIZATION & URBANIZATION & IMMIGRATIONIMMIGRATION

MAIN IDEA: During the three decades MAIN IDEA: During the three decades following the Civil War, the U.S. following the Civil War, the U.S. transformed rapidly from a rural nation transformed rapidly from a rural nation to a more urban one.to a more urban one.

With the end of the Civil War, American With the end of the Civil War, American industry expanded and millions of industry expanded and millions of people left their farms to work in mines people left their farms to work in mines and factories. and factories. Many found work in Many found work in citiescities which led to which led to urbanizationurbanization as as cities rapidly expanded.cities rapidly expanded.

Immigrants before 1870 Immigrants before 1870 – Northern – Northern and Western Europe, assimilate easily.and Western Europe, assimilate easily.

Immigrants after 1870 – Immigrants after 1870 – (during peak (during peak of industrial era) – Southern and of industrial era) – Southern and Eastern Europe, not easily assimilated. Eastern Europe, not easily assimilated.

NATIVISMNATIVISMNativism = extreme dislike for Nativism = extreme dislike for immigrants by native-born people & a immigrants by native-born people & a desire to limit immigrationdesire to limit immigration

In 1840s/50s it focused primarily on In 1840s/50s it focused primarily on Irish immigrants. Now anti-immigrant Irish immigrants. Now anti-immigrant feelings focused on feelings focused on Asians/Jews/eastern Europeans. Asians/Jews/eastern Europeans.

Nativists opposed immigration for many Nativists opposed immigration for many reasons.reasons.

Feared Catholics from Ireland & Feared Catholics from Ireland & southern/eastern Eur. would overpower southern/eastern Eur. would overpower Protestants & give Catholic Church too much Protestants & give Catholic Church too much power in American gov.power in American gov.Many labor unions opposed immigration Many labor unions opposed immigration because immigrants would work for low because immigrants would work for low wages/strikebreakers.wages/strikebreakers.

Anti-Immigration movement Anti-Immigration movement widespread widespread racial violence racial violence

Chinese Exclusion Act = barred Chinese Chinese Exclusion Act = barred Chinese immigration for 10 yrs & prevented Chinese immigration for 10 yrs & prevented Chinese already in the country from becoming citizensalready in the country from becoming citizens

Americans Migrate to the Americans Migrate to the CitiesCitiesUrban population grows from around 10 Urban population grows from around 10

million in 1870 to over 30 million in million in 1870 to over 30 million in 19001900

131 cities 1840 131 cities 1840 over 1,700 cities by over 1,700 cities by 19001900

Most immigrants stay in cities because Most immigrants stay in cities because lack $ to buy farms & education to lack $ to buy farms & education to obtain higher-paying jobsobtain higher-paying jobs

Rural Ams Rural Ams cities bc more/better cities bc more/better paying jobs & offered things to do/seepaying jobs & offered things to do/see

Millions into cities Millions into cities engineers/architects develop new engineers/architects develop new housing/transporting approacheshousing/transporting approaches

Skyscrapers Skyscrapers = tall steel frame = tall steel frame buildingsbuildings

City populations growing City populations growing land land price rises price rises build upward not build upward not outward outward

URBAN PROBLEMSURBAN PROBLEMSCity living posed threats such as crime, violence, fire, City living posed threats such as crime, violence, fire, disease, & pollution. disease, & pollution.

Alcohol & saloons Alcohol & saloons violent crime, “breeding poverty,” violent crime, “breeding poverty,” corrupt politicscorrupt politics

3 classes emerged: high society, middle-class gentility, & 3 classes emerged: high society, middle-class gentility, & working classworking class

URBAN POLITICSURBAN POLITICSPolitical machine = informal Political machine = informal political group designed to political group designed to gain/keep power, came about gain/keep power, came about partly because cities had grown partly because cities had grown much faster than their much faster than their governmentsgovernments

In exchange for votes, political In exchange for votes, political machines & party bosses who ran machines & party bosses who ran them provided necessities like them provided necessities like jobs, housing, food, heat, jobs, housing, food, heat, protection that new city dwellers protection that new city dwellers needed.needed.

Party bosses who ran political Party bosses who ran political machines controlled the city’s machines controlled the city’s finances & many grew rich finances & many grew rich through graft = getting $ through through graft = getting $ through dishonest or questionable means. dishonest or questionable means.

Ex: Tammany Hall & William M. Ex: Tammany Hall & William M. “Boss” Tweed – New York “Boss” Tweed – New York Democratic political machine Democratic political machine

Jacob Riis Jacob Riis (1890) (1890)

– – How the How the Other Half Other Half

LivesLivesExposing the Exposing the

deplorable living deplorable living conditions in New York conditions in New York

City tenementsCity tenements

BENEFITS OF BENEFITS OF INDUSTRIALIZATIONINDUSTRIALIZATION

Mass production in factories Mass production in factories more affordable/cheaper more affordable/cheaper products products

New technology/developments and cheaper products New technology/developments and cheaper products increased standard of living for manyincreased standard of living for many

Improved standard of living Improved standard of living changing popular culture changing popular culture

Spend $ on entertainment and recreationSpend $ on entertainment and recreation

The SaloonThe Saloon

Amusement ParksAmusement Parks

SportsSports

Vaudeville & RagtimeVaudeville & Ragtime

1873 Mark Twain & Charles Warner co-wrote novel 1873 Mark Twain & Charles Warner co-wrote novel The The Gilded AgeGilded Age

• Term “Term “gildedgilded” ” refers to something being gold on the refers to something being gold on the outside while the inside is made of cheaper materialoutside while the inside is made of cheaper material

• Although this was a time of growth, beneath the Although this was a time of growth, beneath the surface was corruption, poverty, & a huge gap surface was corruption, poverty, & a huge gap between rich & poorbetween rich & poor

• Industrialization & urbanization Industrialization & urbanization new values, art, & new values, art, & forms of entertainmentforms of entertainment. .

THE GILDED AGE (1870-THE GILDED AGE (1870-1900)1900)

REALISMREALISMRealism Realism replaces romanticism in art & literaturereplaces romanticism in art & literature

= new movement in art/literature - portrayed people = new movement in art/literature - portrayed people in realistic situations instead of idealizing themin realistic situations instead of idealizing them

Portray real life situations to draw attention to Portray real life situations to draw attention to problems faced by urban poor & focus on society as it problems faced by urban poor & focus on society as it actually wasactually was

•A strong belief during the Gilded Age was the idea ofA strong belief during the Gilded Age was the idea of individualism individualism = = belief that regardless of your background, you could still rise in society.belief that regardless of your background, you could still rise in society.

• Horatio AlgerHoratio Alger, a minister from Massachusetts, left the clergy and , a minister from Massachusetts, left the clergy and moved to New York where he wrote over 100 novels about rags-to-moved to New York where he wrote over 100 novels about rags-to-riches stories.riches stories.

English philosopher English philosopher Herbert Spencer Herbert Spencer 11stst proposed the idea of proposed the idea of Social Social Darwinism Darwinism when he took when he took Charles DarwinCharles Darwin’’s s theory of evolution & theory of evolution & natural selection & applied it to human societynatural selection & applied it to human society

• Human society evolved through competition Human society evolved through competition society progressed society progressed because only the fittest people survivedbecause only the fittest people survived

• Industrial leaders agreed with Social Darwinism. Upsets many Industrial leaders agreed with Social Darwinism. Upsets many Christians who believed in creationism. Christians who believed in creationism.

Social Darwinism paralleled Social Darwinism paralleled laissez-fairelaissez-faire. .

INDIVIDUALISM INDIVIDUALISM & SOCIAL DARWINISM& SOCIAL DARWINISM

HELPING THE URBAN POORHELPING THE URBAN POORAndrew Carnegie (prominent business leader) softens Social Darwinism with Andrew Carnegie (prominent business leader) softens Social Darwinism with Gospel of Wealth Gospel of Wealth = philosophy that wealthy Americans bore the responsibility of = philosophy that wealthy Americans bore the responsibility of engaging in engaging in philanthropyphilanthropy

Philanthropy = using great fortunes to further social progress/contribute to Philanthropy = using great fortunes to further social progress/contribute to social causes social causes

Social Gospel = 1870-1920 reformers worked to better conditions in cities Social Gospel = 1870-1920 reformers worked to better conditions in cities according to biblical ideals of charity/justice –apply “Christian law” to social according to biblical ideals of charity/justice –apply “Christian law” to social problems. problems.

YMCA & SALVATION ARMY EMERGE TO HELP AID URBAN POORYMCA & SALVATION ARMY EMERGE TO HELP AID URBAN POOR

Workers in industrial America faced monotonous (boring, unfulfilling, and Workers in industrial America faced monotonous (boring, unfulfilling, and repetitive) work, dangerous working conditions, & an uneven division of income repetitive) work, dangerous working conditions, & an uneven division of income between the wealthy & the working class. between the wealthy & the working class.

This distinction of This distinction of social classes social classes could be seen in cities throughout the US that could be seen in cities throughout the US that had very wealthy sectors and very poor sectors. Many of the impoverished lived had very wealthy sectors and very poor sectors. Many of the impoverished lived in deplorable conditions: in dirty one room apartments called tenement in deplorable conditions: in dirty one room apartments called tenement apartments.apartments.

Settlement houses- Settlement houses- houses where the poor could have their basic needs houses where the poor could have their basic needs provided for; food, clothes, shelter. provided for; food, clothes, shelter. Jane Addams Jane Addams was a leading advocate & was a leading advocate & creator of settlement houses. Ex: creator of settlement houses. Ex: Hull HouseHull House

REFORM: PUBLIC EDUCATIONREFORM: PUBLIC EDUCATIONSpread of schools: # public schools Spread of schools: # public schools increased quickly after the Civil Warincreased quickly after the Civil War

Public schools crucial to the success of Public schools crucial to the success of immigrant children – Americanization = immigrant children – Americanization = process of becoming more process of becoming more knowledgeable about American culture knowledgeable about American culture worked to assimilate immigrantsworked to assimilate immigrants

Schools helped workers prepare for the Schools helped workers prepare for the jobs they hoped would lift their families jobs they hoped would lift their families out of poverty out of poverty timely attendance, timely attendance, neatness, efficiency, etc…neatness, efficiency, etc…

Higher education expanded: Higher education expanded: Morrill Morrill Land Grant Land Grant Act helped colleges multiple Act helped colleges multiple in the late 1800s by federal gov. giving in the late 1800s by federal gov. giving land grants to states for the purpose of land grants to states for the purpose of establishing agricultural & mechanical establishing agricultural & mechanical colleges.colleges.

Public libraries made education available Public libraries made education available to city dwellers.to city dwellers.