Chapter 19

1. Chapter 19

2. By 1900, 40% of Americans lived in cities • 11 million immigrants between 1870-1900 • The city served as a symbol of opportunity • However, cities were strained in all areas • Cities served as a battleground for benefits and control

3. Migrants and Immigrants • Pull factors • Young women lead the exodus from the cities • Mechanization and mail-order magazines • Germans (3 m.), English, Scottish, Welsh (2 m.), Irish (1.5 m.) • Along with the Scandinavians these were the Old Immigrants • Chinese population on the west coast despite the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

4. Primary settlement was the city • Irish – Boston; later the Italians to NYC • 1890 NY – 4/5 foreign born or children of foreign born • Germans to the Midwest • Large number of immigrants were single young men • Ellis Island became the central processing center for immigrants from 1892-1954 • The west coast had Angel Island in San Fran. (1910-1940)

5. Adjusting to an Urban Society • Ethnic enclaves • Chain migration – relocation near friends or relatives from one’s original town • Pros and Cons of this settlement • Birds of passage; especially the Chinese and Italians • But this was mostly the New Immigrants

7. Fashionable Avenues and Suburbs • Massive wealth established by the growing industrialists and upper middle class • This created informal residential segregation by income and also “race”

8. Middle-Class Society and Culture • To justify wealth, many appealed to Victorian morality • Financial success was linked to superior talent, intelligence, morality, and self-control • Thus a network of institutions, from elegant department stores and hotels to elite colleges and universities, reinforced the privileged position of these groups

9. Manners and Morals • Assumptions of Victorian world view • 1. human nature is malleable; people can improve themselves • 2. the social value of work; self discipline and self control also helped the progress of the nation • 3. good manners and the value of literature and the fine arts • Began with the struggle with slavery and alcohol • Dinner-table manners were key a families level of refinement

10. Cult of Domesticity • The ideal place for a woman was in the home • But also to foster the artistic environment that would nurture the family’s cultural improvement

11. The Transformation of Higher Ed. • In 1900 only 4% of nation’s 18-21 yr. olds were in college/univ. • Wealthy capitalists begin leaving endowments • 150 new colleges/univ. between 1880-1900 • Morrill Land Grant Act (1862) • Birth of the research university

12. Political Bosses and Machine Politics • Typified by Tammany Hall in NYC • It started with ward bosses who served as welfare agents; in return was millions in public utility contracts • William Marcy Tweed was the most well known in NY

13. Battling Poverty • Initially many thought the problem with the urban poor was their lack of self control and self discipline • This also led to an effort to Americanize them • Charles Brace founded the NY Children’s Aid Society in 1853 • YMCA was brought to American in 1851 • By 1900 more than fifteen hundred serving over 250,000

14. New Approaches to Social Work • Salvation Army • Formed in 1865 London by William Booth (Methodist); America in 1880 • Pseudo-military organization that grabbed the attention of the poor first • NY Charity Organization Society • Thought too much overlapping charity undermined the poor’s desire to work • Sent in “friendly visitors” to the tenements to counsel families • Tried to convert the poor middle-class standards of morality and decorum

15. Moral-Purity Campaign • 1872 – Anthony Comstock forms the NY Society for the Suppression of Vice

16. The Social Gospel • Launched by Washington Gladden • Religion should fight social injustice wherever it exists, even mediate between business and labor (in response to violent strikes) • Best articulated by Walter Rauschenbusch • True Christian society would unite all churches, reorganize the industrial system, and work for international peace

17. The Settlement-House Movement • New approach: relief workers would need to settle with the poor in their neighborhoods • Jane Addams was the leader • She opened Hull House in Chicago • They invited the impoverished to plays; sponsored art projects; held classes in English, civics, cooking; and encouraged immigrants to preserve their traditions • Created studies of conditioned and lobbied officials

18. Many of the women went on to become successful politicians and those active in the Progressive Movement • Unsuccessful nature • Many immigrants felt the efforts didn’t do enough for political power

19. With the new entrepreneurial wealth and a growing working class, America begins to questions and ponder leisure time • Working class America seeks diversion and relaxation; the wealthiest obviously have the time and money • The more impersonal work became, the more sought after and valued leisure time became

20. Streets, Saloons, and Boxing Matches • As unions fought for the eight-hour workday, the slogan became “Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, and eight hours for what we will” • Street activity, gymnastics clubs, singing societies, saloons (they reinforced group identity and were the center of immigrant politics) • Sports memorabilia begins to adorn the walls • Sporting clubs sprang up, especially bare knuckled boxing