Ch. 25: America Moves to the Cities: 1865-1900

1. Ch. 25: America Moves to the Cities: 1865-1900 Mr. Long AP US History

2. The Urban Frontier • The Growth of cities • Cities grew both up and out (Skyscraper: George Fuller) • Skyscrapers = more homes/workspace in smaller area • Electric Elevator made them usable • Mass transit made commuting possible • Trolley, subway, railroads, etc. • This also meant cities could grow bigger

3. Introduction • As we move from an agricultural society to an industrial society people begin to move from the country to the city. • Population is (x2 from 1870-1900) • By 1900: 1 of 4 were city dwellers

4. The Urban Frontier • Why did people move to the city? • JOBS!! (#1 reason) • Lifestyle • Electricity, indoor plumbing, telephones, department stores, etc. • Immigrants (poor)

5. The Urban Frontier • New Problems with emergence of Cities • Waste (wrappers on products) • Pollution • Impure water • Sanitation • Slums • Danger = wealthy head to suburbs • Before building codes: Chicago fire of 1871 • Little government (corrupt)

6. New Immigration “Old Immigrants” “New Immigrants” 1880-early 20th century 5 Million/ decade Southern/Eastern Europe Italians, Jews, Greeks, Poles, etc. Reasons for Coming Same as “Old” immigrants Resented by Americans and “Old” immigrants “Nativist” FEARS (Outbreed/Outvote) • 1840s-1860s • 2 Million/ decade • British isles/Western Europe • Germany/Ireland/Chinese • Reasons for coming • No land • No food • Religious freedom • No jobs • Now accepted by Americans

7. New Immigrants • Tried to preserve their own culture in America • Parochial Schools • Newspapers • Restaurants • Social Clubs • Lived together (EX: “Little Italy”)

8. City Movement • The American Government was not ready for city movement (very little enforcement) • “Unofficial Government”- job to assimilate immigrants into American society • Led by bosses like NY’s Boss Tweed (corrupt: Tammany Hall) • Traded jobs/services for votes

9. City Movement • These corrupt gov’s would ignite social campaign again in US. • “social gospel”: churches job to tackle social issues of the day. • Settlement Houses: offered schooling, counseling to cope with city-life, child-care and cultural activities. (EX: Hull House by Jane Addams) • “Gospel of Wealth”

10. City Movement • New Opportunities for Women • More work/opportunity = social/economic independence • Black Women:domestic work • Native born whites: social work, telephone operators, secretaries, store clerks, etc • Immigrants: cluster in particular industry by race

11. Narrowing the Welcome Mat • Anti-Foreignism “nativism” is aroused again (new immigrants) • FEAR = Outbreed and Outvoted by immigrants. • Americans blamed immigrants for… • Shady urban governments • Low wages • Philosophy (Socialism, Communism, Anarchism)

12. Narrowing the Welcome Mat • Anti-Immigrant organizations form • American Protective Association (APA) 1887 • Urged voting against anything foreign • Labor Unions = anti-immigrants • “scabs” • If American industry is entitled protection (tariff) why not American workers?

13. Narrowing the Welcome Mat • Congress takes Action… • 1882 banned paupers, criminals and convicts • 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act: Chinese banned • 1885 Prohibited foreign workers under contract (usually below avg. wage)

14. Did Americans believe this? • “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door. “

15. Churches Confront the Urban Challenge • “Social Gospel” –churches job to fix social problems of the day • D.L. Moody (Urban revival movement) • Religious affiliated organization arise • YMCA/YWCA • “Gospel of Wealth”- claimed God caused the righteous to prosper • What is wrong with this thought? • How are they judging monetary achievement?

16. Darwin Disrupts the Church • Charles Darwin-An English naturalist who proposed the theory of evolution. • Evolution- belief that higher forms of life slowly evolve from lower forms. • Natural Selection- nature blindly chose what would survive. • AT A TIME RIPE FOR RELIGIOUS REVIVAL WE SEE A REVERS REVIVAL WITH THE HEIGHTENED SNESE OF SKEPTISIM AS THE BIBLE AS TRUE HISTORY/TRUTH IN ITS ENTIRETY.

17. Lust for Learning • During this time we see an increase public education. Educational success= new mindset • REASON: • A free government cannot function successfully if the people are ignorant (EX: urban governments)

18. Lust for Learning • FACTS: • 1870s state are making grade school compulsory (helped check child labor) • By 1900 = 6,000 high schools • Free textbooks (taxpayers) • Parochial schools increase with new immigrants • 1870-1900 illiteracy drops from 20% to 10.7% • Schools = success

19. Education for African Americans • The South lagged behind in public education • REASONS • Civil War • Reconstruction • Spread out society • Most schools for higher education in North = no teachers. • African Americans suffered the most • 44% illiterate!

20. Education for African Americans • Question: How do African Americans gain the rights/equality of other Americans?

21. Education for African Americans • Booker T. Washington = champion of black education. • BELIEF: economic independence was the ticket to black political and civil rights. • Founded Tuskegee Institute (1881) • African American institute for agriculture/trades • GOAL: to gain self-respect and economic opportunity.

22. Education for African Americans • W.E.B Du Bois-American sociologist/civil rights leader. • From Mass. (never really saw racism) • BELIEF: demanded complete equality for African Americans. • “talented tenth”- should be given full and immediate access to American life. • Helped found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909

23. Hallowed Halls of Ivy • Colleges after Civil War • REASONS: • Increased belief in education = success • Cities = white collar work • Medicine on the rise • Philanthropy • Morrill Act 1862 • Provided land grants for state supported schools • EX: Ohio State, California, Texas A&M

24. Hallowed Halls of Ivy • Educational opportunity increased for African Americans and Women • By 1880 1 of 3 college graduates were women

25. March of the Mind • Up to this point colleges were mainly for religious training (theology) • Reasons for traditional curriculum changing… • Darwin’s new ideas (said science and religion didn’t go together) • Industrialization- need for “practical” courses and specialized vocational training in sciences. • Elective System- students choose courses • New Professions- medicine, white collar work, etc.

26. Appeal to the Press • With a more educated population a new market arises. • Books, newspapers, and magazines • Linotype (1885)- made the printing of material quicker and cheaper (1 man job) • Libraries begin being built • All over not just NE • Philanthropist donate money

27. Appeal to the Press • A new type of journalism arises = “yellow journalism” • Relies on sensationalism and exaggeration to attract readers. • The WOW factor • There is no need for it to be TRUE • Joseph Pulitzer (NY World) • William Randolph Hearst (San Francisco Examiner) • This journalism is balanced out by the formation of the Associated Press, which brought validity to stories.

28. Families and Women in the City • Urban life = hard on families (work) • Trends: • Isolation- new stresses • ERA OF DIVORCE is launched • New work habits • Went from a farming society to a industrial society • New family sizes • Families in country = larger (had to get work done) • Families in the city= smaller (more mouths to feed) • Birth control hits the market

29. Families and Women in the City • Women • More social/economic opportunity = independence • Jobs • Nightlife