Immigration, Urbanization, and Everyday Life, 1860 - 1900

1. Immigration, Urbanization, and Everyday Life, 1860 - 1900 Chapter 19

2. Music 1900 orchestra, opera house, or both in most large cities African Americans in New Orleans like Jelly Roll Morton and Buddy Bolden expanded jazz Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag” made him the king of ragtime but success undercut by whites who stereotyped his compositions as “Negro Music” Racial discrimination reinforced the barriers of social class American shifting from rural producer economy to urban consumer economy Middle class enjoyed comfort and convenience, industrialization opened up newjobs and destroyed older ones, created new expectations of life Class division visible in cities, middle class reforms strove to remake the working class culture into their own image Culture of the masses would prove more influential in shaping America

3. World’s Columbian Exposition Chicago 1893 – hosted World’s Fair Over 12 million attended in city of over 1 million Called White City Saw progress of American civilization through industrial technologies and vision of ideal urban environment Also saw crime, pollution, vice, poverty and large immigrant community

4. The New American City 1900 40% of Americans lived in cities, by 1920 it was over ½ Urban growth from immigration and migration from rural areas stimulated economic development, threatened traditional expectations about community life and social stability Rural America was face-to-face interactions: city was a fight for jobs, power, and influence between natives and immigrants Strained city services, terrible housing, and sanitation problems accentuated class differences Native-born reformers set about cleaning up the city, improve physical environment and destroy distinctive customs that made immigrant culture different

5. PREDICT: What do you think PUSHED people out of Europe? What do you think PULLED people to the United States? 1:59 1:58 1:57 1:56 1:55 1:54 1:53 1:52 1:51 1:50 1:49 1:48 1:47 1:46 1:45 1:44 1:43 1:42 1:41 1:40 1:39 1:38 1:37 1:36 1:35 1:34 1:33 1:32 1:01 1:00 1:29 1:28 1:27 1:26 1:25 1:24 1:23 1:22 1:21 1:20 1:19 1:18 1:17 1:16 1:15 1:14 1:13 1:12 1:11 1:10 1:09 1:08 1:07 1:06 1:05 1:04 1:03 1:02 1:31 1:30 0:59 0:28 0:57 0:56 0:55 0:54 0:53 0:52 0:51 0:50 0:49 0:48 0:47 0:46 0:45 0:44 0:43 0:42 0:41 0:40 0:39 0:38 0:37 0:36 0:35 0:34 0:33 0:32 0:31 0:30 2:00 0:58 0:27 0:26 0:25 0:24 0:23 0:22 0:21 0:20 0:19 0:18 0:17 0:16 0:15 0:14 0:13 0:12 0:11 0:10 0:09 0:08 0:07 0:06 0:05 0:04 0:03 0:02 0:01 End 0:29 2:00

6. Migrants and Immigrants 1850 – 1900 – US population more than tripled – immigrants fueled growth Pull factors: jobs, wages, political freedom, religious freedom, economic opportunities, cheap passage Push factors: overpopulation, crop failure, famine, religious persecution, violence, industrial depression Farmwomen led exodus to cities –mechanization reduced need for rural women’s labor Old Immigrants: 1860-1890 nearly 10 million northern European immigrants came to US cities New Immigrants: 1890 – 1917 – South and Eastern Europeans Most settled in cities in NE and north-central states- many were single young men, poor, illiterate, non-Protestant; 25% birds of passage 1892 customs officials inspected newcomers at Ellis Island for physical handicaps and contagious diseases – those that passed had names recorded (sometime changed) Later regulations included: Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, 1882 undesirable law, 1885 Contract Labor Law, 1917 literacy test Angel Island in San Francisco Bay served similar purpose after 1910 Those who arrived with enough money traveled west

7. Adjusting to an Urban Society In cities clustered together with friends or relatives Improvements in urban transportation made growth of cities possible Skilled workers and those familiar to Anglo-American customs had few problems as did ethnic groups that formed large parts of city’s population Domination by one immigrant group made adjustment to American society more difficult for others Being discriminated against helped create a new common ethnic identity for many Not all immigrants intended to remain in the US – rate of return migration highest among Chinese and Italians All immigrants faced increasing hostility from white native born Americans who disliked their customs and worried about their influence

8. Slums and Ghettos Usually within walking distance from manufacturing Called tenements and packed in many residents Became ghettos when laws, prejudice, and community pressure prevented from renting elsewhere Disease killed many, up to 20% some years – NYC passed 1879 law requiring bedroom with windows – built dumbbell tenement instead Noise, pollution, foul odors, soot, dust Blacks trapped in segregated districts, driven from skilled trades, excluded from most factory work Racist city-dwellers used high rents, real-estate covenants, and neighborhood pressure to exclude them from areas inhabited by whites Numbers of northern urban blacks in 1890 remained small until Great Migration 1897 – 1930

9. WRITE: Why was the life of an immigrant difficult in 1900? 1:59 1:58 1:57 1:56 1:55 1:54 1:53 1:52 1:51 1:50 1:49 1:48 1:47 1:46 1:45 1:44 1:43 1:42 1:41 1:40 1:39 1:38 1:37 1:36 1:35 1:34 1:33 1:32 1:01 1:00 1:29 1:28 1:27 1:26 1:25 1:24 1:23 1:22 1:21 1:20 1:19 1:18 1:17 1:16 1:15 1:14 1:13 1:12 1:11 1:10 1:09 1:08 1:07 1:06 1:05 1:04 1:03 1:02 1:31 1:30 0:59 0:28 0:57 0:56 0:55 0:54 0:53 0:52 0:51 0:50 0:49 0:48 0:47 0:46 0:45 0:44 0:43 0:42 0:41 0:40 0:39 0:38 0:37 0:36 0:35 0:34 0:33 0:32 0:31 0:30 2:00 0:58 0:27 0:26 0:25 0:24 0:23 0:22 0:21 0:20 0:19 0:18 0:17 0:16 0:15 0:14 0:13 0:12 0:11 0:10 0:09 0:08 0:07 0:06 0:05 0:04 0:03 0:02 0:01 End 0:29 2:00

10. Fashionable Avenues and Suburbs Some cities had parts with lighting and plumbing 1870s and 1880s city dwellers began moving to suburbs – Frederick Law Olmsted designed suburban areas with curved roads and open spaces Five factors prompted Americans to move to suburbs Abundant land Inexpensive transportation Low construction costs Ethnic and racial prejudice American fondness for grass, privacy, detached houses Pattern of informal residential segregation by income took shape By 1900 trolley cars and steam powered trains burst boundaries of cities Separation of various social groups and increasingly dissimilar living conditions for rich and poor had heightened ethnic, racial, and class divisions – there was a new awareness of class and cultural disparities

11. Middle-and Upper-Class Society and Culture They faced a different kind of challenge: how to rationalize enjoyment of consumer society Ministers like Henry Ward Beecher and advice book writers appealed to Victorian morality – set of social ideas embraced by privileged classes of England and America during reign of Queen Victoria EL Godkin, Phillips Brooks, and others argued the financial success of the middle and upper classes arose from their superior talent, intelligence, morality, and self-control

12. Manners and Morals Several fundamental assumptions shaped the Victorian worldview Human nature was malleable Work had social value Good manners, cultivation of literature and art ennobled society Victorian morality stressed manners and social rituals – social standing defined by income and behavior The American Woman’s Home 1869 Catharine Beecher displayed typical Victorian self-consciousness about proper manners Victorian code –emphasis on morals, manners, and proper behavior; heightened of class differences and visible distinctions among social groups

13. The Cult of Domesticity From 1840s on promoted idea of cult of domesticity – home as the “woman’s sphere” Protected retreat where women could express their maternal gifts During 1880s and 1890s added new obligation to foster artistic environment that would nurture family’s cultural improvement Directed energies to decorating their homes; refuge from excitement and distraction of outside Not all middle-class women pursued this domestic ideal – some overwhelmed by housework, othersartistic idea was not to their taste 1880s and 1890s some sought outlets for their creative energies in settlement-house work, social reform, and women’s club activities

14. WRITE: Do you think the “Cult of Domesticity” aided or hindered women in their fight for suffrage? 1:59 1:58 1:57 1:56 1:55 1:54 1:53 1:52 1:51 1:50 1:49 1:48 1:47 1:46 1:45 1:44 1:43 1:42 1:41 1:40 1:39 1:38 1:37 1:36 1:35 1:34 1:33 1:32 1:01 1:00 1:29 1:28 1:27 1:26 1:25 1:24 1:23 1:22 1:21 1:20 1:19 1:18 1:17 1:16 1:15 1:14 1:13 1:12 1:11 1:10 1:09 1:08 1:07 1:06 1:05 1:04 1:03 1:02 1:31 1:30 0:59 0:28 0:57 0:56 0:55 0:54 0:53 0:52 0:51 0:50 0:49 0:48 0:47 0:46 0:45 0:44 0:43 0:42 0:41 0:40 0:39 0:38 0:37 0:36 0:35 0:34 0:33 0:32 0:31 0:30 2:00 0:58 0:27 0:26 0:25 0:24 0:23 0:22 0:21 0:20 0:19 0:18 0:17 0:16 0:15 0:14 0:13 0:12 0:11 0:10 0:09 0:08 0:07 0:06 0:05 0:04 0:03 0:02 0:01 End 0:29 2:00

15. Department Stores To lure thrifty consumers, merchandisers in 1880s stressed high quality and low cost for objects they sold Last quarter of 19thcentury Rowland H. Macy in NY, John Wanamaker in PA, and Marshall Field in Chicago built giant department stores Woolworths brought nationwide chain stores to the towns and urban neighborhoods Made shopping exciting activity, rapid turnover created sense of novelty They functioned as workplace for lower classes and social club for comfortably fixed women

16. The Transformation of Higher Education Few graduated from high school, only 4% of 18-21 were in college Wealthy capitalists gained status and a measure of immortality by endowing colleges and universitiesand serving on the boards Not only classroom experiences but also social contacts and athletic activities prepared affluent men for later responsibilities in business – like football –dangerous but many saw it as character building sport; basketball - 1891 State universities in South and Midwest financed through Morrill Land Grant Act or by religious denominations Oberlin College 1836 began coeducational private colleges These women developed self-confidence to break with the Victorian ideal of passive womanhood and to compete with men by displaying strength, aggressiveness, and intelligence Percentage of colleges admitting women jumped from 30% to 71% between 1880 and 1900 Civil War exposed abysmal state of American medical knowledge – led to advances in medical schools – used experimental method developed by Germany and insisted that trained in biology, chemistry, and physics Shut out African American and poor women who could not afford the tuition Part of transformation was creation of research universities

17. Reforming the Working Class Contrast between affluent world and working class on display in nation’s growing urban centers Saloons became the poor man’s club, dance halls single women’s home away from home Upper-class tried to change this while immigrants fought to preserve it late 19thcentury witnessed ongoing battle to eradicate social drinking and curb lower-class recreational activities

18. Battling Poverty Stunned by poverty and suffering in cities, middle-class sought solutions 1900: 10 hour days, 6 days a week, subsistence level – defended by David Ricardo’s “iron law of wages” – dependent on women and children and 11 million families made less than $380 a year Jacob Riis believed immigrants’ lack of self-discipline and unsanitary living conditions caused their problems so he and his peers focused on moral improvement First targeted their efforts at the young Jane Addams and Florence Kelley examined low wages and dangerous conditions Reformers genuinely sympathized, but wanted to Americanize the immigrants and eliminate customs that they perceived as offensive and self-destructive 1843 Robert Hartley - New York Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor Charles Loring Brace’s New York Children’s Aid Society in 1853 Young Men’s Christian Association founded in England 1841 and exported to USA 10 years later Young Woman’s Christian Association provided housing and a day nursery for women and their children – by 1900 over 1,500 existed

19. New Approaches to Social Reform Salvation Army – food, shelter, temporary employment for families in exchange for lessons on middle class virtues of temperance, hard work, self discipline New York Charity Organization Society – sent friendly visitors who were trained, salaried women to tenements to counsel families on how to improve their lives Cardinal James Gibbons – support of the Knights of Labor Dwight Moody – helped urban people adapt to Christianity Mary Baker Eddy – began Church of Christ, Scientists

20. The Moral-Purity Campaign 1872 Anthony Comstock - NY Society for Suppression of Vice – close down gambling and lottery operations and censor obscene publications Fight over prostitution - after Civil War number of brothels expanded rapidly – 1880s saloons, tenements, cabarets hired prostitutes of their own – even though immigrant women do not appear major source of problem, they were labeled as such 1892 brothels along with gambling dens and saloons became targets for reform efforts of NY Presbyterian minister Charles Parkhurst- organized City Vigilance League – 2 years later nonpartisan Committee of Seventy elected a new mayor who pressured city officials to enforce the laws against prostitution, gambling, and Sunday liquor laws Only lasted 3 years

21. The Social Gospel 1870s and 1880s some Protestant ministers appalled by slum conditions; argued that rich and well born had Christian responsibility to do something William S. Rainsford – began institutional church movement – large downtown churches would provide their new neighbors with social services as well as place to worship – helped financially by J. P. Morgan, a warden of his church Washington Gladden, launched Social Gospel – said true Christianity commits men and women to fight social injustice wherever it exists – Walter Rauschenbusch – argued a truly Christian society would unite all churches– led to formation of the Federal Council of Churches in 1908 Social Gospel attracted only a few Protestants but their voices joined other critics of nation’s urban woes

22. The Settlement-House Movement 1880s - Jane Addams - developed the settlement house Recognized hardships of slum life were beyond the individual’s control Addams purchased rundown mansion on Chicago’s south side in 1889 and opened Hull House – social center for immigrants – plays, art projects, held classes in English, civics, cooking, dressmaking Workers were civil minded volunteers and political activists Frances Perkins and Harry Hopkins will go on under FDR’s New Deal in leadership roles

23. WRITE: Which reform movement do you think was most beneficial to immigrants? Why? 1:59 1:58 1:57 1:56 1:55 1:54 1:53 1:52 1:51 1:50 1:49 1:48 1:47 1:46 1:45 1:44 1:43 1:42 1:41 1:40 1:39 1:38 1:37 1:36 1:35 1:34 1:33 1:32 1:01 1:00 1:29 1:28 1:27 1:26 1:25 1:24 1:23 1:22 1:21 1:20 1:19 1:18 1:17 1:16 1:15 1:14 1:13 1:12 1:11 1:10 1:09 1:08 1:07 1:06 1:05 1:04 1:03 1:02 1:31 1:30 0:59 0:28 0:57 0:56 0:55 0:54 0:53 0:52 0:51 0:50 0:49 0:48 0:47 0:46 0:45 0:44 0:43 0:42 0:41 0:40 0:39 0:38 0:37 0:36 0:35 0:34 0:33 0:32 0:31 0:30 2:00 0:58 0:27 0:26 0:25 0:24 0:23 0:22 0:21 0:20 0:19 0:18 0:17 0:16 0:15 0:14 0:13 0:12 0:11 0:10 0:09 0:08 0:07 0:06 0:05 0:04 0:03 0:02 0:01 End 0:29 2:00

24. Working-Class Leisure in the Immigrant City In colonial America preachers warned against leisure and idleness as temptations to sin In rural culture of early 19th century routines of farm life left little time for relaxation As urban populations rose new patterns of leisure and amusement emerged

25. Streets, Saloons, and Boxing Matches Factors that promoted the growth of leisure-time activities: Urbanization Reduction in hours worked Improved transportation Promotional billboards and advertising Decline of Puritan and Victorian values Urban working class had great need for amusement and recreation – tired after hours of tedious work When in summer heat in tenements was too much streets very busy Saloons offered companionship, friendliness, and five cent beer often with a free lunch NYC had 10,000 saloons by 1900 and Denver had nearly 500 –reinforced group identity and center of immigrant politics Working class women rarely went but did send child to corner pub to get a tin pail of beer called a growler Prostitution and crime flourished in rougher saloons

26. The Rise of Professional Sports English game called rounders around since the 17th century but baseball became a major sport 1845 the first baseball team, New York Knickerbockers, formed 1860s rules were codified and sport assumed modern for Promoters organized professional clubs and charge admission Team owners organized National League 1876 By 1890s baseball was big business – loved by working class Profitable teams were those in major industrial cities Baseball fostered discrimination against blacks Colored baseball clubs opened in 6 cities, blacks banned from professional teams Joseph Pulitzer introduced first separate sports page when he bought New York World in 1883 (1st paper to exceed 1 million copies) – competed with William Randolph Hearst Kentucky Derby became important social event for the rich Professional boxing big for working class - John L. Sullivan personified toughness and physical prowess; but he refused to fight blacks

27. Vaudeville, Amusement Parks, and Dance Halls Welcomed all regardless of gender Vaudeville evolved out of antebellum minstrel shows Used black face - subject of considerable recent scrutiny by historians Some see it as way for white working class to mock middle class ideals Others argue was done to demean African Americans and reinforce prejudice Amusement parks offered physical escape from life – NY Coney Island By end of 19th century NYC had over 300,000 female wage earners most young and unmarried – amusement parks offered powerful lure – meet friends, spend time with young men, show off new dresses, try out new dance steps

28. Ragtime Middle class preferred hymns or songs that conveyed a moral lesson Working class delighted in ragtime – originated in 1880s with black musicians in saloons and brothels of the South and Midwest Used syncopated rhythms and complex harmonies but blended it with marching band musical structures Rhythms of ragtime were widely interpreted to be a freer and more natural expression love and sex – but incorrectly confirmed whites’ stereotypes of blacks as primitive and sensual, a bias that underlay racism of the period Maple Leaf Rag

29. WRITE: What were three forms of entertainment for people during the Gilded Age? Why were some forms of entertainment seen as “low class”? 1:59 1:58 1:57 1:56 1:55 1:54 1:53 1:52 1:51 1:50 1:49 1:48 1:47 1:46 1:45 1:44 1:43 1:42 1:41 1:40 1:39 1:38 1:37 1:36 1:35 1:34 1:33 1:32 1:01 1:00 1:29 1:28 1:27 1:26 1:25 1:24 1:23 1:22 1:21 1:20 1:19 1:18 1:17 1:16 1:15 1:14 1:13 1:12 1:11 1:10 1:09 1:08 1:07 1:06 1:05 1:04 1:03 1:02 1:31 1:30 0:59 0:28 0:57 0:56 0:55 0:54 0:53 0:52 0:51 0:50 0:49 0:48 0:47 0:46 0:45 0:44 0:43 0:42 0:41 0:40 0:39 0:38 0:37 0:36 0:35 0:34 0:33 0:32 0:31 0:30 2:00 0:58 0:27 0:26 0:25 0:24 0:23 0:22 0:21 0:20 0:19 0:18 0:17 0:16 0:15 0:14 0:13 0:12 0:11 0:10 0:09 0:08 0:07 0:06 0:05 0:04 0:03 0:02 0:01 End 0:29 2:00

30. Cultures in Conflict Even within elite and middle class, Victorian morality never totally accepted As century ended more questioned those beliefs, gap between well to do and working class grew By 1900 Victorian social and moral ethos was crumbling

31. The Genteel Tradition and Its Critics 1870s and 1880s upper class writers and magazine editors codified Victorian standards for literature and the arts Worked to improve US taste in interior furnishings, textiles, ceramics, wallpaper, books 1880 editors of highbrow periodicals set new guidelines for serious literature Henry James and William Dean Howells in The Atlanticlead movement Interest in art for art’s sake paralleled broader crusade called “aesthetic movement” Aroused opposition – ex: Samuel Langhorne Clemens or Mark Twain To compete with elite periodicals Ladies Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, McClure’s lowered their prices – supported themselves through advertising Writers of the time labeled: regionalists, realists, or naturalists but categories are imprecise and often overlap Mark Twain and Theodore Dreiser shared similar beginnings – both wrote about human impact of the wrenching social changes taking place and broke with genteel tradition’s emphasis on manners and decorum New discipline of sociology emerged Writings and economic depression/labor agitation of 1890s made it difficult for turn of the century middle class Americans to accept Victorian outlook

32. Modernism in Architecture and Painting Challenge to genteel traditions found in architects and painters too Henry Hobson Richarson changed direction of US architecture 1885 William Le Baron Jenny built 1st skyscraper 1890s William Holabirdand John Wellborn Root broke with established architects and followed lead of Louis Sullivan to create American design Frank Lloyd Wright designed “prairie school” homes that represented modernist break with past styles In painting Winslow Homer, Thomas Eakins’s, Mary Cassatt US greats The gap between rural and small town life with big cities made Americans acutely aware of differences in upbringing and wealth There were huge disparities between rich and poor, rural and urban, native born and immigrants - Victorian platitudes seemed out of touch Not until the Progressive Era would social reformers break with their Victorian predecessors’ social outlook

33. From Victorian Lady to New Woman Middle class women important in revolt against Victorian refinement but dissatisfaction with Cult of Domesticity didn’t lead to open rebellion Frances Williard – believed women compassionate by nature and drinking was threat to the family – elected president of newly formed WCTU Williardbelieved women had unique moral virtues and transformed it into a rationale for political action – launched crusade in 1880 to win the vote for women so they could vote to outlaw liquor Expanded WCTU to include welfare work, prison reform, labor arbitration, public health –first organization of women – undercut “separate spheres” Network of women’s clubs offered way middle and upper class women could hone their skills in civil affairs Younger women challenged social conventions by joining bike craze - done in groups or alone; used a “split” skirt and made implicit feminist statement that she broke with genteel conventions Gradually shift in ideas about marriage Charlotte Perkins Gilman felt women contribute to society only when they won economic independence from men through work outside home Rise in divorce rate between 1880 and 1900 In short stories Mary Wilkins Freeman compared woman’s expanding role to the frontier ideal of freedom Feminist Kate Chopin pushed the debate in 1899 novel The Awakening –heroine fell in love with another man and then killed herself Still attitudes changed slowly

34. Public Education as an Arena of Class Conflict Education highlighted class and cultural divisions 1870s some viewed schools as instrument to indoctrinate and control Due to Horace Mann, most states had public schools by the Civil War William Torrey Harris worked to increase number of years children spent in school 1900 – 31 states required school for children 8 to 14 Prompted protests – NY pediatrician Joseph Mayer Rice - criticized system that stressed memorization and prisonlike discipline Despite influx of immigrants – illiteracy rate for those 10 and older American high schools were coeducational Many working class families valued education, but depended on their children’s wages for survival – some made great sacrifices to get kids education Catholics objected to Protestant orientation of public schools and set up parochial schools Upper class parents who didn’t want to enroll kids in immigrant laden public schools put daughters in female seminaries and sons in private academies and boarding schools US maintained a system of locally run public and private institutions that allowed each part society some influence over the schools attended by its own children Overall school enrollment expanded

35. WRITE: What was at least two ways American culture was changing by the turn of the century? 1:59 1:58 1:57 1:56 1:55 1:54 1:53 1:52 1:51 1:50 1:49 1:48 1:47 1:46 1:45 1:44 1:43 1:42 1:41 1:40 1:39 1:38 1:37 1:36 1:35 1:34 1:33 1:32 1:01 1:00 1:29 1:28 1:27 1:26 1:25 1:24 1:23 1:22 1:21 1:20 1:19 1:18 1:17 1:16 1:15 1:14 1:13 1:12 1:11 1:10 1:09 1:08 1:07 1:06 1:05 1:04 1:03 1:02 1:31 1:30 0:59 0:28 0:57 0:56 0:55 0:54 0:53 0:52 0:51 0:50 0:49 0:48 0:47 0:46 0:45 0:44 0:43 0:42 0:41 0:40 0:39 0:38 0:37 0:36 0:35 0:34 0:33 0:32 0:31 0:30 2:00 0:58 0:27 0:26 0:25 0:24 0:23 0:22 0:21 0:20 0:19 0:18 0:17 0:16 0:15 0:14 0:13 0:12 0:11 0:10 0:09 0:08 0:07 0:06 0:05 0:04 0:03 0:02 0:01 End 0:29 2:00