New Ways of Life and New Entertainment Topic 1.6

When is the GILDED AGE? End of the Civil War until end of centuryEnd of the Civil War until end of century – GILDED AGE – Progressive Era – WWI –1920sRoaring ’20s –1930sGreat Depression – WWII – Cold War

What is the GILDED AGE? Coined by Mark Twain Gilded means “covered with a thin layer of gold” Thin but glittering layer of prosperity covered the poverty and corruption of much of society

What is the GILDED AGE? Time of growth in AmericaTime of growth in America Industrial expansion raised output of nation’s factories and farms Beneath the surfaceBeneath the surface –Unstable economic infrastructure –Discontent caused by depressions, low wages and rising farm debts –Immigration issues Poverty & crime –Corruption

Higher Standards of Living Technological innovations drove the development of new industries This created more jobs, wealth, extra income in consumers hands The cost of living decreased

Vaudeville / Minstrel Show Minstrel Shows-1840sMinstrel Shows-1840s Began to die out as vaudeville gained popularityBegan to die out as vaudeville gained popularity –Blackface ( African American stereotypes ) –African American performers (wearing blackface) sometimes performed Often the only stage jobs they could getOften the only stage jobs they could get Many African Americans switched to vaudevilleMany African Americans switched to vaudeville

Vaudeville / Minstrel Show VaudevilleVaudeville First appeared in the 1870sFirst appeared in the 1870s –Inexpensive variety show

Movies ,000 nickelodeons (theaters set up in converted stores or warehouses that charged a nickel for admission) ,000 nickelodeons (theaters set up in converted stores or warehouses that charged a nickel for admission) –200,000 viewers daily Movies continue to get bigger and betterMovies continue to get bigger and better

Circus The circus train: traveling circus1872- The circus train: traveling circus –“Advance men” promote the show days in advance, drawing in huge crowds. –Several days later the circus train pulled in

Amusement Parks Advances in trolley technologyAdvances in trolley technology –Trolleys extended to lesser populated areas –“Trolley Parks” at the end of the line ½ day off on Saturdays (more common)½ day off on Saturdays (more common) Music, games of skill, rides, beaches, vaudevilleMusic, games of skill, rides, beaches, vaudeville

Sports BaseballBaseball –By far the most popular –Entrepreneurs enclosed fields and charged admission –Development of leagues –1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings (first professional team)

Sports Football (1880s)Football (1880s) –Walter Camp Basketball (1891)Basketball (1891) –Invented by Dr. James Naismith, Springfield, Mass. WomenWomen –Played, but not equally encouraged –Women’s rules

Reading NewspapersNewspapers –Easier printing  mass production –Now w/comics, sports, pictures, etc. –Circulation rises from 2.6 million 1870 to 15.1 million 1900 –Becomes big business  more competition 

Reading Sales tactics changeSales tactics change Yellow JournalismYellow Journalism –sensational mass coverage (murders, vice, scandals, etc.) –Reference to yellow ink in a popular comic strip of the era

Reading-Joseph Pulitzer Hungarian immigrant fought in the Civil WarHungarian immigrant fought in the Civil War Moved to New York 1880sMoved to New York 1880s Started a morning paper the New York WorldStarted a morning paper the New York World Very successfulVery successful Soon started publishing the Evening WorldSoon started publishing the Evening World

Reading William Randolph Hearst Born in San Francisco, California, on April 29, 1863Born in San Francisco, California, on April 29, 1863 New York Morning JournalNew York Morning Journal Competitor for PulitzerCompetitor for Pulitzer Also used Yellow JournalismAlso used Yellow Journalism

Reading MagazinesMagazines Popular FictionPopular Fiction –Dime novels Inexpensive booksInexpensive books –Social protest novels ReformersReformers –Humorous novels The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Music Section of New York City called Tin pan AlleySection of New York City called Tin pan Alley –Became the center of the music publishing industry –Name of the style of popular music developed there Ragtime- originated among African American musicians in the South and Midwest-1880sRagtime- originated among African American musicians in the South and Midwest-1880s Jazz (New Orleans) Jazz (New Orleans) home

The Expansion of Education Topic 1.6

New ways of shopping The middle class tried to imitate the richThe middle class tried to imitate the rich Departments storesDepartments stores –A variety of goods organized into “departments” –Widespread advertising Many women had to work to achieve a middle-class lifestyleMany women had to work to achieve a middle-class lifestyle

New Standards of Living Better sanitation and better medical care=better healthBetter sanitation and better medical care=better health Longer life expectancyLonger life expectancy Made life easierMade life easier –Factory produced clothing and prepackaged food –Technological advances

Horatio Alger American authorAmerican author Juvenile novelsJuvenile novels "rags-to-riches" stories"rags-to-riches" stories –Impoverished boys and their rise from humble backgrounds to lives of respectable middle-class security and comfort through hard work, determination Wrote over 100 booksWrote over 100 books

Growth of Public Schools 1870s- Leaving school at an early age1870s- Leaving school at an early age –Vast majority attended school for only a few years Learned to read, write, and basic arithmeticLearned to read, write, and basic arithmetic –Rural: November to April only

Growth of Public Schools Industry growsIndustry grows –People move to cities –Emphasis on education states had laws requiring children (ages 8-14) to attend schools31 states had laws requiring children (ages 8-14) to attend schools Unevenly enforced (still had a powerful effect)Unevenly enforced (still had a powerful effect)

School Days One-room school housesOne-room school houses –Ages 6 to 14 years old –1 teacher (older students taught younger) –Mostly rote memorization (reading aloud & repeating) –Subjects –Geography – History –R, R, R (Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic)

Immigrants Assimilation for childrenAssimilation for children –Assimilate-to be absorbed into the main culture of a society Public school teachers taught their studentsPublic school teachers taught their students –English literacy –American cultural values-patriotism, & hard work –Traditional American cooking –Traditional American games –Adults attended school at night to learn English and civics (study of the rights and duties of citizens)

Immigrants Some resistedSome resisted –Fearing their children would forget their heritage Parents sent them to religious schoolsParents sent them to religious schools –Learn their own culture and traditions in their native language

Uneven Support Separate schools for whites and African AmericansSeparate schools for whites and African Americans –Minority schools received less money Virtually no schooling for Native Americans.Virtually no schooling for Native Americans. Those that attended: Boarding Schools (far from their families)Those that attended: Boarding Schools (far from their families)

Higher Education new colleges/universities open new colleges/universities open Wealthy contributions to educationWealthy contributions to education Leland Stanford- entrepreneur helped build transcontinental RRLeland Stanford- entrepreneur helped build transcontinental RR –Founded Stanford University in memory of his son Enrollment doubles ( )Enrollment doubles ( ) Soon middle-income families send kidsSoon middle-income families send kids

Women & Higher Ed. Private women’s colleges established by philanthropistsPrivate women’s colleges established by philanthropists 1880/90s: pressure to admit women1880/90s: pressure to admit women –Some, yes; others, no. Most scholarships went to men.Most scholarships went to men. Social prejudice against womenSocial prejudice against women –Too independent  “unmarriageable”

African Americans Many wanted to enroll, but few schools allowed it.Many wanted to enroll, but few schools allowed it. Total enrollment (1890) = 160 African Americans were attending white collegesTotal enrollment (1890) = 160 African Americans were attending white colleges Most were at African American colleges (established during Reconstruction)Most were at African American colleges (established during Reconstruction) –By 1900, there were 2,000 graduates from 34 African American colleges