Coming to Terms With The New Age 1820’s-1850’s www.buschistory.net
Patterns Immigration Most were Irish or German Between 1820-1860, the population jumped from 1.6 % to 11.2% Industry welcomed immigration Life was difficult (harsh living and working conditions)
Immigration Irish Potato Famine- 1.5 million emigrated to the United States Crowded in cities Most came to New York and Boston Developed their own communities- by making money German Concentrated in the middle Atlantic Sates (Pennsylvania) Small farmers or artisan Clustering Many cities had a little Germany
Urban America Between 1820-1860 urban population grew from 6% to 20% 5 largest cities: New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, New Orleans “Instant Cities” Walking Cities: traveling by foot which was ill suited to the rapid urban growth of the early 19th century
City Living Conditions Gap between rich & poor was apparent 1% of the nation’s population owned 40% of its’ wealth Poor sanitation led to disease 1830: urban riots broke out against Catholics and free blacks 1845: city police force was created to keep order 1830: ½ million of free blacks Employment decreased for black men from 1820-1850 Wealthy began to lose political power
Industrial Movements 1833-1837 strikes in New York city Skilled workers banned together across craft lines to improve working conditions General Trade Unions of New York- organized 40 strikes 1825- Boston carpenters demanded a 10 hour day Length of the working day reflected the growing gap between workers and the new middle class New system of machine politics
Social Control Ideas of reform spread though word Three characteristics of the reforms: traditional methods were inadequate, belief in basic goodness of humans, moralistic dogmatism Lyman Beecher Woman supported it
Education Reformers believed children were born innocent; needing encouragement to succeed 1827-Mass. Made public taxes to support the schools North and West more kids went to school Spread of public education created first real career opportunities for woman Catherine Beecher Woman would create a friendly atmosphere Horace Mann created a uniform curriculum and teacher training
Moral Reform American Temperance society- against alcohol Woman groups stressed harms of alcohol Campaigns against prostitution-Female Moral Reform Society Asylum movement- demanded humane treatment of insane
Utopianism Utopian communities Shakers-oldest Utopian group Foundation of Mormons & Millerites Charles Fourier-separate work Joseph Smith founded the Mormon Church
Antislavery Missouri Compromise American Colonization Society Black Antislavery movement William Lloyd Garrison published The Liberator Theodore Weld- created Antislavery Society Abolitionist group began to split: while some pressed for civil equality others didn’t accept social equality
Women’s Rights From middle class Grimke sisters- first female public speakers (against slavery) Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 Woman fought for political, legal, social equality fought separate spheres argument