Mini Unit 2.5: Mass culture & progressivism Discrimination, Mass Culture, & Progressivism

Segregation & Discrimination In the South many political leaders were trying to prevent African-Americans from voting. Poll Tax – annual tax that must be paid before you could vote – applied to everyone (kinda) BUT poor white & black sharecroppers couldn’t afford this Grandfather Clause – if your father or grandfather could vote before 1867, you didn’t have to pay.

Segregation & Discrimination Segregation became legal with Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which stated public facilities could separate races as long as they are equal. This legal discrimination was law for almost 60 years! African-Americans were constantly at risk or being lynched or killed without a trial or due process for the offender.

Segregation & Discrimination In the North, discrimination was common in the workplace In the West, Mexican workers were paid less money to work on the railroads. Some African-Americans & Mexicans worked in Debt Peonage – where workers owe their bosses debt and pay it off with their work The Chinese were forced into segregated schools & neighborhoods.

Mass Culture The Middle Class now had more leisure time! Amusement Parks like Coney Island open up in 1884! The 1st Ferris Wheel opened in Chicago in 1893. Bicycling & Tennis become popular among middle class families. Boxing & Baseball take off!

Mass Culture Consumer Culture Begins Coca Cola is originally created to cure headaches but then sold as one of the 1st soft drinks Hershey’s Chocolate Bars were first sold in 1900

Mass Culture Newspapers began to exaggerate stories to gain more readers known as Yellow Journalism Joseph Pulitzer – was an immigrant who started The New York World – his paper emphasized “sin, sex, & sensation” William Randolph Hearst – Owner of The New York Morning Journal – filled the news with exaggerated tales

Progressivism Progressivism: a movement in the late 1800s to end corruption in government & business, & worked to bring equal rights to women & other groups that were left behind.

Progressivism Progressives worked for 4 main goals To Protect Social Welfare To Promote Moral Improvement To Create Economic Reform To Foster Efficiency

Progressivism Progressives Protect Social Welfare YMCA – created libraries, classes, built pools, etc. for the betterment of the population Salvation Army – fed the poor, cared for children in nurseries, etc.

Progressivism Progressives Promotes Moral Improvement Prohibition – the banning of alcohol – began with the Temperance Movements of the late 1800s -18th Amendment made this a national law in 1920

Progressivism Progressives Promotes Moral Improvement The Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) also fought for women’s suffrage & the settlement house movement.

Progressivism Progressives Create Economic Reform Many Labor Union leaders like Eugene Debs support Socialism during this time Journalists began to write about the corrupt sides of businesses. They were known as Muckrakers

Progressivism Progressives Foster Efficiency Assembly Line – Henry Ford - allows the automobile workers to do one part of a bigger job – prevents strikes & keeps workers happy