Social and Cultural Changes 1877-1900 American life seemed much the same in 1877 as it had been a century earlier. Most Americans were white Anglo-Saxon Protestants, who owned their own homes and led quiet, generally healthy lives. But urbanization and industrialization were changing all aspects of American life.

Manners and Mores Late 19th century Victorian morals Middle class Behaved “properly” Religious values Reform movements Alcohol Pornography Political corruption

Leisure and Entertainment Free time At home playing cards, croquet or other games Music Ballads, ragtime Circus, organized sports (baseball, football, basketball) Street Lights changed American’s leisure habits http://music.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/9905_ragtime/index.shtml

Changes in Family Life Poor Lower Class Family life disappeared I have a little boy at home, A pretty little son; I think sometimes the world is mine In him, my only one… ‘Ere dawn my labor drives me forth ‘Tis night when I am free A stranger am I to my child; And stranger my child to me Poor Lower Class Family life disappeared Middle Class Father commuted Mother-made home a domestic refuge “just a housewife” was almost shameful, domesticity never fully honored

Changing Views: A growing assertiveness among women “New Women” Demanded the elimination of laws that discriminated against them Spoke openly about topics that had long been considered taboo

Educating the Masses States required young to attend school Only to 6th grade Teaching Unimaginative Routine Students were NOT encouraged to be active South-Segregation, Rural poverty 1896- “Separate but equal” school systems

Higher Education Colleges flourished Medicine Nursing Women accepted Booker T. Washington Colleges flourished Medicine Nursing Women accepted Racial discrimination persisted Booker T. Washington-concentrate on vocational education WEB DuBois-wanted equal quality education WEB DuBois

Higher Education for African Americans Booker T. Washington WEB Du Bois Ex-slave Founded the Tuskegee Institute Stressed patience, manual training & hard work Focus on economic gains. Go to school to learn skills Acknowledge white domination. Rather than fight, show they are worthy of their rights Attended Harvard University Civil Rights activist More aggressive strategy Worked his way up and used sociology to study the effect of urban life on blacks Focus: change the environment and people will change Urged African Americans to aspire to professional careers Fight for their rights Get a college education Called for integration of schools and equal opportunity