U.S. Industrialization After the Civil War the nation concentrated on expanding its power through Industrializing. There are many factors that contributed to our growth: Technological advances in transportation, communication, and ways of doing business led to enormous growth in wealth and power for some, but many problems arose as well.
White settlement of western lands led to devastated Native American cultures. Politicians and Big Business Leaders took advantage of immigrant and American workers Cities and Factories would become the new homes for immigrants and Americans looking for a better way of life Others would choose to go west and settle land given to them by the government
The West and Railroads The Homestead Act -gave 160 acres of land to people who were willing to stay and develop it for 5 years. These 2million Homesteaders created a demand for goods. These goods needed to be transported creating a demand for Railroads. Companies were encouraged to build the RR’s by the gov’t with free land on either side of the tracks.
The West and Railroads The Bessemer Process made steel quicker and cheaper allowing for more tracks. By 1869 the Transcontinental Railroad was completed allowing Americans to travel from coast to coast. Mostly Irish laborers, also Chinese and Former Slaves. Towns began to emerge at railway stops.
Andrew Carnegie “Rags to Riches”
John D. Rockefeller
JP Morgan
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Rockefeller Center
Carnegie Hall “A man who dies rich, dies disgraced” $380 Million to Charities
Vanderbilt Mansion Hyde Park NY
Rockefeller Mansion Newport RI
Carnegie’s Mansion
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free, the wretched refuse of your teaming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost, to me I lift my lamp beside the golden door.” Emma Lazarus- The New Colossuss The Statue of Liberty
Irish Potato Famine Over 2 million die and 1 million emigrate Black 47 worse year of the famine
Nativist Movement develops out of fear of New Immigration – The Know Nothing Party is created on an anti-immigration platform. There was a fear of taking jobs and a fear of new religions.
Italian Immigration
Immigration and Urbanization - The Big Points: Immigration and Urbanization are closely related and changed the United States dramatically. During the late 1800’s: – Immigrants arrived from Europe and Asia – Cities became crowded and workers lived in unhealthy conditions – Settlers continued to move westward – A large and prosperous middle class continues to develop – Women and immigrants form a large percentage of the workforce
Urbanization Jobs created by industrialization led to a rapid growth of cities. Immigrants and poor Americans lived in multifamily houses known as Tenements. They were crowded, poorly ventilated and dirty, usually w/ one bathroom per floor. Streets were dirty, sanitation was almost non- existent, the rivers were used as sewers, disease spread, poor conditions led to the forming of gangs (organized crime).
Little Italy 1900
Did anyone help immigrants and the poor? Yes, Political Machines- organization keeps a particular political party in power. How?-Helping the poor and immigrants find jobs and housing. What do the politicians want?-Votes
Positives of Urbanization More Job opportunities Advances in technology and Public Transportation – Trolley cars, subways, bridges, elevators Education-better schools, public libraries Cultural Attractions-theaters, museums, restaurants sports (boxing, horseracing, and baseball) Rise of the Middle Class-Managed the workers and other Professionals Blue Collar(laborers)/White Collar(managers)
NYC Subway opens 1904
Brooklyn Bridge Begun1870 Opens 1883
NY Public Library opens1895
Matching Terms Homestead Act, Capital, Corporation, Monopoly, Laissez-faire, Social Darwinism, Robber Baron, Captain of Industry, Company Town, Knights of Labor, AFL, Injunction, Scab, Collective Bargaining, Nation of Nations, Black ‘47, Forced Immigration, Old Immigrant, New Immigrant, Assimilation, Cultural Pluralism, Nativism, Know Nothings, Quota Acts, INS, Urbanization, Tenements, Tweed Ring, Political Machine, Regulate