Chapter 15 Urban America Section 1: Immigration

Europeans Flood into the United States (Pages 464-467) By the late 1800’s, most European states made it easy to move to America. By the 1890’s, eastern and southern Europeans make up more than half of all immigrants. Of the 14 million immigrants who arrived between 1860 and 1900, many were European Jews. America offered immigrants employment, few immigration restrictions, avoidance of military service, religious freedom, and the chance to move up the social ladder.

Europeans Flood into the United States (Pages 464-467) Most immigrants took the difficult trip to America in steerage, the least expensive accommodations on a steamship. The 14-day trip usually ended at Ellis Island, a small island in New York Harbor. It served as a processing center for most immigrants arriving on the East coast after 1892.

Europeans Flood into the United States (Pages 464-467) Most immigrants passed through Ellis Island in a day. However, some faced the possibility of being separated from family and possibly sent back to Europe due to health problems.

Europeans Flood into the United States (Pages 464-467) Most immigrants settled in cities. They lived in neighborhoods that were separated into ethnic groups. Here they duplicated many of the comforts of their homelands, including language and religion.

Europeans Flood into the United States (Pages 464-467) Immigrants who learned English, adapted to American culture, had marketable skills or money, or if they settled among members of their own ethnic group they tended to adjust well to living in the United States.

Asian Immigration to America (page 467) Severe unemployment, poverty, and famine in China; the discovery of gold in California; the Taiping Rebellion in China; and the demand for railroad workers in the United States led to an increase in Chinese immigration to the United States in the mid-1800’s.

Asian Immigration to America (page 467) In Western cities, Chinese immigrants worked as laborers, servants , skilled tradesmen, and merchants.

Asian Immigration to America (page 467) Between 1900 and 1919, Japanese immigration to the United States drastically increased as Japan began to build an industrial economy and an empire.

Asian Immigration to America (page 467) In 1910, a barracks was opened on Angel Island in California. Here, Asian immigrants, mostly young men and boys, waited sometimes for months for the results of immigration hearings.

The Resurgence of Nativism (Page 468) The increase in immigration led to nativism, an extreme dislike to limit immigration. Earlier, in the 1840’s and 1850’s, nativism was directed towards the Irish. In the early 1900’s, it was the Asian, Jews, and eastern Europeans that were the focus of nativism.

The Resurgence of Nativism (Page 468) Nativism led to the forming of two anti-immigrant groups. The American Protective Association had 500,000 members by 1887. The party’s founder, Henry Bowers, disliked Catholics and foreigners. He wanted to stop immigration. In the 1870’s, Denis Kearny, an Irish immigrant, organized the Workingman’s Party of California. This group wanted to stop Chinese immigration. Racial violence resulted.

The Resurgence of Nativism (Page 468) In 1882 Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act that barred Chinese immigration for 10 years and prevented the Chinese already in America from becoming citizens. This act was renewed by Congress in 1892, made permanent in 1902, and not repealed until 1943.

Section 2: Urbanization Chapter 15 Urban America Section 2: Urbanization

Americans Migrate to the Cities (pages 469-470) The urban population of the United States grew form about 10 million in 1870 to over 30 million by 1900. Immigrants remained in the cities, where they worked long hours for little pay. Still, most immigrants felt their standard of living had improved in the United States. Farmers began moving to cities because of better paying jobs, electricity, running water, plumbing, and entertainment.

The New Urban Environment (pages 470-471) Housing and transportation needs changed due to the increase in the amount of people living in cities. As the price of land increased, building owners began to build up. Skyscrapers, tall steel frame buildings , were constructed for this reason.

The New Urban Environment (pages 470-471) In the late 1800’s, various kinds of mass transit developed to move large numbers of people around cities quickly. Beginning with the horse car, and later to the more sophisticated electric trolley cars and elevated railroads, engineers created ways to move the ever expanding population around the city.

Separation by Class (Page 471) Definite boundaries could be seen between where the wealthy, middle class, and working class people lived. Wealthy families lived in the heart of the city where they constructed elaborate homes The middle class, which included doctors, lawyers, engineers, and teachers, tended to live away from the city. The majority, of urban dwellers were part of the working class who lived in city tenements, or dark and crowded multi-family apartments.

Urban Problems (Page 472) The growth of cities resulted in an increase in crime, fire, disease, and pollution. From 1880 to 1900, there was a large increase in the murder rate. Native born Americans blamed immigrants for the increase in crime. Alcohol contributed to crime in the late 1800’s Contaminated drinking water from improper sewage disposal resulted in epidemics of typhoid fever and cholera.

Urban Politics (pages 472-473) A new political system was needed to cope with the new urban problems. The political machine, an informal political group designed to gain and keep power, provide essentials to city dwellers in exchange for votes. Party bosses ran the political machines. George Plunket, an Irish immigrant, was one of New York City’s most powerful party bosses.

Urban Politics (pages 472-473) The party bosses had tight control of the city’s money. Many of the politicians became wealthy due to fraud or graft- getting money through dishonest or questionable means. The most famous New York Democratic political machine was Tammany Hall. During the 1860’s and 1870’s, Tammany Hall’s boss was William Tweed. He was arrested for corruption and sent to prison in 1874.

Urban Politics (pages 472-473) Although corrupt, political machines did supply important services and help assimilate the ever-expanding population of city dwellers.

Section 3: The Gilded Age Chapter 15 Urban America Section 3: The Gilded Age

A Changing Culture In 1873 Mark Twain and Charles Warner co-wrote the novel, The Gilded Age. Historians use this term to refer to the time between 1870 and 1900. The term gilded- refers to something being gold on the outside with while the inside is made of cheaper material. The authors tried to point out that although this was a time of growth, beneath the surface were corruption, poverty, and a huge difference between rich and poor.

A Changing Culture Industrialization and urbanization caused Americans to look at society in a different way. This gave way to new values, art, and forms of entertainment. A strong belief during the Gilded Age was the idea of individualism. This is the belief that regardless of your background, you could still rise in society.

Discussion Question Why did Mark Twain and Charles Warner call the era from about 1870-1900 the Gilded Age?

Social Darwinism Herbert Spencer, and English philosopher, first proposed the idea. Spencer took Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and natural selection and applied it to human society. Like Darwin’s theory- that a species that cannot adapt to the environment will eventually die out- Spencer felt that human society evolved through competition. He concluded that society progressed and became better because only the fittest people survived.

Social Darwinism Industrial leaders agreed with Social Darwinism! Social Darwinism paralleled laissez-faire, and economic doctrine that was opposed to government interference with business. Many devout Christians and some leading scientists opposed the idea of Darwin’s conclusions about the origin of new species, They rejected the theory of evolution because it went against the Bible’s account of creation.

Social Darwinism Andrew Carnegie, a wealthy business leader, believed in Social Darwinism and laissez-faire. However, he also felt those who profited from society should give something back, so he softened Social Darwinism with his Gospel of Wealth. This philosophy stated that wealthy Americans were responsible and should engage in philanthropy, using great fortunes to further social progress.

Realism A new movement in art and literature, called realism, portrayed people in realistic situations instead of idealizing them as the romantic artists had done. Thomas Eakins (painter) William Dean Howells (writer) Henry James (writer) Edith Wharton (writer) Mark Twain (writer of the first true American novel)

Popular Culture Popular culture changed in the late 1800’s. People had more money to spend on entertainment and recreation. Work became separate from home. People looked to have fun by “going out” to public entertainment.

Popular Culture During the 1800’s, the saloon acted like a community and political center for male workers. Coney Island in New York was an amusement park that attracted working class families and single adults. It offered amusements such as water slides and railroad rides.

Popular Culture Watching sports became very popular in the late 1800’s. Baseball (Cincinnati Red Stockings) Football and Basketball also became very popular.

Popular Culture In the early 1880’s, vaudeville became popular. It was adapted from the French theatre and combined animal acts, acrobats, gymnasts, and dancers in its performances.

Popular Culture Ragtime The most famous African American ragtime composer was Scott Joplin, who became known as the King of Ragtime.

Section 4: The Rebirth of Reform Chapter 15 Urban America Section 4: The Rebirth of Reform

Social Criticism Changes in industrialization and urbanization led to debates among Americans over the issue of how to handle society’s problems. In 1879 journalist Henry George wrote a best-selling book call Progress and Poverty. In 1833 Lester Frank Ward’s Dynamic Society argued that humans were unlike animals because they could think and plan ahead. 1888 Edward Bellamy’s Looking Backward 2000-1887 became a best seller and helped shape the thinking of American reformers, the book tells the story of the perfect society in the year 2000.

Naturalism in Literature Realists argued that people could control their lives and make choices to improve their situation. In a style of writing known as naturalism, writers criticized industrial society. They suggested that some people failed in life due to circumstances they could not control. Prominent naturalist writers all wrote stories of characters caught up in situations they could not control.

Helping the Urban Poor Reformers began to organize to help the poor. Organizations Such As: Social Gospel Movement Salvation Army YMCA Women’s Clubs Settlement Houses Temperance Movements

Helping the Urban Poor Minister Washington Gladden was an early supporter of the Social Gospel Movement. He wanted to apply “Christian Law” to social problems. From 1870 to 1920, members of the Social Gospel group worked to better conditions in cities through charity and justice.

Helping the Urban Poor Baptist minister Walter Rauschenbusch later led the movement. He believed that competition was the cause of many social problems. This led to many churches taking on community functions to improve society by offering: Gyms Social Programs Day Care

Helping the Urban Poor Dwight L. Moody was an evangelical Christian and president of the Chicago YMCA. He founded his own church and by 1867 Moody was so popular that he brought his revival meetings to other cities. He was against Social Darwinism and the Social Gospel: He felt the way to help the poor was by redeeming their souls and not by providing them with services.

Helping the Urban Poor The settlement house movement was promoted by reformers who felt it was their Christian duty to improve the living conditions of the poor. Jane Addams set up settlement houses in poor neighborhoods: Medical Care Recreation Programs English Classes

Public Education In the late 1880’s, the increase of industry resulted in a need for better trained workers: As a result, there was a need for more school and colleges.

Public Education Americanization, or becoming knowledgeable about American culture, was key to the success of immigrant children. Due to the lack of educational opportunities for African Americans, Booker T. Washington, led the crusade to form the Tuskegee institute in Alabama in 1881. The grammar school system in the city divided students into 8 separate grades to help teach successful habits in the workplace.

Public Education The number of colleges greatly increased in the late 1800’s: This was partly a result of the Morrill Land Grant Act, which gave federal land grants to states for the purposes of establishing agricultural and mechanical colleges. College attendance increased The number of Women’s colleges also increased. Free libraries provided education to city dwellers.