Gilded Age Chapter 6 Section 2-4

Gilded Age is known as the Gilded Age is known as the Gilded Age Gilded means “covered with a thin layer of gold.” Gilded means “covered with a thin layer of gold.” A thin, but glittering layer of prosperity covered the poverty and corruption of much of society A thin, but glittering layer of prosperity covered the poverty and corruption of much of society A few were gaining considerably but most were destitute A few were gaining considerably but most were destitute Farmers Farmers Immigrants Immigrants

Section 2 Immigration People were moving in the late 1800’s People were moving in the late 1800’s From one country to another From one country to another From farms to cities From farms to cities Population in the U. S. rose by 30 million between Population in the U. S. rose by 30 million between Where from? ? Northwestern Europe Where from? ? Northwestern Europe Where from? ? Central and Eastern Europe Where from? ? Central and Eastern Europe Immigrants wanted the freedoms afforded to citizens of the U.S. Immigrants wanted the freedoms afforded to citizens of the U.S.

Traveled by steamship Traveled by steamship Many could not afford cabins and traveled below deck (Titanic) Many could not afford cabins and traveled below deck (Titanic) 1882: Federal government started excluding certain groups of immigrants 1891: Office of the Superintendent of Immigration: 1891: Office of the Superintendent of Immigration: Required physical examinations Required physical examinations If they had certain diseases, they had to be quarantined or deported If they had certain diseases, they had to be quarantined or deported

European Immigrants Most immigrants came through the “Golden Door” which was NYC Most immigrants came through the “Golden Door” which was NYC 1892: Ellis Island Reception area opened for steerage passengers 1892: Ellis Island Reception area opened for steerage passengers Many immigrants tried to settle in areas with others from their homeland Many immigrants tried to settle in areas with others from their homeland Greektown, Corktown, Mexicantown (Detroit) Greektown, Corktown, Mexicantown (Detroit) Many immigrants were taken advantage of in the workplace, especially women Many immigrants were taken advantage of in the workplace, especially women

Asian Immigrants Most came to American through western ports such as San Francisco and Seattle Most came to American through western ports such as San Francisco and Seattle Chinese Chinese Japanese Japanese Due to vast cultural differences between Americans and Europeans, Asian immigrants were especially discriminated against Due to vast cultural differences between Americans and Europeans, Asian immigrants were especially discriminated against

Chinese Immigrants Railroad companies used many Chinese immigrants—Who were recruited to work on the railroads—promised a good life and good pay—Reality: the opposite. Railroad companies used many Chinese immigrants—Who were recruited to work on the railroads—promised a good life and good pay—Reality: the opposite. Many moved to areas already settled by Chinese Many moved to areas already settled by Chinese

Discrimination of Chinese American Labor Unions wanted to exclude Chinese because they accepted low wages, bringing down the overall wage American Labor Unions wanted to exclude Chinese because they accepted low wages, bringing down the overall wage Some claimed that the Chinese were inferior and should not become citizens Some claimed that the Chinese were inferior and should not become citizens Help spread racist attitudes Help spread racist attitudes Chinese Exclusion Act: 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act: 1882 Prevented Chinese laborers from entering the U.S. Prevented Chinese laborers from entering the U.S. Not repealed until 1943 Not repealed until 1943

Japanese Immigrants Many early Japanese immigrants came from Hawaii Many early Japanese immigrants came from Hawaii Most settled in the Los Angeles area Most settled in the Los Angeles area Many worked and owned private businesses and produced many crops Many worked and owned private businesses and produced many crops Did not compete with Labor Unions, but still faced discrimination Did not compete with Labor Unions, but still faced discrimination School segregation of all Asians in San Francisco School segregation of all Asians in San Francisco Banned non citizen Asians from owning land (Webb Alien Land Law: 1913) Banned non citizen Asians from owning land (Webb Alien Land Law: 1913)

Mexican Immigrants Many immigrants from Mexico came to the U.S. due to… Many immigrants from Mexico came to the U.S. due to… Newlands Reclamation Act-1902 Newlands Reclamation Act-1902 Irrigated arid land in Southwest: fertile farm land Irrigated arid land in Southwest: fertile farm land Needed workers Needed workers Mexican Revolution Mexican Revolution U.S. joining WWI (1917)-demand for workers U.S. joining WWI (1917)-demand for workers Immigration Restriction Act of 1921, which limited European immigration Immigration Restriction Act of 1921, which limited European immigration U.S. needed workers, and Mexicans came to fill the need U.S. needed workers, and Mexicans came to fill the need

Cities

Section 3 The Challenge of the Cities Not only immigrants were coming into the cities, farmers came too Not only immigrants were coming into the cities, farmers came too Factories produced what farm women had Factories produced what farm women had Machines replaced manual labor Machines replaced manual labor Farms were failing- People moved to the cities because farm machines and factory made goods, reduced the need for farm labor Farms were failing- People moved to the cities because farm machines and factory made goods, reduced the need for farm labor During Reconstruction, after Civil War, brought many former slaves to the city During Reconstruction, after Civil War, brought many former slaves to the city

Transportation Prior to Civil War, cities were small (3- 4 square miles), people walked to work Prior to Civil War, cities were small (3- 4 square miles), people walked to work New public trans. allowed people to live out side city New public trans. allowed people to live out side city 1832: Public horse drawn carriage on rails-NYC 1832: Public horse drawn carriage on rails-NYC 1868: El-trains allowed commuters to bypass congested streets-NYC 1868: El-trains allowed commuters to bypass congested streets-NYC 1873: Cable Cars in San Francisco 1873: Cable Cars in San Francisco 1888: Electric trolleys in Richmond, VA 1888: Electric trolleys in Richmond, VA 1897: Subway in Boston 1897: Subway in Boston 1893: Automobile (1910-mass produced) 1893: Automobile (1910-mass produced)

Buildings Cities grew OUT and UP Cities grew OUT and UP Bessemer Steel process made building tall buildings possible Bessemer Steel process made building tall buildings possible First Skyscraper: Chicago’s Home Insurance Company Building =10 stories tall First Skyscraper: Chicago’s Home Insurance Company Building =10 stories tall Relied on elevators to get to top Relied on elevators to get to top Elisha Graves invented safe passenger elevators Elisha Graves invented safe passenger elevators Specialized areas of businesses Specialized areas of businesses Center: government and financial offices, and retail Center: government and financial offices, and retail Surrounding the center: industrial and warehouse businesses Surrounding the center: industrial and warehouse businesses

Urban Living Need for housing grew as cities grew Need for housing grew as cities grew Some middle class moved to the suburbs Some middle class moved to the suburbs Urban workers found housing where they could Urban workers found housing where they could Tenements were low cost, run down, crowded apartments Tenements were low cost, run down, crowded apartments

Tenements continued… Tenements continued… Fire danger was biggest threat— spread quickly Fire danger was biggest threat— spread quickly Great Chicago Fire of 1871 Great Chicago Fire of 1871 Boston Fire of 1872 Boston Fire of 1872 Billons (today’s $ amount) of dollars of damage; many dead and homeless Billons (today’s $ amount) of dollars of damage; many dead and homeless Disease Disease Contagious diseases spread quickly Contagious diseases spread quickly Tuberculosis Tuberculosis Children especially vulnerable Children especially vulnerable

Jacob Riis Immigrant from Denmark Immigrant from Denmark Worked as a reporter for NYC newspapers Worked as a reporter for NYC newspapers Reported on the conditions of the immigrants Reported on the conditions of the immigrants Used new technology of flash photography Used new technology of flash photography As a result of his work, New York passed the first laws to improve tenements As a result of his work, New York passed the first laws to improve tenements

Jacob Riis

Ghetto: area where an ethnic or racial group was dominant Ghetto: area where an ethnic or racial group was dominant Some ghettos were created because… Some ghettos were created because… People felt comfortable around their own cultures People felt comfortable around their own cultures Familiar language and customs Familiar language and customs Some ghettos were created by… Some ghettos were created by… “Unspoken boundaries” drawn by streets “Unspoken boundaries” drawn by streets Restrictive covenants: Agreements by homeowners not to sell to a particular culture Restrictive covenants: Agreements by homeowners not to sell to a particular culture

Results of City Growth Middle and Upper class separated from the poor by moving out of the city Middle and Upper class separated from the poor by moving out of the city Urban growth led to the development of new city organization and worked on improving utilities and services, such as police, fire, water and sewer, and electricity Urban growth led to the development of new city organization and worked on improving utilities and services, such as police, fire, water and sewer, and electricity Raised taxes Raised taxes Gave city governments more money and more power Gave city governments more money and more power

Political Bosses Political machines kept a certain political party in control through favors’ giving jobs to immigrants Political machines kept a certain political party in control through favors’ giving jobs to immigrants Headed by a “boss” Headed by a “boss” Many took advantage of immigrants Many took advantage of immigrants But immigrants were getting help from “bosses” where other government agencies were not helping But immigrants were getting help from “bosses” where other government agencies were not helping Some did good for cities, others were corrupt Some did good for cities, others were corrupt Cincinnati’s George B. Cox: positive changes Cincinnati’s George B. Cox: positive changes NYC’s Democratic Party Boss, William Marcy Tweed: corrupt NYC’s Democratic Party Boss, William Marcy Tweed: corrupt

Ideas for Reform section 4 Nativism: favoring native born Americans over immigrants Nativism: favoring native born Americans over immigrants Several groups and organizations got laws passed that restricted immigration and rights to immigrants Several groups and organizations got laws passed that restricted immigration and rights to immigrants Prohibition/Temperance movement Prohibition/Temperance movement Opposed drinking because it led to personal disasters—especially involving immigrants Opposed drinking because it led to personal disasters—especially involving immigrants Main groups: Main groups: Prohibition party-1869 Prohibition party-1869 Women’s Christian Temperance Union Women’s Christian Temperance Union Anti-Saloon League-1893 Anti-Saloon League-1893

Many charitable organizations created to help the needy (poor and immigrants) Many charitable organizations created to help the needy (poor and immigrants) Some were based on religious principles Some were based on religious principles Some interfered with immigrant life Some interfered with immigrant life Many wanted immigrants to adopt American way of life Many wanted immigrants to adopt American way of life Most charitable organizations really wanted to help the needy Most charitable organizations really wanted to help the needy

Settlement Movement Settlement Movement Move into needy neighborhood and provide social services— people had to experience it Move into needy neighborhood and provide social services— people had to experience it Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr created the Hull House— Chicago Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr created the Hull House— Chicago Very successful as it expanded to help the community as a whole Very successful as it expanded to help the community as a whole Provided economic, social, cultural, and educational help for all Provided economic, social, cultural, and educational help for all Very successful - expanded throughout entire nation Very successful - expanded throughout entire nation

Michigan Department of Education Social Studies Content Expectations U.S. History and Geography 6.1.1d 6.1.1d 6.1.1f 6.1.1f 6.1.3a 6.1.3a 6.1.3b 6.1.3b 6.1.3c 6.1.3c 6.1.3d 6.1.3d 6.1.3e 6.1.3e 6.3.2d 6.3.2d 6.3.2e 6.3.2e