Gilded Age Chapter 6 Section 2-4

Gilded Age 1877-1900 is known as the Gilded Age 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 few were gaining considerably such as the industrialists, but most did not benefit and were destitute Farmers Immigrants

Section 2 Immigration People were moving in the late 1800’s From one country to another From farms to cities Population in the U. S. rose by 30 million between 1865-1920. See page 222. See also page 212. Where were most immigrants coming from in the years 1870-1890? Where were most immigrants coming from in the years 1891-1915? Immigrants wanted the freedoms afforded to citizens of the U.S.

Many could not afford cabins and traveled below deck (steerage) Traveled by steamship Many could not afford cabins and traveled below deck (steerage) 1865-1890: northern European countries 1890-1920: central, southern and eastern Europe 1882: Federal government started excluding certain groups of immigrants 1891: Office of the Superintendent of Immigration started determining who was fit for America and who was not Requiring physical examinations If they had certain diseases, they had to be quarantined or deported

European Immigrants Most immigrants came through the “Golden Door” which was NYC 1892: Ellis Island Reception area opened for steerage passengers Many immigrants tried to settle in areas (city or rural) already settled by others from their homeland View map on page 219 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 Chinese Japanese 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. 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 Some claimed that the Chinese were inferior and should not become citizens Help spread racist attitudes Chinese Exclusion Act: 1882 Prevented Chinese laborers from entering the U.S. Not repealed until 1943

Japanese Immigrants Most Many early Japanese immigrants came from Hawaii settled in the Los Angeles area Many worked and owned private businesses and produced many crops Did not compete with Labor Unions, but still faced discrimination School segregation of all Asians in San Francisco 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… Newlands Reclamation Act-1902 Irrigated arid land in Southwest: fertile farm land Needed workers Mexican Revolution U.S. joining WWI (1917)-demand for workers Immigration Restriction Act of 1921, which limited European immigration U.S. needed workers, and Mexicans came to fill the need

Two Immigrant Portraits Page 215-216 Sadie Frowne: Polish immigrant Take Eto: Japanese immigrant Read both accounts Create a T-chart or Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the experiences of both immigrants

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

Model T in 1910

Section 3 The Challenge of the Cities Not only immigrants were coming into the cities, farmers came too Factories produced what farm women had 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 During Reconstruction, after Civil War, brought many former slaves to the city

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

New York City, 1910

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

Tenement

Tenement

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

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

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

Results of City Growth 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 Raised taxes 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 Headed by a “boss” Many took advantage of immigrants But immigrants were getting help from “bosses” where other government agencies were not helping Some did good for cities, others were corrupt Cincinnati’s George B. Cox: positive changes NYC’s Democratic Party Boss, William Marcy Tweed: corrupt

Ideas for Reform section 4 Nativism: favoring native born Americans over immigrants Several groups and organizations got laws passed that restricted immigration and rights to immigrants Prohibition/Temperance movement Opposed drinking because it led to personal disasters—especially involving immigrants Main groups: Prohibition party-1869 Women’s Christian Temperance Union- 1874 Anti-Saloon League-1893

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

Settlement Movement People would move into the needy neighborhood and then provide social services—giving money was not enough—people had to experience it Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr created the Hull House—Chicago, IL Very successful as it expanded to help the community as a whole Provided economic, social, cultural, and educational help for all Settlement Movement was very successful and expanded through out the entire nation

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