1. 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.

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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