Ch 25 America Moves to the Cities 1865

Ch. 25: America Moves to the Cities: 1865 -1900 Mr. Long AP US History

The Urban Frontier • The Growth of cities – Cities grew both up and out (Skyscraper: George Fuller) • Skyscrapers = more homes/workspace in smaller area – Electric Elevator made them usable – Mass transit made commuting possible • Trolley, subway, railroads, etc. • This also meant cities could grow bigger

Introduction • As we move from an agricultural society to an industrial society people begin to move from the country to the city. – Population is (x 2 from 1870 -1900) • By 1900: 1 of 4 were city dwellers

The Urban Frontier • Why did people move to the city? – JOBS!! (#1 reason) – Lifestyle • Electricity, indoor plumbing, telephones, department stores, etc. – Immigrants (poor)

The Urban Frontier • New Problems with emergence of Cities – Waste (wrappers on products) – Pollution – Impure water – Sanitation – Slums – Danger = wealthy head to suburbs • Before building codes: Chicago fire of 1871 • Little government (corrupt)

New Immigration “Old Immigrants” • 1840 s-1860 s • 2 Million/ decade • British isles/Western Europe – Germany/Ireland/Chinese • Reasons for coming – – No land No food Religious freedom No jobs • Now accepted by Americans “New Immigrants” • 1880 -early 20 th century • 5 Million/ decade • Southern/Eastern Europe – Italians, Jews, Greeks, Poles, etc. • Reasons for Coming – Same as “Old” immigrants • Resented by Americans and “Old” immigrants – “Nativist” FEARS (Outbreed/Outvote)

New Immigrants • Tried to preserve their own culture in America – Parochial Schools – Newspapers – Restaurants – Social Clubs – Lived together (EX: “Little Italy”)

City Movement • The American Government was not ready for city movement (very little enforcement) • “Unofficial Government”- job to assimilate immigrants into American society – Led by bosses like NY’s Boss Tweed (corrupt: Tammany Hall) • Traded jobs/services for votes

City Movement • These corrupt gov’s would ignite social campaign again in US. – “social gospel”: churches job to tackle social issues of the day. – Settlement Houses: offered schooling, counseling to cope with city-life, child-care and cultural activities. (EX: Hull House by Jane Addams) – “Gospel of Wealth”

City Movement • New Opportunities for Women – More work/opportunity = social/economic independence – Black Women: domestic work – Native born whites: social work, telephone operators, secretaries, store clerks, etc – Immigrants: cluster in particular industry by race

Narrowing the Welcome Mat • Anti-Foreignism “nativism” is aroused again (new immigrants) • FEAR = Outbreed and Outvoted by immigrants. • Americans blamed immigrants for… – Shady urban governments – Low wages – Philosophy (Socialism, Communism, Anarchism)

Narrowing the Welcome Mat • Anti-Immigrant organizations form 1. American Protective Association (APA) 1887 • Urged voting against anything foreign 2. Labor Unions = anti-immigrants • • “scabs” If American industry is entitled protection (tariff) why not American workers?

Narrowing the Welcome Mat • Congress takes Action… 1. 1882 banned paupers, criminals and convicts 2. 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act: Chinese banned 3. 1885 Prohibited foreign workers under contract (usually below avg. wage)

Did Americans believe this? • “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door. “

Churches Confront the Urban Challenge • “Social Gospel” –churches job to fix social problems of the day – D. L. Moody (Urban revival movement) – Religious affiliated organization arise • YMCA/YWCA • “Gospel of Wealth”- claimed God caused the righteous to prosper – What is wrong with this thought? – How are they judging monetary achievement?

Darwin Disrupts the Church • Charles Darwin- An English naturalist who proposed theory of evolution. – Evolution- belief that higher forms of life slowly evolve from lower forms. • Natural Selection- nature blindly chose what would survive. • AT A TIME RIPE FOR RELIGIOUS REVIVAL WE SEE A REVERS REVIVAL WITH THE HEIGHTENED SNESE OF SKEPTISIM AS THE BIBLE AS TRUE HISTORY/TRUTH IN ITS ENTIRETY.

Lust for Learning • During this time we see an increase public education. Educational success= new mindset • REASON: – A free government cannot function successfully if the people are ignorant (EX: urban governments)

Lust for Learning • FACTS: – 1870 s state are making grade school compulsory (helped check child labor) – By 1900 = 6, 000 high schools – Free textbooks (taxpayers) – Parochial schools increase with new immigrants – 1870 -1900 illiteracy drops from 20% to 10. 7% • Schools = success

Education for African Americans • The South lagged behind in public education – REASONS • • Civil War Reconstruction Spread out society Most schools for higher education in North = no teachers. • African Americans suffered the most – 44% illiterate!

Education for African Americans • Question: How do African Americans gain the rights/equality of other Americans?

Education for African Americans • Booker T. Washington = champion of black education. – BELIEF: economic independence was the ticket to black political and civil rights. • Founded Tuskegee Institute (1881) – African American institute for agriculture/trades • GOAL: to gain self-respect and economic opportunity.

Education for African Americans • W. E. B Du Bois- American sociologist/civil rights leader. – From Mass. (never really saw racism) – BELIEF: demanded complete equality for African Americans. • “talented tenth”- should be given full and immediate access to American life. – Helped found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909

Hallowed Halls of Ivy • Colleges after Civil War • REASONS: – Increased belief in education = success – Cities = white collar work – Medicine on the rise – Philanthropy – Morrill Act 1862 • Provided land grants for state supported schools – EX: Ohio State, California, Texas A&M

Hallowed Halls of Ivy • Educational opportunity increased for African Americans and Women – By 1880 1 of 3 college graduates were women

March of the Mind • Up to this point colleges were mainly for religious training (theology) • Reasons for traditional curriculum changing… – Darwin’s new ideas (said science and religion didn’t go together) – Industrialization- need for “practical” courses and specialized vocational training in sciences. – Elective System- students choose courses – New Professions- medicine, white collar work, etc.

Appeal to the Press • With a more educated population a new market arises. – Books, newspapers, and magazines – Linotype (1885)- made the printing of material quicker and cheaper (1 man job) – Libraries begin being built • All over not just NE • Philanthropist donate money

Appeal to the Press • A new type of journalism arises = “yellow journalism” – Relies on sensationalism and exaggeration to attract readers. • The WOW factor • There is no need for it to be TRUE • Joseph Pulitzer (NY World) • William Randolph Hearst (San Francisco Examiner) • This journalism is balanced out by the formation of the Associated Press, which brought validity to stories.

Families and Women in the City • Urban life = hard on families (work) – Trends: • Isolation- new stresses – ERA OF DIVORCE is launched • New work habits – Went from a farming society to a industrial society • New family sizes – Families in country = larger (had to get work done) – Families in the city= smaller (more mouths to feed) » Birth control hits the market

Families and Women in the City • Women – More social/economic opportunity = independence • Jobs • Nightlife