Coming to Terms With The New Age 1820s1850s

Coming to Terms With The New Age 1820’s-1850’s www. buschistory. net

Patterns Immigration • Most were Irish or German • Between 1820 -1860, the population jumped from 1. 6 % to 11. 2% • Industry welcomed immigration • Life was difficult (harsh living and working conditions)

Immigration • • Irish Potato Famine- 1. 5 million emigrated to the United States Crowded in cities Most came to New York and Boston Developed their own communities- by making money • • German Concentrated in the middle Atlantic Sates (Pennsylvania) Small farmers or artisan Clustering Many cities had a little Germany

Urban America • Between 1820 -1860 urban population grew from 6% to 20% • 5 largest cities: New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, New Orleans • “Instant Cities” • Walking Cities: traveling by foot which was ill suited to the rapid urban growth of the early 19 th century

City Living Conditions • Gap between rich & poor was apparent • 1% of the nation’s population owned 40% of its’ wealth • Poor sanitation led to disease • 1830: urban riots broke out against Catholics and free blacks • 1845: city police force was created to keep order • 1830: ½ million of free blacks • Employment decreased for black men from 1820 -1850 • Wealthy began to lose political power

Industrial Movements • 1833 -1837 strikes in New York city • Skilled workers banned together across craft lines to improve working conditions • General Trade Unions of New Yorkorganized 40 strikes • 1825 - Boston carpenters demanded a 10 hour day Length of the working day • reflected the growing gap between workers and the new middle class • New system of machine politics

Social Control • Ideas of reform spread though word • Three characteristics of the reforms: traditional methods were inadequate, belief in basic goodness of humans, moralistic dogmatism • Lyman Beecher • Woman supported it

Education • Reformers believed children were born innocent; needing encouragement to succeed • 1827 -Mass. Made public taxes to support the schools • North and West more kids went to school • Spread of public education created first real career opportunities for woman • Catherine Beecher Woman would create a friendly atmosphere • Horace Mann created a uniform curriculum and teacher training

Moral Reform • American Temperance society- against alcohol • Woman groups stressed harms of alcohol • Campaigns against prostitution-Female Moral Reform Society • Asylum movementdemanded humane treatment of insane

Utopianism • Utopian communities • Shakers-oldest Utopian group • Foundation of Mormons & Millerites • Charles Fourierseparate work • Joseph Smith founded the Mormon Church

Antislavery • Missouri Compromise • American Colonization Society • Black Antislavery movement • William Lloyd Garrison published The Liberator • Theodore Weld- created Antislavery Society • Abolitionist group began to split: while some pressed for civil equality others didn’t accept social equality

Women’s Rights • From middle class • Grimke sisters- first female public speakers (against slavery) • Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 • Woman fought for political, legal, social equality • fought separate spheres argument