Reform Movement Immigrants Between 1890 and 1914 immigrants

Reform Movement

Immigrants • Between 1890 and 1914, immigrants and their children constituted about one-third of the American population. • Americanization • Learning English and understanding the laws and system of government of the United States • Nativism • A policy of favoring native-born individuals over foreign-born individuals

Urbanization • Urbanization- a process in which an increasing proportion of an entire population lives in cities and the suburbs of cities • In 1860 only 20% of the people in the United States lived in cities with populations greater than 2, 500

Urbanization Major Reasoning • • • Mechanization on the farm Rapidly expanding factories Luxuries: electricity and indoor plumbing, grocery stores, retail stores. • Cities offered a new life and ironically solitude that small towns did not.

Social Issues • High Crime – In 1906 Chicago had an estimated 10, 000 prostitutes, many of whom were under the age of 19. The city also had about 7, 000 cocaine addicts – 2005 - 7, 245 prostitutes arrested and 59, 051 narcotics violations – The murder rate increased from 1. 2 per 100, 000 people in 1900 to 6. 8 per 100, 000 in 1920 – 2005 – 5. 6 : 16, 692 -total

• • • Poor infrastructure Over crowding Poor Sanitation

CAN THE LAW REACH HIM? THE DWARF AND THE GIANT THIEF. Cartoon by Thomas Nast, c. 1872

Political Corruption • Spoils system • Bribery • Political Machines-sophisticated organizations established to win votes • Ward Boss- controlled jobs, contracts, and favors • Tammany Hall Machine - New York City – 1854 -1934 – a job, a bag of coal, legal advice

Congressional Action • In 1903 Congress prohibited individuals "dangerous to the public welfare, " meaning political radicals, from immigrating • Dillingham Commission – 1907 -1911 – Concluded that immigrants from eastern and southern Europe were not assimilating as well as the immigrants from western and northern Europe – The commission recommended limiting immigration from southern and eastern Europe

The Eugenics Movement • The movement to improve the human race – Some state legislatures allowed forced sterilization of criminals and individuals who were diagnosed as having severe mental disabilities

• Charles Darwin – Wrote On the Origin of Species, and was the originator of Natural Selection. • Natural Selection – The idea that animals reproduce faster than the food supply, so only the fittest survive to reproduce.

Populism 1890 • Granger movement – 1875 - had over a million members – Tired to benefit from an economy of scale • Farmer’s alliance – One in the South – One on the plains – Controlled 8 state legislatures & had 47 representatives in Congress during the 1890 s.

William Jennings Bryan “Cross of Gold” Speech Former Democrat – Three time populist nominee for president • The People’s Party “You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold”!

Populist - Reform Issues • Elimination of the gold standard. Populists supported the Silver Standards which would have made money cheaper and more available. – This would have created inflationary pressure and raised prices. If a silver standard would not be accepted they would have settled for bimetallism. • Passage of a graduated income tax. • The end of life tenure for Federal Judges.

• The end of the printing of paper currency by nationally chartered private banks. • Public ownership of railroads and telegraphs • Direct election of Senators • Restriction of undesirable immigration. • An 8 - hour work day for government employees.

Why Did Populism Decline? • The economy experienced rapid change. • The era of small producers and farmers was fading away. • Race divided the Populist Party, especially in the South. • The Populists were not able to break existing party loyalties. • Most of their agenda was co-opted by the Democratic Party.

Progressivism in Action

Reforming State and City Governments • Direct primaries-All party members could vote on which candidate a party would support for office • Initiative-allowed citizens to introduce a bill into the legislature and required members to take a vote on it • Referendum-allows voters to vote on purposed laws • Recall-This measure allows voters to remove an elected official from office before their term is up • 17 th amendment-provided for the direct election of senators by the citizens of the state • Commission form of government – the mayor/council form is replaced by a commission of five experts in their field.

Governmental Regulation of Business • In 1914 about 35, 000 people died on the job; another 700, 000 were injured • States established commissions to regulate businesses – Railroads, electric companies, gas companies • 1902 -Maryland passed the first state law requiring employers to buy insurance that would compensate workers injured on the job.

Governmental Regulation of Business • 1916 -Congress passed the Workmen's Compensation Law • 1903 Oregon passed a law that prohibited employing women in a factory or a laundry for more than 10 hours a day • Muller v. Oregon- the Supreme Court upheld the right of the state to regulate business to protect the public interest • "The overwork of future mothers, " Brandeis wrote, "thus directly attacks the welfare of the nation. "

Progressives Protecting Children • Juvenile courts • Public education – – – 1850 there were 200 high schools 1900 - 6, 000 1920 - 14, 000 1870 approximately 20% illiteracy rate 1920 only 6% illiteracy rate • financial assistance to children in homes with no father by State bases

Progressive & Public Interest • Temperance movement – Effort to protect women • Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), founded in 1874 – Frances Willard – 1900 300, 000 members – Most states would pass laws restricting alcohol in various ways

• In order to achieve a nationwide solution, the temperance movement, like other progressive reforms, would have to convince Congress and the President to take a more active role in social reform

Women’s Suffrage • Suffrage-The right to vote • Seneca Falls, New York 1848 – First major women's rights conference • By 1890 women had won at least partial suffrage in 19 states • The National American Woman Suffrage Association – 1893 -13, 000 members – 1910 -75, 000 members

1912 - 9 states, all west of the Mississippi River, allowed women to vote in all elections • 1920 -Nineteenth Amendment – States that no citizen’s right to vote can be denied due to sex

Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) • Formed in Chicago in 1905 - Wobblies • The leader was William D. ("Big Bill") Haywood • Socialist organization that wanted to overturn capitalism • Blamed competition for all social problems • Wanted all workers of the world to unite for the common cause of socialism • Often conflicted with the progressive movement even though they had many common goals

Problems with the Progressive Movement • Many immigrants relied on the political machines for social services • Many immigrants relied on the labor of their children to make ends meet • Many of these immigrants utilized beer and wine in their social events and celebrations.