1. American Culture(s) Fall 2014 / Universidad de Jaén Dr. Kurt Harris

2. American Culture(s) Today’s Topics (East & West): Regional speech Railroads Immigration Cities in the Northeast Farms in the Midwest Cowboys and miners in the West U.S. National Parks

3. American Culture(s) U.S. Regions Northeast Southeast Midwest Southwest West

5. American Culture(s) U.S. Regions: The Southern Accent http://www.asiteaboutnothing.net/w_southern.html

6. American Culture(s) Regional Speech Accents http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NriDTxseog Vocabulary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HLYe31MBrg

7. American Culture(s) Railroads The railroad links the east and west coasts, and points in between, in 1869 The golden spike (the symbolic final spike in the Union and Central Pacific Railroad) was engraved, “May God continue the unity of our country as the railroad unites the two great Oceans of the world” Many Chinese immigrants built the railroad

8. American Culture(s) Immigration “New Colossus” (1883) by Emma Lazarus Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she With silent lips. “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!”

10. American Culture(s) Cities in the Northeast The growth of industry The growth of regulations Immigrant workers in the cities

11. American Culture(s) The Growth of Industry The 1876 Centennial Exposition displays American inventions such as the typewriter, telephone, and sewing machine Discoveries of coal and iron lead to more railways and bigger cities By 1900, over 25% of Americans work in industry By 1913, over 30% of the world’s industrial production comes from the U.S. Edison: “There is no substitute for hard work” Carnegie, Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, and Ford build huge corporations and control entire industries

12. American Culture(s) The Growth of Regulations Upton Sinclair’s 1906 novel The Jungle leads to laws regulating the meat-packing industry Unions protect workers from exploitation Progressives push the government to protect citizens from big business and fix problems; Theodore Roosevelt promises a “square deal” Cities are crowded with people from diverse cultures, and conflict is common

13. American Culture(s) Note on U.S. Presidents Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt 1901-09 William H. Taft 1909-13 Woodrow Wilson 1913-21 Warren G. Harding 1921-23 Calvin Coolidge 1923-29 Herbert Hoover 1929-33 Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) 1933-45 Harry S. Truman 1945-53 Dwight D. Eisenhower 1953-61

14. American Culture(s) Immigrant Workers in the Cities Until 1880, most immigrants were Irish and German; thereafter, many come from southern and eastern Europe: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/03/10/us/20090310-immigration-explorer.html http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/03/10/us/20090310-immigration-explorer.html Immigrants are often exploited because of their cultural and linguistic vulnerabilities The Reed-Johnson Immigration Act of 1924 imposes quotas on immigrants from specific countries

15. American Culture(s) Farms in the Midwest Settling the Great Plains The Growth of Agricultural Communities

16. American Culture(s) Settling the Great Plains The Homestead Act of 1862 offers free land of 160 acres to Americans Railroad companies offer cheap land to Americans and immigrants In 1876, the Sioux are put on reservations following “Custer’s Last Stand”; the West becomes safe for white settlers

17. American Culture(s) The Growth of Agricultural Communities Survival as a farmer is difficult due to water shortages and over-production Farmers establish cooperative societies to protect their interests Farming communities are relatively small and isolated, the pace of life is slower than in the cities, and the people take care of each other

18. American Culture(s) Cowboys and Miners in the West Cattle ranching grows as railway lines move westward; cowboys move cattle herds in the West for grazing and for slaughter; the beef industry relies on cowboys Gold is discovered in California in 1849; silver in Nevada in 1859; and gold in Alaska in 1897; men rush to the West hoping to become rich Communities of cowboys and miners, comprised mostly of men, grow in the West

19. American Culture(s) U.S. National Parks 1872 Yellowstone becomes the first U.S. national park; today there are 58 Theodore Roosevelt (the “Conservation President”): "We have fallen heirs to the most glorious heritage a people ever received, and each one must do his part if we wish to show that the nation is worthy of its good fortune.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX1IB3RCLzg

20. American Culture(s) In the Next Class I will lecture on the following topics: 1.The Great War 2.The Golden Age 3.The Great Depression