How Two Halves Make a Whole Cleveland’s Industrial Age: 1870-1899

The Influence of the Rich John D. Rockefeller founded the Standard Oil Refinery, which by 1880, controlled 90% of the refinery industry. Samuel Livingston founded the Mather’s Cleveland Iron Mining Company, which oversaw the management of massive iron ore mines. Amsa Stone built and owned the Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus railways, which helped monopolize Rockefeller’s refineries. https://media1.britannica.com/eb-media/11/70911-004-8BEEC140.jpg https://www.wikitree.com/photo.php/thumb/1/16/Sam_Jane_Livingston.gif/300px-Sam_Jane_Livingston.gif https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Amasa_Stone.jpg/220px-Amasa_Stone.jpg

The Influence of the Rich (cont’d) The huge oil and iron industries combined with the railways brought a lot of money into Cleveland, and influenced the formation of other businesses. By 1870, there were 38 iron and steel plants, as well as 21 coal dealers, 18 breweries, 6 bakers, and 4 flouring mills. However, most of the money that came into Cleveland went to the rich. This money was used to build homes away from the poor, causing the spread of Cleveland’s borders. http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/industrial-revolution/images/3/30/Standard_Oil.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140413152602 http://ech.cwru.edu/Resource/Image/A08.jpg

The Power of Immigration Early immigration lead to huge increases in Cleveland’s population, as well as the amount of workers employed in the city. 1870: 42% of the city’s 92,829 residents were foreign born Germany: 15,855 Ireland: 9,964 England: 4,530 Bohemia: 786 1890: 37% of 261,353 residents were foreign born http://firstindustrialrevolution.weebly.com/uploads/1/9/0/7/19070075/476853297.jpg

The Power of Immigration (cont’d) Most immigrants were workers, not settlers “Birds of passage” came to America as temporary workers. - ⅓ of immigrants returned to their countries of origin between 1899 and 1924 Other reasons they came to Cleveland: Friends and relatives already settled here, location on railroads “Emigrant police” enacted to protect newcomers from swindlers at railroad stations

Immigrants established homes near where they worked and were often disappointed with how dirty they found Cleveland to be. https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/infogram-particles-700/cheyenne_wantye_1389881888.jpg

The Power of Immigration (cont’d) Despite their contributions to Cleveland’s economy, immigrants lived in ethnic neighborhoods and were feared, distrusted, and resented by Cleveland natives. Immigrants often participated in institutions like foreign-language churches, national halls, social clubs, and associations for sports or fine arts Nationality newspapers served as a source of news and information Neighborhoods, although usually poor, created a sense of community

The Power of Immigration (cont’d) : Strike, strike, strike! Cleveland employed 56,919 people in 1880, and wages were equal to or below the national average. In 1886, street railway workers worked 16-18 hours/day, with two minutes for meals. There was a shortage of Cleveland Relief Agencies to assist poor workers, and rates of child orphans and alcoholism soared. Although there were over 100 unions, worker conditions and wages continued to suffer until riots broke out. Eventually, workers won the empathy of the public, and conditions slowly got better.

The Power of Immigration (cont’d) : Strike, strike, strike! https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/92/7a/76/927a766ed8052cfd2f1eab02dd470527.jpg

The Establishment of the Government Every decade the population in Cleveland doubled, overburdening city services and challenging Cleveland to keep up with the demand. In the early 1890s Cleveland operated under the municipal charter. Mayor was a figure head City created special boards and committees to deal with issues that arose. Little accountability to the public In 1891, the city adopted the Federal Plan Mayor became an executive head of city government, who had the authority to appoint directors of 6 major departments: Public Works, Police, Fire, Accounts, Law, and Charities and Correction.

The Establishment of Government (cont’d) By 1890, 69 of 462 miles of streets were paved The importance of city planning and public parks became prevalent. By 1896, 1,200 acres of parkland were created. Public and private schools gained importance: Hathaway Brown, Laurel School, University Schools, and St. Ignatius Water systems were expanded upon, but a lot of untreated sewage still made it’s way into the river systems

The LAND The businesses built by the rich and employed by poor workers combined to form an industrial powerhouse that made Cleveland. It’s roads, skyline, and population were all shaped by both the poor inhabitants and the rich inhabitants of Cleveland.