Urban America Chapter 10 Notes

The Impact Today Industrialization and Urbanization permanently influenced American life. Industrialization and Urbanization permanently influenced American life. –U.S. a magnet for immigrants seeking a better way of life –Cities in the U.S. continue to draw new residents in search of opportunity

Europeans Flood the U.S. By 1900 more than 50% were from eastern and southern Europe By 1900 more than 50% were from eastern and southern Europe Many eastern European Jews Many eastern European Jews

Why Come to the U.S.? Jobs Jobs Few immigration restrictions Few immigration restrictions Avoid forced military service Avoid forced military service Avoid religious persecution Avoid religious persecution Break away from Europe’s class system Break away from Europe’s class system Chance to move up the social ladder Chance to move up the social ladder

Ellis Island Steerage Steerage Ellis Island Ellis Island –New York harbor –24 hours –Medical exams –Labeled –Names changed

Ethnic Cities Separated along ethnic lines Separated along ethnic lines Adopted American culture and language Adopted American culture and language 1 of 3 returned home 1 of 3 returned home Did well if skilled or had money Did well if skilled or had money

Asian Immigrants Angel Island (1910) Angel Island (1910) Japanese Immigrants (1900 – 1908) Japanese Immigrants (1900 – 1908) Chinese Chinese –Overpopulation –Unemployment / Poverty / Famine –Taiping Rebellion (1850) –Central Pacific Railroad hiring

Nativism on the Rise Nativism – Preference for native born people and a desire to limit immigration. Nativism – Preference for native born people and a desire to limit immigration. –Influx of Catholics from Europe threatened Protestants –Labor Unions thought immigrant would work for less or become replacement workers.

Nativists Organize American Protective Association American Protective Association Workingman’s Party of California Workingman’s Party of California Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) –10 year ban on immigrants –Denied citizenship

Urbanization Why the Shift? Why the Shift? –Immigrants lacked money & education –Rural peoples found more jobs that paid better –Cities had more amenities

New Urban Environment Skyscrapers (Louis Sullivan) Skyscrapers (Louis Sullivan) Mass Transit Mass Transit –Horse Car –Cable Cars –Electric Trolley Car –Elevated Train –Subways

Class System High Society High Society Middle Class Middle Class –Industrialization create a growing class –Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, Teachers –Street car subways Working Class Working Class –Tenement housing –$490 per year

Urban Problems Crime Crime Violence Violence Fire Fire Pollution Pollution Disease Disease –Typhoid –Cholera

Urban Politics Political Machines Political Machines –Informal political group Political Bosses Political Bosses Graft Graft Tammany Hall Tammany Hall –William “Boss” Tweed

Gilded Age Mark Twain Mark Twain Corruption, Poverty, Crime, Disparities between the rich and the poor. Corruption, Poverty, Crime, Disparities between the rich and the poor.

Individualism Definition Definition Horatio Alger Horatio Alger –Rags – to – Riches Novels

Social Darwinism Herbert Spencer Herbert Spencer Natural Selection Natural Selection The Church and Darwinism The Church and Darwinism “Gospel of Wealth” “Gospel of Wealth” –Andrew Carnegie –Those who profit from society, owed it something in return.

Realism Descriptions of American Life Descriptions of American Life Writing & Art Writing & Art

Popular Culture Industrialism improved the standard of living. Industrialism improved the standard of living. Saloons Saloons Amusement Parks Amusement Parks Baseball / Football Baseball / Football Vaudeville & Ragtime Vaudeville & Ragtime

Rebirth of Reform Lester Frank Ward (Dynamic) Lester Frank Ward (Dynamic) –Competition is wasteful –Government should regulate economy Naturalism Naturalism –Challenged the thinking of Social Darwinists and Realists –Unregulation of economy and society did not always have the best results.

Helping the Urban Poor Social Gospel 1870 – 1920 Social Gospel 1870 – 1920 Salvation Army Salvation Army YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) Revivalism Revivalism Settlement Houses Settlement Houses –Jane Addams Schools Schools –Americanization –Tuskegee Institute (Booker T. Washington)