1. Immigration, Urbanization, Political changes
6b. The Gilded Age
Immigration, Urbanization, Political changes

2. Key Concept
The emergence of an industrial culture in the United States led to both greater opportunities for, and restrictions on immigrants, minorities and women

3. Old immigrants Before the Civil War most immigrants came from
Western and Northern Europe
The characteristics of the Old Immigrants
Educated
Could speak English
Skilled in a profession
Mostly Protestant
Could assimilate easily in society

4. New immigrants
During the Civil War the number of immigrants grew greatly and the people were coming from
Southern and Eastern Europe
Characteristics of the New Immigrants
Mostly poor
No skills
Uneducated
Could not speak English
Jewish, Catholic and Orthodox
Could not assimilate easily

5. Rise of Nativists
Backlash movement of citizens opposed to the high number of immigrants.

6. Americanization Some groups worked to Americanize the new immigrants.
Hull House in Chicago
Jane Addams
Early community center to provide classes and child care.
Social Gospel
Protestant movement
Salvation Army was born from this concept

8. Despite Widespread social prejudices
Immigrants to the cities sought both to “Americanize” and to maintain their own culture.
Many minorities were able to take advantage of new career opportunities

9. Urbanization
Most of the new immigrants located in ethnic neighborhoods in the inner city.
Stayed close to their point of entry.

10. Cities were not prepared for such rapid Growth
Did not have enough affordable housing with led to the building of bell tenements.
Building was a result of the use of electricity and steel.
Cities grew upward.
No building codes or public services.
Result was a poor quality of living in the urban areas.

12. Growth of cities
Led to an enormous gap between the very wealthy and the very poor.
Some enjoyed extravagant “conspicuous consumption”
Others lived in relative poverty

13. Focus Point Watch and discuss “Cities” episode from the series
International and internal migrations increased both urban and rural populations, but gender, racial, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic inequalities abounded, inspiring some reformers to attempt to address these inequities.
Watch and discuss “Cities”
episode from the series
The Story of US

14. Cities
Reflected divided social conditions among classes, races, ethnicities, and cultures.
Economic opportunities provided by the factories overcame the hardships.
New businesses proliferated.

15. Growth of Political Machines
The Gilded Age was a period of vast government corruption on both the national and local level.
Most infamous was the Credit Mobilier scandal of the Grant Administration.
Political machines sprang up in urban areas to provide social services in exchange for political support.

16. These Organizations
Originally began as social clubs for wealthy powerful businessmen.
Began to control elections and the political direction of their location.
These organizations operated outside the law.
Did not run for office themselves, but controlled those that did.
Most famous of these was Tammany Hall of New York City led by William B. Tweed.

17. As the transcontinental railroad was built
More settlers moved west
Encouraged by the economic opportunities provided by the government. (Homestead Act)
US military became involved to protect the settlers.
Buffalo herds were destroyed
American Indians moved to reservations
Assimilationist policies led to reduction of American Indians.
The native culture and identity was threatened.

18. Dawes Act Read and discuss a portion of the Dawes Act.
What was this legislation intended to do?
Did it accomplish that task?
When was the policy of assimilation eliminated?

19. Key Concept 6.3 Focus Point
The “Gilded Age” witnessed new cultural and intellectual movements in tandem with political debates over economic and social policies.
Focus Point
Gilded Age politics was intimately tied to big business and focused nationally on economic issues – tariffs, currency, corporate expansion, and laissez-faire economic policy – that engendered numerous calls for reform

20. Corruption in government
Especially related to big business
Public demanded increased popular control and reform of local, state, and national governments.
Intensity ranged from minor changes to major overhauls of the capitalist system.

21. Violence Occurs Popularity of prominent racist and nativist theories
Supreme Court decision in Plessy v. Ferguson
Local and national policies of discrimination and segregation.

22. Effects of new cultural and intellectual movements
Cultural and intellectual arguments justified the success of those at the top of the socioeconomic structure.
(Henry George)
Some leaders argued that the wealthy had some obligation to help the less fortunate.
(Gospel of Wealth)

23. Women and African Americans
Challenged their “place” in society
Called for political, social, and economic equality.