“The Gilded Age” (1865-1900)

1. “The Gilded Age”(1865-1900) Chapters 10-11

2. I. Immigration A. European Immigration: • By 1900: E. and S. Europeans made up more than 1\2 of all immigrants (Italians, Greeks, Russians, etc.) • 1860-1900: 14 million immigrated to the U.S.

4. I. Immigration • Why did Europeans come? (“Push” or “Pull”) 1) jobs 2) very few immigration restrictions 3) to avoid military service 4) for religious freedom 5) a chance to move up the social ladder 6) dreams of getting rich (gold) 7) free land (Homestead Act)

5. I. Immigration • Most immigrants took the difficult trip to America in steerage, the ships cargo holds (cheapest) -crowded, lice-infected bunks, shared toilets (disease spread quickly)

6. I. Immigration “Narrow, steep, and slippery stairways lead to it. Crowds everywhere, ill smelling bunks, uninviting washrooms – this is steerage. The odors of scattered orange peelings, tobacco, garlic and disinfectants meeting but not blending. No lounge or chairs for comfort, and a continual babble of tongues – this is steerage. The food, which is miserable, is dealt out huge kettles into the dinner pails provided by the steamship company. When it is distributed, the stronger push and crowd…” Edward Steiner

7. I. Immigration • The 14 day trip usually ended at Ellis Island, a small island in the NY Harbor -served as a processing center for most immigrants arriving on the East Coast -most passed through in a day -some with contagious diseases were quarantined (a time of isolation) -a few were sent back to Europe

10. I. Immigration • Most immigrants settled in cities -lived in neighborhoods separated into ethnic groups (ex: “Little Italy” in NY) -attempted to re-created their “culture” (churches, newspapers, clubs, etc.) in their neighborhoods

12. I. Immigration • Immigrants who learned English and adapted to American culture adjusted well • 33% returned to Europe shortly after coming to the U.S.

13. I. Immigration B. Asian Immigration: • Why did Asians (Chinese, Japanese) come? (“Push” or “Pull”) • CA gold rush • Taiping Rebellion in China – 20 million dead • Demand for railroad workers

14. I. Immigration • Chinese mainly settled in western cities -worked as laborers or servants or merchants • Jan. 1910: Angel Island in CA opened to accommodate Asian immigrants -most were young males (teens, twenties) -delays could last for months

15. I. Immigration C. Resurgence of Nativism: • Nativism – a preference for native-born people and a desire to limit immigration • Late 1800s: discrimination focused on Jews, Asians, and eastern Europeans • 1882: banned convicts, paupers, and mentally disabled from immigrating to the U.S.

16. I. Immigration • Chinese Exclusion Act (1882): -barred Chinese immigration for 10 years and prevented the Chinese already in the country from becoming citizens -renewed in 1892 -made permanent in 1902 -not repealed until 1943

17. II. Urbanization A. Americans Migrate to the Cities: • Urban pop. = 2,500 or more people -1870: 10 million lived in cities -1900: 30 million lived in cities • Most immigrants lacked the money to buy farms and the education to obtain higher-paying jobs (so…remained in cities)

18. II. Urbanization • Lack of a class system in the U.S. gave immigrants freedom many have never known before • Rural Americans also began moving to the cities for more and better-paying jobs • Other attractions: bright lights, running water, plumbing, museums, libraries, theaters

19. II. Urbanization • New Urban Environment: • As millions moved to the cities…new approaches to housing and transportation were needed • As city pop. grew, demand raised the price of land – owners began to build upward rather than outward • skyscrapers began to appear

21. II. Urbanization -First skyscraper: Chicago’s ten-story Home Insurance Building, built in 1885 -NYC had more skyscrapers than any city in the world • Various kinds of mass transit developed in the late 1800s to move huge numbers of people around cities quickly

22. II. Urbanization -horse car: railroad car pulled by horses -cable car: pulled along tracks by underground cables -electric trolley car -elevated railroad: Chicago -subway: Boston and NY

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24. II. Urbanization • Separation By Class: • Definite boundaries could be seen between where the wealthy, middle class, and working class people lived -wealthy lived in the heart of the city -middle class (doctors, lawyers, teachers) lived away from the city -working class lived in tenements (dark, crowded multi-family apartments) in the city slums

27. II. Urbanization D. Urban Problems: • The growth of cities resulted in an increase of crime, fire, disease, and pollution • Native-born Americans blamed immigrants for the increase in crime • Alcohol contributed to crime in late 1800s • Contaminated drinking water and sewage resulted in epidemics of typhoid fever and cholera

31. II. Urbanization • Urban Politics: • A new political system was needed to cope with the new urban problems -political machine - an informal political group designed to gain and keep power -provided essentials to city dwellers in exchange for votes -ran by party bosses

32. II. Urbanization • The bosses had tight control of the city’s money -many became wealthy due to fraud or graft – getting money through dishonest or questionable means • Tammany Hall – the most famous political machine – led by Boss William M. Tweed • Opponents blasted political machines for their corruption – ex: cartoonist Thomas Nast

34. III. Ideas for Reform • “Gilded Age” – post-reconstruction era (1877-1900) – “gilded” means gold covered – a few people were very rich but most were very poor • Many Americans linked all the problems of the cities to immigrants • Temperance Movement - movement to ban the use of alcohol -members supported prohibition (a ban on the manufacturing and selling of alcohol)

35. III. Ideas for Reform • Purity Crusaders – people who wanted to get rid of the drugs, prostitution, gambling, and other forms of vice (immoral behavior) – often attacked political machines

36. III. Ideas for Reform • Social Gospel Movement- developed within religious organizations -sought to apply the teachings of Jesus to society -focused on charity, justice, and labor reforms -some created settlement houses (community center that offered social services) ex: Hull House – started by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr in 1889

38. IV. Expansion of Education • 1870: 2% of all 17 year olds graduated high school • Parents began to pressure local gov’ts to increase school funding and lengthen the school year • By 1900, many immigrants came to the U.S. so their children could get an Am. public school education (push? or pull?)

40. IV. Expansion of Education • Schools taught literacy (reading and writing) skills • Schools also tried to assimilate immigrants – assimilation (process which people of one culture become part of another culture) – schools were trying to “Americanize” immigrants • Schools were segregated and African-Am. schools received less money than white schools

41. IV. Expansion of Education • 1880-1900: 250 new Am. colleges opened and college enrollment doubled • Separate colleges for women were created by men’s colleges • Some colleges accepted African-Am.’s but most did not (separate colleges created for Afr. Am.’s)

42. IV. Expansion of Education • Booker T. Washington – formed the Tuskegee Institute (AL) in 1881 – focused on vocational skills • W.E.B. Dubois – the first African-Am. to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard – wanted African-Am.’s to focus on liberal arts education – co-founder of the NAACP

44. V. Popular Culture • Saloons were the most popular place where working men gathered – NYC had 10,000 saloons in 1900 • Women went to music halls and theaters • Trolley Parks – amusement park at the ends of trolley lines – popular family spot

45. V. Popular Culture • Moving picture shows began – nickelodeons (theaters set up in converted stores or warehouses) • Vaudeville – live theater shows consisting of racial humor, jugglers, song and dance, etc.

47. V. Popular Culture • Sports became popular – boxing, horse racing – women ice-skated, bicycled, swam, gymnastics -Football began when Walter Camp adapted the game of rugby in the 1880s -Basketball was invented in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith in Springfield, MA – wanted a sport to keep athletes in shape during the winter

49. V. Popular Culture -Baseball was the most popular sport – Cincinnati Red Stockings (1869) became the first professional team – all races were allowed to play together for a short time