Chapter 19

By 1900, 40% of Americans lived in cities

11 million immigrants between 1870-1900

The city served as a symbol of opportunity

However, cities were strained in all areas

Cities served as a battleground for benefits and control

Pull factors Young women lead the exodus from

the cities◦ Mechanization and mail-order magazines

Germans (3 m.), English, Scottish, Welsh (2 m.), Irish (1.5 m.)

Along with the Scandinavians these were the Old Immigrants

Chinese population on the west coast despite the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

Migrants and Immigrants

Primary settlement was the city◦ Irish – Boston; later the Italians to NYC◦ 1890 NY – 4/5 foreign born or children

of foreign born Germans to the Midwest Large number of immigrants were

single young men Ellis Island became the central

processing center for immigrants from 1892-1954

The west coast had Angel Island in San Fran. (1910-1940)

Ethnic enclaves Chain migration – relocation near

friends or relatives from one’s original town◦ Pros and Cons of this settlement

Birds of passage; especially the Chinese and Italians◦ But this was mostly the New

Immigrants

Adjusting to an Urban Society

Massive wealth established by the growing industrialists and upper middle class

This created informal residential segregation by income and also “race”

Fashionable Avenues and Suburbs

To justify wealth, many appealed to Victorian morality◦ Financial success was linked to

superior talent, intelligence, morality, and self-control

◦ Thus a network of institutions, from elegant department stores and hotels to elite colleges and universities, reinforced the privileged position of these groups

Middle-Class Society and Culture

Assumptions of Victorian world view◦ 1. human nature is malleable; people

can improve themselves◦ 2. the social value of work; self

discipline and self control also helped the progress of the nation

◦ 3. good manners and the value of literature and the fine arts

◦ Began with the struggle with slavery and alcohol

◦ Dinner-table manners were key a families level of refinement

Manners and Morals

Cult of Domesticity◦ The ideal place for a woman was in

the home◦ But also to foster the artistic

environment that would nurture the family’s cultural improvement

In 1900 only 4% of nation’s 18-21 yr. olds were in college/univ.

Wealthy capitalists begin leaving endowments

150 new colleges/univ. between 1880-1900

Morrill Land Grant Act (1862) Birth of the research university

The Transformation of Higher Ed.

Typified by Tammany Hall in NYC It started with ward bosses who

served as welfare agents; in return was millions in public utility contracts

William Marcy Tweed was the most well known in NY

Political Bosses and Machine Politics

Initially many thought the problem with the urban poor was their lack of self control and self discipline

This also led to an effort to Americanize them

Charles Brace founded the NY Children’s Aid Society in 1853

YMCA was brought to American in 1851◦ By 1900 more than fifteen hundred serving

over 250,000

Battling Poverty

Salvation Army◦ Formed in 1865 London by William Booth

(Methodist); America in 1880◦ Pseudo-military organization that grabbed

the attention of the poor first NY Charity Organization Society

◦ Thought too much overlapping charity undermined the poor’s desire to work

◦ Sent in “friendly visitors” to the tenements to counsel families

◦ Tried to convert the poor middle-class standards of morality and decorum

New Approaches to Social Work

1872 – Anthony Comstock forms the NY Society for the Suppression of Vice

Moral-Purity Campaign

Launched by Washington Gladden Religion should fight social injustice

wherever it exists, even mediate between business and labor (in response to violent strikes)

Best articulated by Walter Rauschenbusch◦ True Christian society would unite all

churches, reorganize the industrial system, and work for international peace

The Social Gospel

New approach: relief workers would need to settle with the poor in their neighborhoods

Jane Addams was the leader She opened Hull House in Chicago They invited the impoverished to plays;

sponsored art projects; held classes in English, civics, cooking; and encouraged immigrants to preserve their traditions

Created studies of conditioned and lobbied officials

The Settlement-House Movement

Many of the women went on to become successful politicians and those active in the Progressive Movement

Unsuccessful nature◦ Many immigrants felt the efforts didn’t

do enough for political power

With the new entrepreneurial wealth and a growing working class, America begins to questions and ponder leisure time

Working class America seeks diversion and relaxation; the wealthiest obviously have the time and money

The more impersonal work became, the more sought after and valued leisure time became

As unions fought for the eight-hour workday, the slogan became “Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, and eight hours for what we will”

Street activity, gymnastics clubs, singing societies, saloons (they reinforced group identity and were the center of immigrant politics)

Sports memorabilia begins to adorn the walls Sporting clubs sprang up, especially bare

knuckled boxing

Streets, Saloons, and Boxing Matches