Gilded AgeGilded Age

Chapter 6Chapter 6

Section 2-4Section 2-4

Gilded AgeGilded Age 1877-1900 is known as the 1877-1900 is known as the

Gilded AgeGilded Age Gilded means “covered with Gilded means “covered with

a thin layer of gold.”a thin layer of gold.” A thin, but glittering layer of A thin, but glittering layer of

prosperity covered the prosperity covered the poverty and corruption of poverty and corruption of much of societymuch of society

A few were gaining A few were gaining considerably but most were considerably but most were destitutedestitute FarmersFarmers ImmigrantsImmigrants

Section 2Section 2ImmigrationImmigration

People were moving in the late People were moving in the late 1800’s1800’s From one country to anotherFrom one country to another From farms to citiesFrom farms to cities

Population in the U. S. rose by 30 Population in the U. S. rose by 30 million between 1865-1920. million between 1865-1920.

Where from? 1870-1890? Where from? 1870-1890? Northwestern EuropeNorthwestern Europe

Where from? 1891-1915? Central Where from? 1891-1915? Central and Eastern Europeand Eastern Europe

Immigrants wanted the freedoms Immigrants wanted the freedoms afforded to citizens of the U.S.afforded to citizens of the U.S.

Traveled by steamshipTraveled by steamship Many could not afford cabins Many could not afford cabins

and traveled below deck and traveled below deck (Titanic)(Titanic)

1882: Federal government started 1882: Federal government started excluding certain groups of excluding certain groups of immigrantsimmigrants

1891: Office of the 1891: Office of the Superintendent of Immigration: Superintendent of Immigration: Required physical examinationsRequired physical examinations If they had certain diseases, they If they had certain diseases, they

had to be quarantined or deportedhad to be quarantined or deported

European ImmigrantsEuropean Immigrants Most immigrants came Most immigrants came

through the “Golden Door” through the “Golden Door” which was NYCwhich was NYC

1892: Ellis Island Reception 1892: Ellis Island Reception area opened for steerage area opened for steerage passengerspassengers

Many immigrants tried to Many immigrants tried to settle in areas with others from settle in areas with others from their homelandtheir homeland Greektown, Corktown, Greektown, Corktown,

Mexicantown (Detroit)Mexicantown (Detroit) Many immigrants were taken Many immigrants were taken

advantage of in the workplace, advantage of in the workplace, especially womenespecially women

Asian ImmigrantsAsian Immigrants

Most came to American through western ports Most came to American through western ports such as San Francisco and Seattlesuch as San Francisco and Seattle ChineseChinese JapaneseJapanese

Due to vast cultural differences between Due to vast cultural differences between Americans and Europeans, Asian immigrants Americans and Europeans, Asian immigrants were especially discriminated againstwere especially discriminated against

Chinese ImmigrantsChinese Immigrants

Railroad companies used many Chinese Railroad companies used many Chinese immigrants—Who were recruited to work on immigrants—Who were recruited to work on the railroads—promised a good life and good the railroads—promised a good life and good pay—Reality: the opposite.pay—Reality: the opposite.

Many moved to areas already settled by Many moved to areas already settled by ChineseChinese

Discrimination of ChineseDiscrimination of Chinese American Labor Unions wanted to exclude American Labor Unions wanted to exclude

Chinese because they accepted low wages, Chinese because they accepted low wages, bringing down the overall wagebringing down the overall wage

Some claimed that the Chinese were inferior Some claimed that the Chinese were inferior and should not become citizensand should not become citizens Help spread racist attitudesHelp spread racist attitudes

Chinese Exclusion Act: 1882Chinese Exclusion Act: 1882 Prevented Chinese laborers from entering the U.S.Prevented Chinese laborers from entering the U.S. Not repealed until 1943Not repealed until 1943

Japanese ImmigrantsJapanese Immigrants Many early Japanese immigrants came from Many early Japanese immigrants came from

HawaiiHawaii Most settled in the Los Angeles areaMost settled in the Los Angeles area Many worked and owned private businesses Many worked and owned private businesses

and produced many cropsand produced many crops Did not compete with Labor Unions, but still Did not compete with Labor Unions, but still

faced discriminationfaced discrimination School segregation of all Asians in San FranciscoSchool segregation of all Asians in San Francisco Banned non citizen Asians from owning land Banned non citizen Asians from owning land

(Webb Alien Land Law: 1913)(Webb Alien Land Law: 1913)

Mexican ImmigrantsMexican Immigrants Many immigrants from Mexico came to the Many immigrants from Mexico came to the

U.S. due to…U.S. due to… Newlands Reclamation Act-1902Newlands Reclamation Act-1902

Irrigated arid land in Southwest: fertile farm landIrrigated arid land in Southwest: fertile farm land Needed workersNeeded workers

Mexican RevolutionMexican Revolution U.S. joining WWI (1917)-demand for workersU.S. joining WWI (1917)-demand for workers Immigration Restriction Act of 1921, which Immigration Restriction Act of 1921, which

limited European immigrationlimited European immigration U.S. needed workers, and Mexicans came to fill U.S. needed workers, and Mexicans came to fill

the needthe need

CitiesCities

Section 3Section 3The Challenge of the CitiesThe Challenge of the Cities

Not only immigrants were coming into the cities, Not only immigrants were coming into the cities, farmers came toofarmers came too Factories produced what farm women hadFactories produced what farm women had Machines replaced manual laborMachines replaced manual labor Farms were failing- People moved to the cities because Farms were failing- People moved to the cities because

farm machines and factory made goods, reduced the need farm machines and factory made goods, reduced the need for farm laborfor farm labor

During Reconstruction, after Civil War, brought During Reconstruction, after Civil War, brought many former slaves to the citymany former slaves to the city

TransportationTransportation Prior to Civil War, cities were small (3-Prior to Civil War, cities were small (3-

4 square miles), people walked to work4 square miles), people walked to work New public trans. allowed people to New public trans. allowed people to

live out side citylive out side city 1832: Public horse drawn carriage on 1832: Public horse drawn carriage on

rails-NYCrails-NYC 1868: El-trains allowed commuters to 1868: El-trains allowed commuters to

bypass congested streets-NYCbypass congested streets-NYC 1873: Cable Cars in San Francisco1873: Cable Cars in San Francisco 1888: Electric trolleys in Richmond, 1888: Electric trolleys in Richmond,

VAVA 1897: Subway in Boston1897: Subway in Boston 1893: Automobile (1910-mass 1893: Automobile (1910-mass

produced)produced)

BuildingsBuildings

Cities grew OUT and UPCities grew OUT and UP Bessemer Steel process made Bessemer Steel process made

building tall buildings possiblebuilding tall buildings possible First Skyscraper: Chicago’s Home First Skyscraper: Chicago’s Home

Insurance Company Building =10 Insurance Company Building =10 stories tallstories tall

Relied on elevators to get to topRelied on elevators to get to top Elisha Graves invented safe passenger Elisha Graves invented safe passenger

elevatorselevators Specialized areas of businessesSpecialized areas of businesses

Center: government and financial Center: government and financial offices, and retailoffices, and retail

Surrounding the center: industrial and Surrounding the center: industrial and warehouse businesseswarehouse businesses

Urban LivingUrban Living

Need for housing grew Need for housing grew as cities grewas cities grew

Some middle class Some middle class moved to the suburbsmoved to the suburbs

Urban workers found Urban workers found housing where they housing where they couldcould Tenements were low Tenements were low

cost, run down, crowded cost, run down, crowded apartmentsapartments

Tenements continued…Tenements continued… Fire danger was biggest threat—Fire danger was biggest threat—

spread quicklyspread quickly Great Chicago Fire of 1871Great Chicago Fire of 1871 Boston Fire of 1872Boston Fire of 1872 Billons (today’s $ amount) of Billons (today’s $ amount) of

dollars of damage; many dead and dollars of damage; many dead and homelesshomeless

Disease Disease Contagious diseases spread Contagious diseases spread

quicklyquickly TuberculosisTuberculosis

Children especially vulnerable Children especially vulnerable

Jacob RiisJacob Riis

Immigrant from DenmarkImmigrant from Denmark Worked as a reporter for NYC newspapersWorked as a reporter for NYC newspapers Reported on the conditions of the immigrantsReported on the conditions of the immigrants Used new technology of flash photographyUsed new technology of flash photography As a result of his work, New York passed the As a result of his work, New York passed the

first laws to improve tenementsfirst laws to improve tenements

Jacob RiisJacob Riis

Ghetto: area where an ethnic or racial group Ghetto: area where an ethnic or racial group was dominantwas dominant

Some ghettos were created because…Some ghettos were created because… People felt comfortable around their own culturesPeople felt comfortable around their own cultures Familiar language and customsFamiliar language and customs

Some ghettos were created by…Some ghettos were created by… ““Unspoken boundaries” drawn by streetsUnspoken boundaries” drawn by streets Restrictive covenants: Agreements by Restrictive covenants: Agreements by

homeowners not to sell to a particular culturehomeowners not to sell to a particular culture

Results of City GrowthResults of City Growth Middle and Upper class separated from the poor by Middle and Upper class separated from the poor by

moving out of the citymoving out of the city Urban growth led to the development of new city Urban growth led to the development of new city

organization and worked on improving utilities and organization and worked on improving utilities and services, such as police, fire, water and sewer, and services, such as police, fire, water and sewer, and electricityelectricity Raised taxesRaised taxes Gave city governments more money and more powerGave city governments more money and more power

Political BossesPolitical Bosses Political machines kept a certain political party Political machines kept a certain political party

in control through favors’ giving jobs to in control through favors’ giving jobs to immigrantsimmigrants

Headed by a “boss”Headed by a “boss” Many took advantage of immigrantsMany took advantage of immigrants

But immigrants were getting help from “bosses” But immigrants were getting help from “bosses” where other government agencies were not helpingwhere other government agencies were not helping

Some did good for cities, others were corruptSome did good for cities, others were corrupt Cincinnati’s George B. Cox: positive changesCincinnati’s George B. Cox: positive changes NYC’s Democratic Party Boss, William Marcy NYC’s Democratic Party Boss, William Marcy

Tweed: corruptTweed: corrupt

Ideas for ReformIdeas for Reformsection 4section 4

Nativism: favoring native born Nativism: favoring native born Americans over immigrantsAmericans over immigrants Several groups and organizations got Several groups and organizations got

laws passed that restricted immigration laws passed that restricted immigration and rights to immigrantsand rights to immigrants

Prohibition/Temperance movementProhibition/Temperance movement Opposed drinking because it led to Opposed drinking because it led to

personal disasters—especially personal disasters—especially involving immigrantsinvolving immigrants

Main groups:Main groups: Prohibition party-1869Prohibition party-1869 Women’s Christian Temperance Union- Women’s Christian Temperance Union-

18741874 Anti-Saloon League-1893Anti-Saloon League-1893

Many charitable Many charitable organizations created to organizations created to help the needy (poor and help the needy (poor and immigrants)immigrants) Some were based on Some were based on

religious principlesreligious principles Some interfered with Some interfered with

immigrant lifeimmigrant life Many wanted immigrants to Many wanted immigrants to

adopt American way of lifeadopt American way of life

Most charitable organizations Most charitable organizations really wanted to help the really wanted to help the needyneedy

Settlement MovementSettlement Movement Move into needy neighborhood Move into needy neighborhood

and provide social services—and provide social services—people had to experience itpeople had to experience it

Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr created the Hull House—Starr created the Hull House—ChicagoChicago

Very successful as it expanded Very successful as it expanded to help the community as a to help the community as a wholewhole

Provided economic, social, Provided economic, social, cultural, and educational help cultural, and educational help for allfor all

Very successful - expanded Very successful - expanded throughout entire nationthroughout entire nation

Michigan Department of Education Michigan Department of Education Social Studies Content Expectations Social Studies Content Expectations

U.S. History and GeographyU.S. History and Geography 6.1.1d6.1.1d 6.1.1f6.1.1f 6.1.3a6.1.3a 6.1.3b6.1.3b 6.1.3c6.1.3c 6.1.3d6.1.3d 6.1.3e6.1.3e 6.3.2d6.3.2d 6.3.2e6.3.2e