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By: Julio Avila and Matthieu Cartron
Political, social and economic changes in the second half of the 19th century in the United States
"The Great Surge"
The Great SurgeAn immense wave of immigration in the United States beginning in the 1850's.
Push factors influenced immigrants causing them to leave their home countries.
Pull factors of the Unites States, particularly its economy caused the immigrants to select the country as their new place of residence.
Immigration to The United StatesThe Potato
Famine and the loss of land from the British caused the Irish to leave.
The Economic depression and religious intolerance caused many Catholic and non-Catholic immigrants to leave Germany.
Population explosion
and food
shortage. Opium WarTaiping Rebellion.
After the
Mexican War
in 1849 The U.S.
claimed
territories that
now include Californ
ia, Texas,
Arizona, and New
Mexico.Had the
option to stay
or leave, most
stayed.
MexicanChineseEuropean
Why the United States?Rapid industrialization increased the need for cheap labor in the United States.
The California Gold Rush of 1848: Began when James W. Marshall found gold at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. (minor contributor)
Acquisition of the American western theatre from the Spanish and native populations allowed more land for The United States to prosper from.
The fear of immigrants led to organized groups such as Order of the Star Spangled Banner and the Know Nothing Party
Americans feared immigrants as they could potentially take their occupancies.
Exclusion act of 1875 prevented harlots and convicts from entering the United States, reducing immigration.
There were three exclusion acts passed in 1882, all of which essentially banned Chinese immigration. (All repealed
during WWII when U.S. became an ally with China)
Exclusion act in 1892 barred people who had any history of contagious diseases from entering the country, reducing immigration.
Legislations passed in regards to immigration
Money, Banking and Finance
The steel industrySteel was expensive and was only used for small gadgets such as cutlery until 1857.
Henry Bessemer invented the Bessemer converter in 1857.
Pig iron was then used to mass produce steel.
Allowed railroad manufacturing to increase, as well as a trains load capacity to increase.
The Open Door PolicyProposed by Secretary of State, John Hay in his 1899 circular notes with Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, and Russia. (The Imperial Powers)
Circular notes: A document request by a bank to its foreign correspondents.
The United states had acquired the Philippine Islands due to the Spanish American War (Treaty of Paris) , and therefore had an interest in eastern Asian commerce.
Open Door Policy continued... The imperial nations sought "spheres of
influence" and claimed extraterritorial rights in China.
The United States, including President McKinley did not want this as they were in deep economic relations with China due to the Acquisition of the Philippine Islands.
The Policy essentially requested that the Imperial Powers each would now have equal trade opportunities with China, and that they support the Chinese imperialistic ideology.
The Policy was a success since each power neither officially confirmed nor denied the request.
The Panama CanalThe man made canal cuts through the Isthmus of Panama and allowed for a new and efficient maritime trade.
John Hay leased this land from Columbia for 100 years and paid $10 million plus $250,000 a year until the Canal was finished in 1914.
This allowed the United States to become an economic super power at the time as they controlled one of the most important waterways on the planet
Green Backs
A negative/slang term for the United States paper dollar.
Greenbacks did not have a solid financial backing and banks were reluctant to give customers the full value of the dollar. (Were not backed by a gold or silver reserve only the credibility of the government)
Replaced the demand note in 1862.
The First Legal Tender Act made these bills legal tender and could be used as fiat currency in public and private affairs.
Evolution of the Labor Movement
The Labor Movement
Men returned from war, allowing more women to receive an education.
The competitions for jobs increased dramatically.
The National Labor Union was founded in 1866, and it became the first national labor federation in the United States.
Knights of Labor: First labor organization
Violence: People were willing to go to extreme measures to fight for their rights.
Expansion westward with the Railroad
The Bessemer Converter
Railroad Union's formed (Order of Railway conductors, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers)
These Unions advocated Railroad safety and protection (insurance).
The American Federation of Labor
Began in 1881 and was founded by Samuel Gompers.
Was originally called Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions.
Organized Strikes
Wanted: Standard salaries, proper working conditions
Women and Child Labor
Why Child labor?Cheap (they could be paid less than adults)
They were less likely to go on strike
Children could work in small spaces were adults could not
Easier to control and manage
Often worked in dangerous, and unsanitary conditions
Why did they work? To Support their families.
Child labor continued...In 1900, 18% of all American workers were 16 years old
Many children began their working careers at around the age of seven
12-18 hour workdays, usually six days a week
Most of the children came from poor families
The Fair Labor Standards Act was passed by Congress in 1938. It created age requirements for child labor.
Women in the Work force
The demand for women in factories increased greatly as the United States became more industrialized
The needle industry
Textile manufacturing
Women did not earn as much as men
Employer discrimination toward immigrant women
The women who worked were primarily unmarried, and would withdraw from the labor force once they were married
Married women who did work worked to support the family
Supreme Court impact
Allgeyer vs. Louisiana
1897
Unanimous Supreme Court decision struck down state legislation prohibiting foreign corporations from doing business in the state (Allegeyer and co. wins)
Liberty was interpreted to also mean economic liberty
Adair vs. United States1908
A law passed by Congress in 1898 made it illegal for employers to fire employees because of their participation in labor unions.
The law was found to be unconstitutional as it was not a legitimate exercise of congressional authority to regulate interstate commerce
Lochner vs. New York
1904
A New York law limited the working hours of bakers
The Supreme Court ruled (5-4 in favor of Lochner) that the limits on the working hours violated the due process clause in the fourteenth amendment (interfered with the freedom of contract).
Bibliography
"7 Fascinating Facts About the Panama Canal." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 15 Aug. 2014. Web. 30 Nov. 2014. <http://www.history.com/news/7-fascinating-facts-about-the-panama-canal>.Website
Berliner, Yvonne. History of the Americas: Course Companion. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2012. Print.Book
"THE HISTORY OF MONEY Abraham Lincoln's Greenback Dollar." THE HISTORY OF MONEY Abraham Lincoln's Greenback Dollar. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014. <http://www.xat.org/xat/usury.html>.Website
"LOCHNER v. NEW YORK." Lochner v. New York. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2014. <http://www.oyez.org/cases/1901-1939/1904/1904_292>.Website
"Secretary of State John Hay and the Open Door in China, 1899–1900 - 1899–. - Milestones - Office of the Historian." Secretary of State John Hay and the Open Door in China, 1899–1900 - 1899–1913 - Milestones - Office of the Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014. <https://history.state.gov/milestones/1899-1913/hay-and-china>.