Chapter 19Chapter 19TOWARD AN URBAN TOWARD AN URBAN

SOCIETY, 1877–SOCIETY, 1877–19001900

America Past and PresentAmerica Past and Present

The Lure of the CityThe Lure of the City

City becomes a symbol of the new City becomes a symbol of the new America between 1870–1900America between 1870–1900

Explosive urban growthExplosive urban growth– Sources included immigration, movement Sources included immigration, movement

from countrysidefrom countryside– Six cities over 500k by 1900Six cities over 500k by 1900

Three: NYC, Chicago, & Philadelphia had >1MThree: NYC, Chicago, & Philadelphia had >1M

p.540

Skyscrapers & SuburbsSkyscrapers & Suburbs

Steel permits construction of skyscrapersSteel permits construction of skyscrapers– Made possible by the Bessemer processMade possible by the Bessemer process– Louis H. SullivanLouis H. Sullivan, architect who studied at MIT , architect who studied at MIT

& in Paris& in Paris,, invented the skyscrapperinvented the skyscrapper Streetcars allow growth of suburbsStreetcars allow growth of suburbs Streetcar cities allow more fragmented Streetcar cities allow more fragmented

and stratified cityand stratified city– Middle-class residential rings surrounding Middle-class residential rings surrounding

business & working-class corebusiness & working-class core

p.540-541

Tenements and theTenements and theProblems of OvercrowdingProblems of Overcrowding

Tenements house working classTenements house working class James Ware and dumbbell designJames Ware and dumbbell design Tenement problemsTenement problems

– OvercrowdingOvercrowding– Inadequate sanitationInadequate sanitation– Poor ventilationPoor ventilation– Polluted water Polluted water

Urban problemsUrban problems– Poor public healthPoor public health– Juvenile crime Juvenile crime

p.541-543

Strangers in a New LandStrangers in a New Land 1890: 15% of U.S. population was foreign-1890: 15% of U.S. population was foreign-

bornborn Most immigrantsMost immigrants moved for economic moved for economic

reasons & reasons & entered through Ellis Island entered through Ellis Island (next slide)(next slide)

– Cong sought to keep immigration under control Cong sought to keep immigration under control (i.e., keep out undesirables)(i.e., keep out undesirables)

By 1900, most urban dwellers foreign-born or By 1900, most urban dwellers foreign-born or children of immigrantschildren of immigrants

1880s: Eastern, southern European 1880s: Eastern, southern European immigrants prompt resurgent Nativismimmigrants prompt resurgent Nativism

Nativist organizations try to limit immigrationNativist organizations try to limit immigrationp.543-547

Ellis IslandEllis Island

p.544-545

Immigration to the United Immigration to the United States, 1870–1900States, 1870–1900

p.543

Foreign-born Population, Foreign-born Population, 18901890

p.54680% of NYC residents were of foreign birth/parentage.

Immigrants and the City:Immigrants and the City:Families and Ethnic IdentityFamilies and Ethnic Identity

Immigrants marry within own ethnic groups & have Immigrants marry within own ethnic groups & have more children than native-born Americansmore children than native-born Americans

Immigrant associationsImmigrant associations – Preserve old country language & customs, aid adjustmentPreserve old country language & customs, aid adjustment– Irish Benevolent Society, “We visit our sick & bury our Irish Benevolent Society, “We visit our sick & bury our

dead”dead”– Deutsch-Amerikanischer Nationalbund, 2M members in Deutsch-Amerikanischer Nationalbund, 2M members in

several citiesseveral cities– Polish National AlliancePolish National Alliance

As new immigrants entered American As new immigrants entered American society they clung to the customs of their native society they clung to the customs of their native countriescountries p.547-548

The House That Tweed BuiltThe House That Tweed Built Urban party machines headed by “bosses”Urban party machines headed by “bosses”

– Most famous of the urban political bosses in the Most famous of the urban political bosses in the late 19late 19thth century was William Tweed of NYC century was William Tweed of NYC

– Most trade services for votesMost trade services for votes– Why bosses stayed in powerWhy bosses stayed in power– Good organizational skillGood organizational skill– Helped immigrantsHelped immigrants

Most bosses improve conditionsMost bosses improve conditions Role of bosses can be over emphasizedRole of bosses can be over emphasized

p.548-550

Social & Cultural Change Social & Cultural Change 1877–19001877–1900

End of Reconstruction marks shift of End of Reconstruction marks shift of attention to new concernsattention to new concerns

Population growthPopulation growth– 1877: 47 million1877: 47 million– 1900: 76 million & more diverse1900: 76 million & more diverse

Urbanization, industrialization changing all Urbanization, industrialization changing all aspects of American lifeaspects of American life

p.550-551

Urban and Rural Population, Urban and Rural Population, 1870–1900 (in millions)1870–1900 (in millions)

p.550

Manners & MoresManners & Mores Victorian morality prescribed strict standards Victorian morality prescribed strict standards

of dress, manners, & sexual behaviorof dress, manners, & sexual behavior– Children were to be seen but not heardChildren were to be seen but not heard– Older children were often chaperonedOlder children were often chaperoned

Religious values strongReligious values strong– 80% were church attending Protestants80% were church attending Protestants– Most of the rest were Roman Catholic Most of the rest were Roman Catholic

With slavery abolished, reformers turned to to With slavery abolished, reformers turned to to new issuesnew issues– Women’s Christian Temperance UnionWomen’s Christian Temperance Union

Frances E. Willard Frances E. Willard p.551-552

Leisure & EntertainmentLeisure & Entertainment

Domestic leisure: card, parlor, yard gamesDomestic leisure: card, parlor, yard games Sentimental ballads, ragtime popularSentimental ballads, ragtime popular Entertainment outside homeEntertainment outside home

– Circus immensely popularCircus immensely popular– Street lights, streetcars make evening a time Street lights, streetcars make evening a time

for entertainment and pleasurefor entertainment and pleasure Most popular spectator sport was baseballMost popular spectator sport was baseball

– Increase in spectator sports indicated the Increase in spectator sports indicated the increased amount of leisure timeincreased amount of leisure time

p.552-553

Changes in Family LifeChanges in Family Life

Urbanization, industrialization alter family Urbanization, industrialization alter family Family life virtually disappears among Family life virtually disappears among

poorly paid working classpoorly paid working class Suburban commute takes fathers from Suburban commute takes fathers from

middle-class homesmiddle-class homes Domesticity encouraged, women Domesticity encouraged, women

housebound, child-oriented consumershousebound, child-oriented consumers White middle-class birth rates declineWhite middle-class birth rates decline

– 1800 = 7, 1880 = 4, 1900 = 31800 = 7, 1880 = 4, 1900 = 3p.554

Changing Views: A Growing Changing Views: A Growing Assertiveness among Assertiveness among

WomenWomen "New women”: Self-supporting careers"New women”: Self-supporting careers Demand an end to gender discriminationDemand an end to gender discrimination 1890: Many states were beginning to allow 1890: Many states were beginning to allow

women to control their earnings & inherit women to control their earnings & inherit propertyproperty

Speak openly about once-forbidden topicsSpeak openly about once-forbidden topics– New interest in psychology & medicine made New interest in psychology & medicine made

it “possible” to discuss sexual issues, it “possible” to discuss sexual issues, childbirth which were formerly held as “taboo”childbirth which were formerly held as “taboo”

p.554-555

Educating the MassesEducating the Masses

Trend is toward universal education: By Trend is toward universal education: By 1900, 31 states & territories had 1900, 31 states & territories had compulsory educationcompulsory education

Purpose of public education was to train Purpose of public education was to train people for life & work in industrial societypeople for life & work in industrial society

Teaching unimaginative, learning passive, Teaching unimaginative, learning passive, Webster’s SpellersWebster’s Spellers and and McGuffey’s McGuffey’s ReadersReaders Wm H. McGuffey Wm H. McGuffey (since 1836)(since 1836)

1896: Plessy v. Ferguson allows "separate 1896: Plessy v. Ferguson allows "separate but equal" schools but equal" schools p.555-557

Higher EducationHigher Education Nearly 150 colleges & universities Nearly 150 colleges & universities

founded between 1880 & 1900founded between 1880 & 1900– Many by govt grantsMany by govt grants– Some by private philanthropySome by private philanthropy

Leland Stanford = Stanford U in California ~ $24MLeland Stanford = Stanford U in California ~ $24MJ.D. Rockefeller = U of Chicago ~ $34M J.D. Rockefeller = U of Chicago ~ $34M

Greater emphasis on professions & research Greater emphasis on professions & research & away from training ministers& away from training ministers– 1876: Johns Hopkins University: First separate 1876: Johns Hopkins University: First separate

graduate schoolgraduate school Increasing # of women admitted to collegeIncreasing # of women admitted to college

p.557-558

Higher Education:Higher Education:African Americans African Americans

African Americans usually confined to all African Americans usually confined to all black institutionsblack institutions

Booker T. WashingtonBooker T. Washington ~ Tuskegee Institute ~ Tuskegee Institute– Concentrated on practical/trades educationConcentrated on practical/trades education

W.E.B. Du BoisW.E.B. Du Bois ~ Had attended Harvard ~ Had attended Harvard– Advocated professional degrees in medicine, Advocated professional degrees in medicine,

dentistry, & law dentistry, & law – Believed educational advancement was the key Believed educational advancement was the key

to successto success p.558-559

The Stirrings of ReformThe Stirrings of Reform

Social DarwinistsSocial Darwinists see attempts at social see attempts at social reform as useless & harmfulreform as useless & harmful– Things are the way they are ~ Just wait for Things are the way they are ~ Just wait for

evolutionevolution– The laws of nature apply to sociologyThe laws of nature apply to sociology– Herbert Spencer, “Survival of the fittest”Herbert Spencer, “Survival of the fittest”

Reformers begin to seek changes in U.S. Reformers begin to seek changes in U.S. living, working conditionsliving, working conditions

p.560

New CurrentsNew Currentsin Social Thoughtin Social Thought

Clarence Darrow rejected Social Darwinism, argued Clarence Darrow rejected Social Darwinism, argued poverty at crime’s rootpoverty at crime’s root ~ 40 yr career ~ Lawyer ~ 40 yr career ~ Lawyer

Richard T. Ely’s “Younger Economics” urged govt Richard T. Ely’s “Younger Economics” urged govt intervention in economic affairsintervention in economic affairs

Thorstein Veblen’s Theory of the Leisure Class Thorstein Veblen’s Theory of the Leisure Class asserted that classic economic “laws” were masks asserted that classic economic “laws” were masks for human greed for human greed

Liberal Protestants preach "Social Gospel" Liberal Protestants preach "Social Gospel" – Purpose: Reform industrial society Purpose: Reform industrial society – Means: Introduce Christian standards into the economic Means: Introduce Christian standards into the economic

spheresphere p.560-561

The Settlement HousesThe Settlement Houses Famous HousesFamous Houses

– 1886: Stanton Coit’s Neighborhood Guild, 1886: Stanton Coit’s Neighborhood Guild, New York New York

– 1889: 1889: Jane Addams' Hull House, ChicagoJane Addams' Hull House, Chicago– 1892: Robert A. Woods’ South End House, 1892: Robert A. Woods’ South End House,

BostonBoston– 1893: Lillian Wald’s Henry Street Settlement, 1893: Lillian Wald’s Henry Street Settlement,

New YorkNew York CharacteristicsCharacteristics

– Many workers womenMany workers women– Classical, practical education for poorClassical, practical education for poor– Study social composition of neighborhoodStudy social composition of neighborhood

p.562-563

A Crisis in Social WelfareA Crisis in Social Welfare

Depression of 1893 reveals insufficiency Depression of 1893 reveals insufficiency of private charity of private charity

New professionalism in social workNew professionalism in social work New efforts to understand poverty’s New efforts to understand poverty’s

sourcessources Increasing calls for government Increasing calls for government

interventionintervention Social tensions engender sense of crisisSocial tensions engender sense of crisis

p.564-565

The Pluralistic SocietyThe Pluralistic Society Immigration & urban growth reshaped Immigration & urban growth reshaped

American politics & cultureAmerican politics & culture By 1920, most Americans lived in cities & By 1920, most Americans lived in cities &

almost half of them were descendants of almost half of them were descendants of people who arrived after the Revolutionpeople who arrived after the Revolution

Society experienced a crisis between 1870 Society experienced a crisis between 1870 & 1900& 1900

Reformers turned to state & federal Reformers turned to state & federal government for remedies to social ills government for remedies to social ills

p.564

Chapter 19Chapter 19TOWARD AN URBAN TOWARD AN URBAN

SOCIETY, 1877–SOCIETY, 1877–19001900

America Past and PresentAmerica Past and Present

EndEnd