The Antebellum CityThe Antebellum City

Astor Opera House Riot: May 7, Astor Opera House Riot: May 7, 18491849

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92126509

The Murder of Helen JewettThe Murder of Helen Jewett 10 April 1836: hatchet, fire to cover tracks10 April 1836: hatchet, fire to cover tracks Richard RobinsonRichard Robinson Judge orders jury disregard prostitutes’ Judge orders jury disregard prostitutes’

evidenceevidence acquittal (double standard) acquittal (double standard)

I. City LifeI. City Life

Big growth of cities, especially in Northeast Big growth of cities, especially in Northeast (35% of its populace urban, 1860)(35% of its populace urban, 1860)

Largest city was NYC, but Chicago, Largest city was NYC, but Chicago, Baltimore, San Francisco, etc. also largeBaltimore, San Francisco, etc. also large

As major immigrant port, NYC ever As major immigrant port, NYC ever changing w/ many short-term residentschanging w/ many short-term residents

Mass transit allows explosive growth (NYC)Mass transit allows explosive growth (NYC)

A. Urban ProblemsA. Urban Problems Rapid expansion cause numerous Rapid expansion cause numerous

problemsproblems Lack safe water and waste removal Lack safe water and waste removal

(disease)(disease) Slowly city governments increase activitySlowly city governments increase activity Led efforts at public education; H. Mann: Led efforts at public education; H. Mann:

prepare children for citizenship + work (end prepare children for citizenship + work (end misery and crime)misery and crime)

Education racialized (few blacks), stressed Education racialized (few blacks), stressed obedience, and reflected Protestant obedience, and reflected Protestant influenceinfluence

Urban Riots (1830s–50s)Urban Riots (1830s–50s) Numerous mob attacks on religious Numerous mob attacks on religious

groups (Mormons, Catholics), new groups (Mormons, Catholics), new immigrants (Irish, Germans), and free immigrants (Irish, Germans), and free African AmericansAfrican Americans

Competition is a key factor as separate Competition is a key factor as separate groups vie for scarce jobs, housing, and groups vie for scarce jobs, housing, and street spacestreet space

Cities form professional police forcesCities form professional police forces Laws are passed to restrict blacks and Laws are passed to restrict blacks and

immigrantsimmigrants

B. Urban LeisureB. Urban Leisure

Unlike farms (play and work mix in home), Unlike farms (play and work mix in home), urban leisure is separate from home and urban leisure is separate from home and work; a commodity w/ its own spacework; a commodity w/ its own space

Taverns and churches still social centersTaverns and churches still social centers Urbanites read more, and printing presses Urbanites read more, and printing presses

produce extensive popular literatureproduce extensive popular literature Newspapers, magazines, novels, and Newspapers, magazines, novels, and

autobiographies (some anti-slavery)autobiographies (some anti-slavery)

Many theaters develop as a major business, Many theaters develop as a major business, same w/ circuses and minstrel showssame w/ circuses and minstrel shows

Minstrels criticize market economy as well Minstrels criticize market economy as well as reinforce white racism w/ stereotypesas reinforce white racism w/ stereotypes

Spectator sports grow as a major business, Spectator sports grow as a major business, especially boxing and baseballespecially boxing and baseball

Leisure divided by class, race, and ethnicityLeisure divided by class, race, and ethnicity

C. City CultureC. City Culture

Wealthy form private clubs; others create Wealthy form private clubs; others create their own groups (socialize, save their own groups (socialize, save traditions)traditions) Irish (Hibernians), Germans (Turnvereine), Jews Irish (Hibernians), Germans (Turnvereine), Jews

(B’nai B’rith), blacks (Prince Masons)(B’nai B’rith), blacks (Prince Masons)

Age fragmentation emerges w/ youth Age fragmentation emerges w/ youth culture of Bowery (NYC)culture of Bowery (NYC)

Streets reflect class, race, and ethnic Streets reflect class, race, and ethnic divisionsdivisions

D. Extremes of WealthD. Extremes of Wealth

Some (Tocquville) assert equality exists Some (Tocquville) assert equality exists for white males w/ geographic mobilityfor white males w/ geographic mobility

Widening gap between rich and poor (top Widening gap between rich and poor (top 10% own 75% of US wealth, 1860)10% own 75% of US wealth, 1860)

For urban workers, poverty is a constant For urban workers, poverty is a constant fearfear

Crowding in emerging slums (Five Points, Crowding in emerging slums (Five Points, NYC), poor live a world apart from eliteNYC), poor live a world apart from elite

Contrast homeless orphans w/ mansionsContrast homeless orphans w/ mansions A few rich rose from poverty, but most A few rich rose from poverty, but most

inherited or married wealth, and then inherited or married wealth, and then invested that money in invested that money in commerce/manufacturingcommerce/manufacturing

Small middle class of professionals emerge Small middle class of professionals emerge w/ specialized market economyw/ specialized market economy

Middle class envision home/family as key to Middle class envision home/family as key to their world and valuestheir world and values

II. Women & FamiliesII. Women & Families Men dominate families: own all property and Men dominate families: own all property and

all family members earnall family members earn Most women marry, and marriage limits their Most women marry, and marriage limits their

legal and property rights (some reform on this)legal and property rights (some reform on this) In New England farm families, many In New England farm families, many

daughters work a few years before marriagedaughters work a few years before marriage Number of urban working-class women, Number of urban working-class women,

mainly servants, grows (work whole lives)mainly servants, grows (work whole lives)

A. Idealizing the FamilyA. Idealizing the Family As home ceases to be a source of production, As home ceases to be a source of production,

middle class creates a cult of domesticitymiddle class creates a cult of domesticity Social importance of unpaid female labor at Social importance of unpaid female labor at

home (house upkeep and child rearing)home (house upkeep and child rearing) Unlike men’s world of paid labor, women’s Unlike men’s world of paid labor, women’s

sphere stresses virtue, selflessness, moralitysphere stresses virtue, selflessness, morality Restrict paid jobs open to women; by 1850 Restrict paid jobs open to women; by 1850

teaching is a women’s job (usually unmarried)teaching is a women’s job (usually unmarried)

B. Decline in Family SizeB. Decline in Family Size 1830: average number of children per 1830: average number of children per

woman was 5–6; 1860: number is down to 5woman was 5–6; 1860: number is down to 5 Decline sharpest among urban, native-bornDecline sharpest among urban, native-born In cities, children more an economic burden In cities, children more an economic burden

than an asset; so limit births by traditional than an asset; so limit births by traditional means or new methods (condoms, abortion)means or new methods (condoms, abortion)

More women live to see children become More women live to see children become adults; childhood seen as distinct periodadults; childhood seen as distinct period

C. Single Men & WomenC. Single Men & Women

In cities and w/ market economy, number In cities and w/ market economy, number of people who never marry increasesof people who never marry increases

MA, 1850: 17% of native-born females MA, 1850: 17% of native-born females never marry (much higher than before)never marry (much higher than before)

Alcott (author): example of financially Alcott (author): example of financially independent white female, but difficult lifeindependent white female, but difficult life

III. ImmigrantsIII. Immigrants

1830–60: 5 million enter US, majority from 1830–60: 5 million enter US, majority from Europe (especially Irish, Germans)Europe (especially Irish, Germans)

1860: 15% of whites are foreign born1860: 15% of whites are foreign born Leave native countries because of violence Leave native countries because of violence

and famine; drawn by opportunities of US and famine; drawn by opportunities of US market economymarket economy

States and companies recruit immigrants, States and companies recruit immigrants, and newcomers help family members and newcomers help family members emigrateemigrate

A. Settling InA. Settling In Journey is difficult (crowded, disease), and hard to Journey is difficult (crowded, disease), and hard to

adapt to new country (many return home)adapt to new country (many return home) Because land is expensive, many stay in citiesBecause land is expensive, many stay in cities Germans, Dutch, Scandinavians are able to farmGermans, Dutch, Scandinavians are able to farm Celtic Irish are largest group of immigrants; remain Celtic Irish are largest group of immigrants; remain

in cities as laborers and experience discrimination in cities as laborers and experience discrimination from Protestant majorityfrom Protestant majority

B. Racial Ideas & Anti-CatholicismB. Racial Ideas & Anti-Catholicism Native-born Protestants of British descent Native-born Protestants of British descent

view Celtic Irish as inferior non-white race, view Celtic Irish as inferior non-white race, same w/ blacks, Indians, and Hispanicssame w/ blacks, Indians, and Hispanics

Science classifies races by their alleged Science classifies races by their alleged physical, intellectual, and moral traitsphysical, intellectual, and moral traits

Nativist riots are common (Philadelphia, 1844)Nativist riots are common (Philadelphia, 1844) Besides race and religion, rioters are Besides race and religion, rioters are

motivated by economic competition for low-motivated by economic competition for low-skill jobsskill jobs

C. German Immigrants & HispanicsC. German Immigrants & Hispanics Protestant Germans (the majority) accepted as Protestant Germans (the majority) accepted as

white; non-Protestant Germans (Jews, white; non-Protestant Germans (Jews, Catholics) encounter discriminationCatholics) encounter discrimination

With expansion, many Hispanics fall within US, With expansion, many Hispanics fall within US, and for most, economic status (land) declinesand for most, economic status (land) declines

Tejanos Tejanos (TX) and (TX) and californioscalifornios (CA) (CA) Like Irish, blacks, and Indians, second-class Like Irish, blacks, and Indians, second-class

citizens who struggle to save their culturecitizens who struggle to save their culture

IV. Free People of ColorIV. Free People of Color

Numbers increase (1860: total = 500,000); Numbers increase (1860: total = 500,000); 50% live in North, most in cities50% live in North, most in cities

Ex-slaves contribute to increase; either Ex-slaves contribute to increase; either escape or released when elderlyescape or released when elderly

Because of discrimination, free African Because of discrimination, free African Americans forge cohesive communitiesAmericans forge cohesive communities

Churches are central; also a base for Churches are central; also a base for benevolent associations and schoolsbenevolent associations and schools

A. Racial ExclusionA. Racial Exclusion

Negro Conventions (1830s): protest for Negro Conventions (1830s): protest for equal rights (vote) and against slaveryequal rights (vote) and against slavery

Freedom’s JournalFreedom’s Journal (1827) is first weekly (1827) is first weekly black newspaper, circulated in Northblack newspaper, circulated in North

Free blacks are denied US citizenship; only Free blacks are denied US citizenship; only “free whites” could be citizens“free whites” could be citizens

Most northern and western states pass laws Most northern and western states pass laws to exclude/restrict free African Americansto exclude/restrict free African Americans

B. Segregation & Black B. Segregation & Black NationalismNationalism

Political/legal exclusion expands w/ early Political/legal exclusion expands w/ early social/economic segregation (blacks barred social/economic segregation (blacks barred from public places, stuck in servile jobs)from public places, stuck in servile jobs)

Mothers continue to work even w/ children; Mothers continue to work even w/ children; face racial and gender discriminationface racial and gender discrimination

By 1850s, many freed blacks consider By 1850s, many freed blacks consider abandoning US for Canada or Africa; first abandoning US for Canada or Africa; first time blacks, not whites, support ideatime blacks, not whites, support idea