Gilded Age: Urbanization Chapter 7-1, 2, 4 Characteristics of Cities During the Gilded Age Rapidly expanding outward and upward Improved transportation networks Economic and Cultural center Distinct social classes New opportunities for women Poor living conditions for many Political machine-run governments Ethnic neighborhoods Segregation Urban Expansion Industrial revolution changed how and where people worked U.S. population in 1900 = Urban population 1870-1900 Agricultural innovations forced thousands of farmers into the cities Glitter of cities attracted thousands Factories move to the cities Urbanization: 1
Cities grow upward and outward! Improved transportation allows cities to grow outward Electric Trains Over 5 billion ride a year! Improved technologies allow for skyscrapers Improvements in construction City Pattern Center: Poorest areas ( ) Was previously middle class Usually near Unsanitary Working class, middle class and rich made rings around center of cities Transportation innovations (streetcars, trolleys, subways) allowed wealthier to move out of city Neighborhoods usually 2
Dumbell Tenement Problems in the cities from factories Cities could not keep up with population growth Lacked services like garbage pick-up, had inadequate sewage, etc. were a problem Lack of Tenements were usually unsafe Fire, natural disaster, etc. could cause millions in damage and death to many Slums: Impact on City Government Rapid urban growth taxed ability of local governments to provide services Party Bosses Gave jobs, favors to poor and immigrants for votes Positive: Did help Negative: corruption and offended 3
Immigration immigrants came to U.S. 75% moved to Northeast Growing number from (Italy, Poland, Russia, Austria-Hungary, Greece, Turkey, Syria) etc. Made up 40% of immigrants during this era 60% were still Old Immigrants (Western European countries such as Britain, Germany, Ireland) LIFE IN THE NEW LAND In the late 19 th century most immigrants arrived via boats The trip from Europe took about a month, while it took about 3 weeks from Asia The trip was arduous and many died along the way Destination was Ellis Island for Europeans, and Angel Island for Asians ELLIS ISLAND, NEW YORK Ellis Island was the arrival point for immigrants They had to pass inspection Sick were sent home Immigrants also had to show that they were not criminals, had some money ($25), and were able to work From 1892-1924, 17 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island s facilities 4
ANGEL ISLAND, SAN FRANCISCO, primarily Chinese, arriving on the West Coast gained admission at Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay Processing was much harsher than Ellis Island Asians and Latin Americans Many worked on railroads Performed hardest and dirtiest work By 1880, Asian immigrants in U.S. 9% of California s population Asians: usually stayed Latin Americans: moved to Nativism New Immigrant, Asian and Latin American immigrants faced Seen as more un-american Many Americans felt they could not be into American culture Many cultural and religious differences Would work for lower wages Usually performed the worst jobs were usually anti-immigration preyed upon them 5
(1882) Gov t laws restricting immigration Forbade the immigration of Chinese for a number of years 1898: : Supreme Court ruled 14th Amendment guaranteed citizenship to all persons born in U.S. giving protection to Chinese Americans. Urban Reform Movement Inspired by: Corruption in Corruption in Social Gospel Movement Church membership increased dramatically in late 1800s Social betterment tied to salvation Believed people had the duty to help improve the lives of the Charles Sheldon (1897)- Wanted to ban Felt it was unsafe Children should be in Also a force behind the growing Prohibition movement Prohibition: 6
Settlement house movement (1889) Use religious ideas to deal with poverty, social ills Primary focus: Provide daycare, education and healthcare to poor : How the Other Half Lived (1890) Life of Middle Class Improvements in industry raised the standard of living for many Able to purchase more 7
Higher Education Improved industry meant new careers demanding _ Lawyers, bankers, architects, insurance agents, managers Number of public high schools in 1870 in 1900 Number of kids going to school (1880-1920) Graduation from 53,000 in 1870 101,000 in 1900 Newspaper Industry Booms Increased education meant increased Two newspaper giants at the turn of the century. Advertisements Advertisers used newspapers to sell products Development of People could order goods through the Sears catalog 8
Leisure Growing cities provided parks, museums, amusement parks Coney Island World s Fairs Usually only enjoyed by the upper and middle classes Growth of Baseball was very popular and movies Two Popular New York Destinations Coney Island (log flume) and Central Park Working Class Number of unskilled workers growing and threatening skilled workers Gap between rich and poor Top 10% had 73% of wealth in 1890 Number of unskilled workers, making less money, is increasing 9
Women and children in work force Working class children worked % of Philadelphia s children quit school by 14 in 1900 % of women in work force Wages in 1900 for factory worker Skilled woman: $ a week Unskilled male: $ a week New Freedoms for Women Image of ideal woman at turn of the century: Several states granted women rights Increases in athletic activity Now organizations and charities 1900: % of college grads Women Continued Job opportunities still usually limited to Very little chance to change standing without the right to 10
NAWSA Formation of National American Woman Suffrage Assoc. (NAWSA) by is only territory to give suffrage (1890) National amendment will not be passed until. 11