Life in America at the Turn of the Century Minority Issues, Social Life Minority Issues, Social Life.

Life in America Life in America at the Turn of at the Turn of the Centurythe Century

Minority Issues, Social Minority Issues, Social LifeLife

A. Minority A. Minority Issues:Issues:Three groups of people faced minorityissues during the late 19th century:

1. Native Americans: U.S. gov’t interaction with the Indians mainly focused on getting them onto the reservations and assimilating them into the American culture. This caused many clashes between the two groups.

2. African Americans

a. States used segregation to ensure that African Americans were treated as second-class citizens. i. The separation was a result of customs,

which means it was de facto de facto (conditions that exist in (conditions that exist in fact, but not actually in fact, but not actually in law).law).

b. b. Jim Crow Laws:Jim Crow Laws: state and local segregation laws enacted mostly in the South in the period of 1876-1965.

(Du jure segregation)c. De facto segregation was occurring

in the North, too, with segregation and discrimination occurring in schools, housing, and employment.

d. Booker T Washington d. Booker T Washington (1856 - (1856 - 1915)1915)

1. A former slave, Washington would rise to prominence in America during the late 1800’s.

2. He headed the Tuskegee Institute, a college for African Americans, which opened in 1881 in AL.

3. Advocated economic independence for African Americans through self-help, hard work, and a practical education

Imagine this in the heart of the South…

during the Gilded Age…

and Jim Crow…

Can you see the accomplishment

Tuskegee was????

Built by the hands and sweat of the tenants..

3. The Voice of Womena. The common belief among Americans

was that careers and married life did not mix.

b. Most women who worked were single (This will change by the turn of the century, and many married women will be working).

c. Most single female workers were between the ages of 16 and 24.

d. Women were paid $3-$5 Women were paid $3-$5 less a week than men.less a week than men.

e. Many were nurses, teachers, clerical workers, or telephone operators.

f. Women also struggled to gain a voice in the democratic processes of America.

g. g. Susan B. AnthonySusan B. Anthony spent over 40 years

traveling America and appearing before

Congress, pushing women’s suffrage.

i. i. Suffrage: the right to a Suffrage: the right to a voice in governmentvoice in government

ii. 1878- Amendment proposal: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. (It stalled for the 2nd time and did not reappear until 1913.)

A Immigrant’s Journey to America

4. Immigrants4. Immigrants

a. Old Immigration vs. New Immigrationa. Old Immigration vs. New Immigration

i. Before 1880s, most immigrants were mainly from northern and northern and western Europe (old)western Europe (old)

ii. After 1880s, most immigrants came from southern and southern and eastern Europe (new)eastern Europe (new)

1.The most immigrants , about 70%, had to pass through the inspections at Ellis Island* the port of

entry in New York Harbor.2. Doctors would examine and question each family of

Immigrants. If an immigrant was found to be ill or unfit or had a contagious disease they would be placed in quarantine and were often returned to their country of origin.

3. Government inspectors administered a literacy test and all immigrants were to prove that they had at least $25.

4. Ellis Island at its peak process 11,000 immigrants a day.

Ellis IslandEllis Island

Ellis Island, New York

• Ellis Island the main point of entry on the East Coast.

• Tactics such as literacy test and health certifications were used to stem the tide.

• Anti-Immigration legislation was common but very little was passed or had an impact.

Immigrant being examined and and Americanized on arrival

Angel Island1. While most Europeans processed

through Ellis Island in New York most Asians entered through Angel Island in San Francisco bay.

2. Angel Island was much more stringent in its questioning and examinations of Asian immigrant.

3. Asian Immigrants were treated like prisoners and as a result riots broke out often over the conditions, the most serious occurring in 1919.

Western Point of entry

• Angel Island in San Francisco Bay, was the main point of entry for Asians into the United States.

Assimilation and conflict

1. Immigrants from all regions of the world experienced what would be known as “Cultural Shock” or a confusion and bewilderment at a culture and language they did not know or understand.

2. Immigrants tended to settle in areas of the cities that shared their language or cultures, Little Italy, Germantown, and Chinatown all became famous ethnic enclaves.

3. Immigrants fought discrimination by creating social associations or “benevolent societies” through which they could borrow money, buy insurance, find work, etc.

4. Ethnic newspapers were established as well as schools directed at that cultural group.

iii. By 1890, the new immigrants made up 70% of the immigrants coming to the U.S.

iv. Nativism *New immigrants did not assimilate well

*They filled jobs that many Americans would not take.

*Resulted in*Resulted in Nativism- Nativism- prejudice of native-born prejudice of native-born Americans against Americans against immigrantsimmigrants

Assimilation and conflict

1. Immigrants from all regions of the world experienced what would be known as “Cultural Shock” or a confusion and bewilderment at a culture and language they did not know or understand.

2. Immigrants tended to settle in areas of the cities that shared their language or cultures, Little Italy, Germantown, and Chinatown all became famous ethnic enclaves.

3. Immigrants fought discrimination by creating social associations or “benevolent societies” through which they could borrow money, buy insurance, find work, etc.

4. Ethnic newspapers were established as well as schools directed at that cultural group.

Ethnic DiversityLittle Italy in New York

China Town in San Francisco

Urban Growth: 1870 - 1900Urban Growth: 1870 - 1900

Which city had the largest population in 1900?

Who do you think a lot of its residents were?

How did the people of that area feel about the newcomers?

• Statue of Liberty!

• Medical / legal inspections… WHY?!?

• Ethnic enclaves

v. Most of the immigrants ended up with low-paying jobs, living in terrible conditions. It was common for them to end up in cramped cramped and overcrowded living and overcrowded living areas– known as areas– known as dumbbell tenementsdumbbell tenements

Dumbbell Tenement, Dumbbell Tenement, NYCNYC

Tenement Slum LivingTenement Slum Living

Struggling Immigrant FamiliesStruggling Immigrant Families

b. Push and Pull Factors of b. Push and Pull Factors of Immigration – Immigration –

i. Pulled by the promise of the the promise of the American dreamAmerican dream..

ii. Pushed by famine, famine, racial/religious/political racial/religious/political discrimination, lack of discrimination, lack of opportunityopportunity in their homeland.

Dumbbell Tenements• Most were located

close to industries and air pollution contributed to ill health in children.

• Jacob Riis would expose the problems of tenement living in the book How the other half lives.

• High rates of crime, alcoholism, and suicide occurred in tenements.

HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES READING

c. Chinese Exclusion Actc. Chinese Exclusion Act

i. Passed in 1882

ii. Excluded all Chinese Excluded all Chinese laborers for 10 yearslaborers for 10 years

iii. First immigration law passed in the U.S. targeted at a specific ethnic group

Pacific ChivalryPacific Chivalry,, Thomas Nast, 1869 Thomas Nast, 1869

d. Immigration Restriction d. Immigration Restriction LeagueLeague

i. Founded in 1894

ii. ii. Proposed a literacy testProposed a literacy test that all immigrants must pass in order to enter the country

iii. Vetoed by President Cleveland as “narrow and un-American”

A Nation of Immigrants: A

Cartoonist Looks at the Times

1. Upper-class Americans lived lavishly and got richer.

2. Middle-class Americans moved to comfortable suburbs and commuted on trains to work.

3. Lower-class Americans lived in city apartments and old neighborhoods that were dilapidated and overcrowded.

B. Social LifeB. Social Life

4. Some urban workers moved into towns with housing built housing built specifically for specifically for them (company them (company towns)towns)

5. Others found apartments and tenements (low-cost apartments that were overcrowded)

6. A glance at life in the city:a. Hundreds of people were packed into

places intended only for a few families.

b.. . Due to poverty, overcrowding, Due to poverty, overcrowding, and neglect, city neighborhoods and neglect, city neighborhoods began to decline.began to decline. c. Trees and grass disappeared; soot

filled the air creating dark and foul conditions in the light of day.

7. Jane Addams – page 231a. Settlement house: large large

buildings in urban immigrant buildings in urban immigrant neighborhoods that provided neighborhoods that provided services for neighborsservices for neighbors and sought to remedy poverty.and sought to remedy poverty. b. What was the name of the settlement house founded by Jane Addams?

Where was it located? c. What were Addams’ goals (What did she hope to do/provide for the people

she was helping?)

8. Social Gospela. During the late 1800’s and on into the

20th century, people began protesting the way of life forced upon the financially misfortunate Americans.

b. One result of this was a new movement known as Social Gospel, Social Gospel, which urged people to apply which urged people to apply Christian principlesChristian principles to the country’s social problems.

c. Many churches began providing services such as job training and education.

9. Changes in Educationa. As life grew more difficult for those

with little education, reformers pushed

to expand the education system. b. Compulsory Education Laws Compulsory Education Laws – –

required required students to go to school;students to go to school; from 1870- 1900, the # of students in public schools doubled.