chapter 15: the gilded age politics, immigration, & urban life
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 15: The Gilded Age
Politics, Immigration, & Urban Life
I. The Gilded Age
II. Post Civil War PoliticsA. Lack of Political Leadership & Corruption
(sheet)* Undistinguished political leadership* Neither party dominated* People expect little from govt… Laissez-faire*Political Scandal and corruption* Tammany Hall & Tweed Ring, Credit Mobilier Scandal, Salary Grab, Whiskey Ring Fraud
II. Post Civil War PoliticsB. Major Issue of the Period (sheet)
Republicans• Industrialists &
bankers• North & Midwest &
southern blacks• Tight money supply w/
gold standard, high tariffs, subsidies to RR, blue laws, limited immigration
• N. urban immigrants, laborers, southern planters, western farmers
• Increased money supply w/ silver standard, lower tariffs, higher farm prices, less subsidies to business, fewer blue laws
Democrats
II. Post Civil War Politics
B. Major Issues of the Period1. Tariffs: Protectionism v. Free Trade2. Currency: “Free Silver”/ “Cheap Money” v. Gold Standard; peak w/ Election of 18963. Civil Service Reform
* Jackson & the Spoils System*1881: Prez Garfield assassinated* Pendleton Act of 1883: exams
II. Post Civil War Politics
C. The “One-Termers”1. Rutherford B. Hayes
* Compromise of 18772. James A. Garfield
II. Post Civil War PoliticsC. The “One-Termers”
3. Chester A. Arthur4. Grover Cleveland
* Interstate Commerce Act; Dawes Act* Served 2 non-consecutive terms
5. Benjamin Harrison* Battle of Wounded Knee
III. The New Immigrants
Old Immigration (1609-1860)
• G. Britain, Germany, N. Europe
• Africans: forced slavery
• Peoples absorbed by conquest and annexation
New Immigrants (1870-1920)
• S/ E Europe• Different languages,
customs, religions (Italian Catholics)
• European Jews: pogroms
• Slavs, Russian, Polish, Czech
• Physical Differences as well.
III. New Immigrants
B. Coming To America1. Journey to America: steerage, Ellis Island, quarantine
2. Immigrant Communities: ghettos; good and bad
3. Assimilation v. Pluralism: “Melting Pot” v. “Salad Bowl”
III. New Immigrants
C. Reaction to Immigrants1. Nativism/ Ethnocentrism
* Cultural & Economic Issues2. Examples of Nativism
* Am’n Protective Association (1887): Catholics* Restrictive Covenants: not sell real estate* Local Laws prohibit from holding certain jobs* Jewish Immigrants: restricted from jobs,
universities
III. New ImmigrantsD. Early Restrictions: See Chart
1. Chinese Exclusion Act (1882): “Yellow Peril”2. Gentlemen’s Agreement (1907): Japan3. Literacy Tests (1917): Read/ write
IV. Urbanization: The Growth of An Urban Nation
A. Negative Effects of City Growth1. Tenements & Company Towns
*Realism: Ash Can School, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets
2. Public Health: disease, sanitation, diets, no hospitals
3. Politics & Political Machines: + and -
4. Tension b/w the Social Groups
IV. Urbanization
B. Positive Effects of City Growth1. New Technologies
*Mass transportation, lights, brides, water & sewage systems
2. Cultural Opportunities* Museums, halls, theaters, newspapers,
dept stores, vaudeville, movies, baseball
3. Educational Opportunties * Morrill Act of 1862
IV. Urbanization
C. The Urban Mixture*Mix: poor, middle class, wealthy… tensions* Development of inventions: consumerism, materialism, better housing, money, leisure time* Wealthy: contribute charities, institutions, operas, libraries* Workers: lacked time, energy, finances to participate* Women: upper class stayed home: reform movements* Rest: traditional jobs… but still work at home* But with economic power….
IV. Urbanization
D. Attempts At Urban ReformJacob Riis: How the Other Half Lives
(sheet)
IV. Urbanization
D. Local Attempts at Urban Reform1. Public Commissions: child labor, conditions, housing2. Social Gospel Movement & Religious Institutions
* Salvation Army, Knights of Columbus3. Municipal Leagues: private groups: eye on corruption 4. Settlement Houses: Hull House/ Jane Addams (1889)