The Impact of Urbanization and Immigration

In 1890, the populations of New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia all surpassed 1 million. The advent of tall buildings was influenced by Louis Sullivan, while electric trolleys enabled the expansion of city limits. Urban areas became attractive to individuals due to the availability of electricity, indoor plumbing, and telephones. Nevertheless, the increase in disposable bottles, boxes, bags, and cans presented a major waste management challenge within cities.

II. The New Immigration

The New Immigrants in the 1880s came from southern and eastern Europe, originating from countries with limited democratic history.

These individuals were accustomed to difficult living conditions. Some Americans were worried about how well the New Immigrants would assimilate into their new country, questioning whether it was truly a melting pot or simply a place where people were discarded.

III. Southern Europe Uprooted Europe experienced a population surge in the century following 1800 due to limited space for its people, which was caused by abundant fish and grain from America as well as widespread cultivation within Europe itself.

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Consequently, numerous Europeans were enticed by the prospect of relocating to the United States, seen as a land full of opportunities. Moreover, persecution of minorities in Europe prompted a significant number of immigrants seeking refuge in the US. It is important to note that not all immigrants intended to permanently settle in America; many returned home with newfound wealth. However, those who chose to remain faced challenges in preserving their native culture.

IV. Reactions to the New Immigration

The federal government had a limited reaction towards the integration of immigrants into American society.

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In return for votes, influential bosses were able to leverage their power to offer jobs and services for their supporters. Additionally, these bosses contributed to the establishment of schools, parks, and hospitals in immigrant communities. Over time, the nation began recognizing the difficulties faced by cities. To tackle these challenges, two Protestant clergymen named Walter Rauschenbusch and Washington Gladden aimed to address them by applying Christian principles.

Jane Addams founded Hull House, the most famous settlement house in America, where she denounced poverty and war while providing a range of services to the community. These services encompassed English classes, counseling for immigrants adjusting to city life, support for working mothers with child care needs, and cultural activities for local residents. In 1893, Lillian Wald established Henry Street Settlement in New York.

The settlement houses functioned as hubs for women's activism and social reform, with Florence Kelley being a dedicated advocate for the betterment of women, children, blacks, and consumers. The groundbreaking efforts of Addams, Wald, and Kelley paved the way for numerous women to pursue careers in social work. The urban expansion presented fresh opportunities for women; however, societal norms dictated that married women and mothers should not hold jobs, resulting in the majority of employed women being unmarried.

During the 1880s, there was a rise in foreignism or nativism, which expressed concerns about the increasing presence and impact of immigrants from eastern and southern Europe. These immigrants were seen as inferior and blamed for inadequate urban governance. Additionally, unionists condemned them for accepting low wages. As a response to this, the American Protective Association (APA) was founded in 1887 with the aim of actively discouraging support for Roman Catholic candidates running for political office.

Organized labor showed disapproval towards immigrants and often utilized them to undermine strikes. In 1882, Congress passed the initial laws that imposed restrictions on immigrants, leading to the deportation of paupers, criminals, and convicts back to their home countries. By 1885, foreign workers were prohibited from entering the country through contractual agreements that frequently led to reduced wages. As a result, federal legislation was introduced to prevent undesirable individuals from entering America. The Chinese Exclusion Act was enacted in 1882 and completely banned Chinese immigration into the United States.

VI. Churches Tackle the Urban Challenge Many Protestant churches were negatively affected by the migration of people to cities, as their traditional beliefs and methods of ministry appeared obsolete. However, a fresh wave of urban revivalists arose to address this growing lack of morals. One of these leaders, Dwight Lyman Moody, a Protestant preacher, preached a message centered on kindness and forgiveness.

In 1889, the Moody Bible Institute was established by him in Chicago to aid his endeavors in adapting traditional religion for urban life. Immigration resulted in substantial growth within the Roman Catholic and Jewish faiths. By 1890, there existed over 150 distinct religious denominations in the United States. Mary Baker Eddy founded the Church of Christ, Scientist in 1879 as a testament to the effectiveness of true Christian practice in curing illnesses.

VII. Darwin Disrupts the Churches

Published in 1859 by Charles Darwin, On the Origin of the Species presented the notion that humans had gradually developed from inferior life forms. This theory of evolution raised significant skepticism towards religious beliefs. Traditionalists steadfastly held onto their faith in God and religion, while Progressives adamantly rejected the Bible as a whole.

VIII. The Lust for Learning

During this time period, there was a growing interest in public education and the idea of tax-supported elementary and high schools. Teacher-training schools, also called "normal schools," experienced significant expansion after the Civil War. Additionally, the influx of immigrants in the 1880s and 1890s led to a rise in private Catholic parochial schools, which became an important part of the educational system. While public schools did not serve millions of adults, urban areas generally provided better educational opportunities compared to rural one-room schoolhouses.

IX. The Impact of Booker T. Washington on Black Education

In terms of public education, the South had inadequate levels compared to other areas, and this disproportionately affected African-Americans. However, Booker T. Washington, a former slave, played a vital role in promoting black education through his involvement as an educator at the black normal and industrial school in Tuskegee, Alabama in 1881. Washington's strategy for addressing racial inequality was known as "accommodationist" and emphasized self-improvement rather than directly confronting white supremacy.

Booker T. Washington, while at Tuskegee Institute in 1896, chose not to address social equality and instead focused on teaching and researching. Despite this decision, he gained international recognition as an agricultural chemist. However, his accomplishments were met with criticism from influential black figures like Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois who accused him of perpetuating the oppression of African Americans by limiting them to low-level jobs and long-term subordination.

In 1910, Du Bois played a significant role in establishing the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

X. The Hallowed Halls of Ivy Following the Civil War, there was a notable increase in the number of female and black colleges, which was supported by the Morrill Act of 1862 granting public lands to states for educational purposes after Southern states seceded.

The Hatch Act of 1887 built on the Morrill Act by providing federal funding for agricultural experiment stations associated with land-grant colleges. Furthermore, wealthy individuals made significant contributions to the education system.

During this time, Johns Hopkins University emerged as an important institution, established in 1876 and gaining renown as the nation's first prestigious graduate school.

XI. The March of the Mind William James has contributed significantly to the field of psychology through his extensive writings, which have led to recent scientific advances and an enhancement in public health.

XII. The Appeal of the Press The Library of Congress was founded in 1897 with funding from Andrew Carnegie. The introduction of the Linotype machine in 1885 accelerated the production of written content. Joseph Pulitzer, while in St. Louis, played a major role in promoting sensationalism. William Randolph Hearst, starting with the San Francisco Examiner in 1887, went on to establish numerous newspapers. Simultaneously, the Associated Press, established in the 1840s, was gaining increasing influence and financial success.

XIII. Apostles of Reform The New York Nation, being perhaps the most influential publication among magazines, fulfilled the public's demand for excellent reading material.

The publication was established in 1865 by Edwin L. Godkin, advocating strongly for civil-service reform, governmental honesty, and a moderate tariff. In 1879, Henry George, a fellow journalist and author, wrote Progress and Poverty to explore the relationship between progress and poverty. George contended that the growing population's strain on limited land resources artificially raised property values, unfairly benefiting landowners with unearned profits. He proposed a single tax solution. Edward Bellamy also contributed to the conversation with his socialist novel Looking Backward, which envisioned a future society in the year 2000 where large corporations were nationalized to prioritize public welfare.

XIV. Postwar Writing As literacy rates rose, book reading also increased. One popular type of book was the "dime novel," which featured short stories set in the wild Western United States. General Lewis Wallace authored Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ as a response to Darwinism. Horatio Alger, a devout Puritan from New England, focused on newsboys in New York City and wrote over 100 works of juvenile fiction in 1866.

XV. Literary Landmarks In the realm of novel writing, the nostalgic sentiment of a youthful era was being replaced by the genuine human comedy and tragedy of the world. In 1899, feminist Kate Chopin explored subjects such as adultery, suicide, and women's aspirations in her work called The Awakening. Mark Twain, a versatile writer who excelled in journalism, humor, satire, and advocacy against social inequality, skillfully captured the essence of realism and comedy using authentic American dialects. Bret Harte, another writer from the American West region focused his stories on the gold rush period in California. William Dean Howells gained prominence as the editor in chief of Atlantic Monthly magazine based in Boston.

Stephen Crane and Henry James were both authors who focused on different aspects of society in their writing. Crane wrote about the harsh realities of urban, industrial America and often tackled controversial social themes. On the other hand, James explored the interactions between innocent Americans and sophisticated Europeans, often with women as key characters. James was particularly adept at delving into the inner thoughts and emotions of his female characters, showcasing his skill in psychological realism.

By 1900, the literary focus shifted towards portraying modern-day life and social issues. Jack London, known for his nature writing, ventured into illustrating a potential fascistic revolution in his work The Iron Heel. Paul Laurence Dunbar, an African American writer, celebrated southern African American culture by incorporating black dialect and folklore. Theodore Dreiser's writing showed a disregard for prevailing moral norms.

XVI. The New Morality

In 1872, Victoria Woodhull used the platform of Woodhull and Clafin's Weekly to promote the concept of free love. Simultaneously, Anthony Comstock dedicated himself to eliminating immorality and spearheaded a vigorous campaign against it. This ultimately led to the enactment of the Comstock Law, which sought to restrict public access to materials deemed "immoral."

Urbanization brought about changes in family structures and gender roles, resulting in a rise in divorce rates due to the financial difficulties of raising multiple children. In urban areas, women experienced increased independence and autonomy. Charlotte Perkins Gilman, a feminist, encouraged women to break free from dependence on others and actively contribute to their communities' economies. As a result, the National American Woman Suffrage Association was established in 1890 with the goal of advancing women's right to vote. However, black women were excluded from this movement, prompting Ida B. Wells to initiate the black women's club movement. Consequently, the National Association of Colored Women was founded in 1896.

The National Prohibition Party was established in 1869 as a reaction to the increase in alcohol consumption during and after the Civil War. In 1874, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union was founded by committed women. Through their endeavors, the Anti-Saloon League successfully convinced several states to ban alcohol, ultimately resulting in the ratification of the 18th amendment in 1919 which required prohibition across the entire nation.

The popularity of music and portraiture increased with the invention of the phonograph by Thomas Edison, as it enabled mechanical reproduction of music.

XXI. The Business of Amusement During the 1880s, America's entertainment demands were satisfied by the circus, which emerged as a prominent form of amusement. Concurrently, baseball was experiencing a surge in popularity and eventually formed its own professional league in the 1870s. The growing prominence of spectator sports was also evident in football.

James Naismith invented basketball in 1891.

Updated: Feb 16, 2024
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The Impact of Urbanization and Immigration. (2017, Feb 27). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/apush-chapter-6-outline-notes-essay

The Impact of Urbanization and Immigration essay
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