Urbanization and Cultural Change in Late 19th Century America

Electric Elevator

Allowed for the construction of skyscrapers, revolutionizing urban architecture and city landscapes.

Louis Sullivan

An architect known as the "father of skyscrapers," he emphasized functional design, influencing the style of modern buildings.

Skyscraper

Tall buildings that became emblematic of American cities, allowing for higher density living and commercial space in urban areas.

Electric Trolleys

Improved public transportation in cities, enabling people to live farther from their workplaces and contributing to urban sprawl.

Subways

Underground transportation systems that alleviated street congestion in rapidly growing cities, facilitating movement and expansion.

Megalopolis

Refers to sprawling urban areas formed by multiple cities growing together, like the Northeast corridor from Boston to Washington, D.C.

Brooklyn Bridge

An engineering marvel of its time, it connected Manhattan and Brooklyn, symbolizing innovation and the growth of urban infrastructure.

Macy's/Marshall Fields

Major department stores that exemplified consumer culture in urban America, transforming shopping into a social experience.

Theodore Dreiser's Sister Carrie

A novel illustrating the struggles of urban life, capturing the challenges faced by individuals in an industrial society.

Sears/Montgomery Ward/mail order

Retail innovations that allowed customers to shop from home, particularly benefiting rural populations.

Waste Disposal

A growing urban issue as cities expanded, leading to public health concerns and the need for improved sanitation services.

Tenements/Dumbbell Tenement

Crowded, poorly built housing for low-income workers; the "dumbbell" design was an attempt to improve light and air access.

Slums

Areas characterized by poverty and substandard living conditions, often populated by immigrants and the working class.

Chicago Fire

A catastrophic event in 1871 that led to significant urban redevelopment and changes in building codes and urban planning.

The "New Immigration"

Refers to the wave of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reshaping American demographics.

Nativism

A political and social response favoring the interests of native-born Americans, often leading to discrimination against immigrants.

"Little Polands" /"Little Italys"

Ethnic neighborhoods where immigrant communities settled, preserving their cultural identities while integrating into American life.

"Birds of Passage"

Immigrants who came to America temporarily to work and earn money before returning to their home countries.

Parochial Schools/Hebrew Schools

Educational institutions catering to specific religious communities, reflecting the diversity of the American population.

Foreign Language News

Newspapers catering to non-English speaking communities, illustrating the multilingual fabric of urban life.

Kosher Food Greek Restaurants

The emergence of diverse culinary options catering to immigrant populations, contributing to America's culinary landscape.

Political Machines/Political "Bosses"

Corrupt political organizations and leaders that controlled city politics, often providing services in exchange for votes.

Walter Rauschenbusch/W Gladden

Christian social reformers advocating for social justice and reforms through a religious lens.

"Social Gospel"

A movement that aimed to address social issues through Christian ethics, emphasizing the need for community service and activism.

Christian Socialists

Individuals advocating for social change based on Christian principles, merging faith with activism.

Jane Addams/Hull House

A pioneer in social work, Addams founded Hull House in Chicago, providing services to immigrants and the urban poor.

Settlement House Movement

A reform initiative aimed at providing social services and education to urban working-class families and immigrants.

Lillian Wald/Florence Kelley

Leaders in the settlement house movement advocating for workers' rights and social reforms, focusing on women's and children's issues.

National Consumers League

An organization advocating for consumers' rights and fair labor practices, promoting ethical consumption.

"Know Nothings"

A nativist political party active in the 1850s that opposed immigration and Catholic influence in American society.

American Protective Association

A nativist organization that sought to limit the influence of immigrants, particularly Catholics, in American society.

Immigration Act of 1882

Legislation that imposed restrictions on immigration, targeting particular groups and establishing a federal immigration bureaucracy.

Chinese Exclusion Act

A significant law in 1882 that prohibited Chinese immigrants, reflecting racial tensions and nativist sentiment during this period.

Literacy Tests

Assessment tools used to restrict immigration by testing reading and writing skills, aimed at limiting entry of less educated applicants.

Statue of Liberty/Emma Lazarus

The statue symbolizes freedom and opportunity for immigrants, with Lazarus's poem highlighting the plight of the poor and huddled masses.

Liberal Protestants

A theological movement within Christianity emphasizing social justice and reform, often aligning with progressive political movements.

Dwight Lyman Moody

An evangelist who helped revive interest in personal faith and social responsibility in American Christianity.

Cardinal James Gibbons

A prominent Catholic leader who supported labor rights and integration of Catholic immigrants into American society.

Salvation Army

An organization providing social services and assistance to the needy, founded on Christian principles of charity.

Christian Science/Mary Baker Eddy

A religious movement emphasizing healing through spirituality, reflecting the broader spiritual movements of the time.

YMCA/YWCA

Organizations providing community support, social services, and recreational activities, particularly important for immigrant and urban populations.

Darwin/Natural Selection

Theorist Charles Darwin's ideas on evolution sparked debates on science and religion, influencing social and philosophical thought.

Louis Agassiz

A pioneer in American science, Agassiz promoted the study of natural history and its relevance to society.

Bestial Hypothesis

A controversial theory suggesting a link between biology and social behavior, used to justify racial and social hierarchies.

Tax Supported High Schools

The rise of public high schools in response to increasing demand for education and workforce preparation.

Normal Schools

Institutions dedicated to training teachers, crucial for developing a professional education workforce.

Kindergartens

Early childhood education programs that gained popularity in the late 19th century, emphasizing developmental learning.

Chautauqua Movement

An adult education movement offering lectures and culture in the summer, promoting lifelong learning.

Booker T. Washington/Up from Slavery

Founder of the Tuskegee Institute, Washington advocated for vocational education for African Americans.

Accommodationism

Washington's philosophy of accepting segregation and focusing on economic advancement for African Americans.

Tuskegee Institute

A school founded by Washington for vocational training and education for African Americans, emphasizing practical skills.

George Washington Carver

An agricultural scientist who promoted crop rotation and innovation in farming, significantly impacting Southern agriculture.

W.E.B. Du Bois

A prominent African American leader advocating for civil rights and higher education, opposing Washington's accommodationism.

NAACP

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, founded to combat racial discrimination and advocate for civil rights.

The Talented Tenth

Du Bois's concept of a leadership class among African Americans that would advocate for civil rights and higher education.

Vassar

One of the first women's colleges in the United States, representing the advance of women in higher education.

Howard/Hampton/Atlanta Universities

Educational institutions providing higher education for African Americans, significant in promoting leadership.

Morrill Act of 1862

Legislation that granted land for colleges specializing in agriculture and mechanical arts, expanding access to higher education.

Land Grant Colleges

Institutions that received land from the government to promote higher education in agriculture and the mechanical arts.

Hatch Act of 1887

Legislation providing federal funds for agricultural experiment stations, enhancing agricultural research and education.

Philanthropy

A significant trend among wealthy Americans who donated to educational and social causes, shaping American institutions.

Cornell/Chicago/Johns Hopkins

Major universities that set high academic standards and contributed to research and higher education in the U.S.

The Elective System

An educational approach allowing students to choose courses based on their interests, promoting individuality in education.

Charles W. Eliot

President of Harvard who implemented progressive educational reforms, including the elective system.

Louis Pasteur/Joseph Lister

Pioneering scientists in germ theory, leading to advances in public health and medicine.

William James Pragmatism

Philosopher who introduced pragmatism as a philosophical approach that evaluates theories based on their practical effects.

Library of Congress

A major institution promoting literacy and education through accessible resources and collections.

Public Libraries

Essential for providing access to information and literature, significantly contributing to American intellectual life.

Linotype

A printing technology that revolutionized typesetting, enabling faster production of newspapers and books.

Sensationalism

A style of journalism aiming to attract attention through exaggeration and dramatic stories, influencing public perception.

Joseph Pulitzer/W. Randolph Hearst

Newspaper magnates known for pioneering yellow journalism, which prioritized sensational news.

Yellow Journalism

A style of sensationalized news reporting that exaggerated stories to attract readers, impacting public opinion.

Edwin Godkin

A journalist advocating for responsible reporting and professional standards in journalism.

Henry George Progress and Poverty

A book proposing land taxes to address economic inequality and promote social justice.

Ed Bellamy Looking Backward

A utopian novel envisioning a cooperative society, reflecting on economic and social reform ideas.

Victoria Woodhull

An early advocate for women's rights and free love, challenging societal norms of her time.

Anthony Comstock/Comstock Law

A moral reformer known for advocating censorship laws to prevent obscene literature and birth control information.

Divorce Revolution

A significant change in societal attitudes toward divorce, leading to increased acceptance and legal reforms.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman Woman and Econ

A feminist work emphasizing women's economic autonomy and critiquing traditional gender roles.

NAWSA/S.B. Anthony/E.C. Stanton

The National American Woman Suffrage Association, lead by prominent suffragists advocating for women's voting rights.

Carrie Chapman Catt

A prominent suffragist and leader of NAWSA who advocated for women's suffrage through organized campaigns.

The "Equality State"

A term referring to Wyoming, which was the first state to grant women the right to vote.

General Federation of Women's Clubs

An organization uniting women's clubs to advocate for social reform and public health improvements.

Ida B. Wells

An African American journalist and civil rights activist who campaigned against lynching and for women's rights.

National Prohibition Party

A political party advocating for the prohibition of alcohol, reflecting temperance movements in America.

WCTU/Frances E. Willard

The Women's Christian Temperance Union, led by Willard, promoting the temperance movement and women's rights.

Carrie Nation

A radical temperance advocate known for her dramatic protests against alcohol, often using a hatchet to destroy saloons.

Anti-Saloon League

A significant organization advocating for the prohibition of alcohol, influencing political policies leading to the 18th Amendment.

18th Amendment

The constitutional amendment prohibiting alcohol, a result of the temperance movement and its political lobbying.

ASPCA

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, advocating for animal welfare and protection from cruelty.

American Red Cross

An organization founded to provide emergency assistance and disaster relief, emphasizing humanitarian aid.

Clara Barton

Founder of the American Red Cross, known for her contributions to disaster relief and nursing during conflicts.

Dime Novels

Inexpensive fiction that became popular in the late 19th century, often sensationalizing adventure and romance.

Wallace Ben Hur

An author of a popular historical novel that became a cultural phenomenon in the 19th century.

Realism/Naturalism/Regionalism

Literary movements focused on depicting everyday life and social issues with authenticity and regional specificity.

Horatio Alger

An author known for his rags-to-riches stories, promoting themes of hard work and moral character leading to success.

William Dean Howells Rise of Silas Lapham

A novel exploring the complexities of social status and morality in Gilded Age America.

Mark Twain/The Gilded Age

A pivotal author who critiqued American society's flaws during the Gilded Age through satire and humor.

Henry James' Bostonians

A novel examining feminist themes and social change in America, highlighting the struggle for women's rights.

Edith Wharton The Age of Innocence

A novel critiquing the restrictive social norms of New York's elite society during the Gilded Age.