Key Concept 6.2 — The migrations that accompanied industrialization transformed both urban and rural areas of the United States and caused dramatic social and cultural change. |
I. International and internal migrations increased both urban and rural populations, but gender, racial, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic inequalities abounded, inspiring some reformers to attempt to address these inequities. |
“New Immigrants” - from Greece, Italy, Russia - didn’t speak english, poor, & not accustomed to democracy Contract Labor Laws of 1885 - restricted temporary workers to protect American workers Literacy test for immigrants passed in 1917 Efforts to restrict immigration were supported by labor unions, a nativist society, and social darwinists
Influx of migrants from rural areas to cities for economic opportunities (from farming to commercial jobs) Mass transportation segregated urban workers by income Overcrowding in cities and filthy tenements helped spread disease Ethnic neighborhoods - each group could maintain its own language, culture, church, and social club
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II. Larger numbers of migrants moved to the West in search of land and economic opportunity, frequently provoking competition and violent conflict. |
As mines developed, skilled immigrant miners from Europe, Latin America, and China were employed Hostility to foreigners resulted in the Miner’s tax ($20 a month to foreign born miners) Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 - restricted immigration on the basis of race and nationality Rush to acquire the West’s natural resources damaged the environment Immigrantion to the West was caused by a series of gold and silver rushes in Colorado, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, and South Dakota Rich strikes created boomtowns - these usually became ghost towns within a few years after precious metals ran out Homestead Act - encouraged farming in the West by offering 160 acres of public free land to a family who settled on it for five years Reservation Policy - federal government began to assign the Plains tribes reservations with definite boundaries Indian Appropriation Act of 1871 - ended recognition of tribes as independent nations and nullified previous treaties made with the tribes Ghost dance - last effort by Natives to resist government controls Battle/ Massacre of Wounded Knee - more the 200 Natives killed by US army - marked end of the Indian Wars Dawes Act of 1887 - break up tribal organizations to assimilate Natives into American culture Former reservation land was sold to white settlers Disease and poverty reduced Native population to 200,000 people
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Key Concept 6.3- The “Gilded Age” witnessed new cultural and intellectual movements in tandem with political debates over economic and social policies. |
I. New cultural and intellectual movements both buttressed and challenged the social order of the Gilded Age. |
Political parties active campaigns & high voter turnout resulting from party loyalty from region, religious, or ethnic ties of voters Idea of a suburban house (American idea of comfortable living) was created by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Increasing disease, crime, waste, and pollution in cities inspired reformers of the need for water purification, sewerage systems, waste disposal, steer lighting, police departments, and zoning laws Settlement houses - reformers hoped to experience and relieve effects of poverty by providing social services for peoples in the neighborhood Hull House - started by Jane Addams - taught English, early childhood education, industrial arts, and established music schools
Social gospel - importance of applying christian principles to social problems Family size dropped - kids are an economic liability Increased children in school and tax-supported public high schools Du Bois. - leading black intellectual - advocated for equality for blacks integrated schools, equal access to higher education Advance of social sciences and changes in universities provided a boost to progressive legislation and liberal reform in the 20th century Reduction of hours worked, improved transportation, advertising, and decline of restrictive Puritan values promoted the growth of leisure activities
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II. Dramatic social changes in the period inspired political debates over citizenship, corruption, and the proper relationship between business and government. |
Republicans supported pro-business economics of high protective tariffs Democrats argued for state’s rights and limiting powers for the federal government Hayes vetoed efforts to restrict Chinese immigrants Pendleton Act of 1881 - set up Civil Service Commission and created a system by which applicant for classified federal jobs would be selected based on an examination Debate issue: how much to expand the money supply Debtors, farmers, and start-up businesses wanted “easy” money - could borrow money and pay off loans Bankers, creditors, investors, and established businesses wanted “sound” money - currency backed by gold stored in government vaults - would hold value against inflation
Specie Resumption Act - withdrew all greenbacks from circulation (caused formation of Greenback party) In 1890s, tariff provided more than half of federal revenue Republican controlled presidency and congress enacted… McKinley Tariff - raised tax on foreign products Sherman Antitrust Act - outlawed “combinations in restraint of trade” Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890 - increased the coinage of silver
Populist Party - wanted to do something about concentration of economic power in bankers and trusts Increased in power of common voters through direct popular elections of senators and use of initiative and referendums (allowed citizens to vote directly on proposed laws) Advocated unlimited coinage of silver, a graduated income tax, public ownership of railroads, telegraph/ telephone systems, loans and federal warehouses for farmers to stabilized prices for their crops
Panic of 1893 - stock market crash and bankruptcy
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