Reform Movements and Social Change in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries

Social Norms and Gender Roles

  • Salutes and Bars:
    • Historically, salutes (bars) were predominantly male spaces.
    • It was socially unacceptable for women to be in bars; those present were often stigmatized as prostitutes.
    • Some establishments even had rules against female patrons.
    • The image presented depicts women praying outside bars, symbolizing the temperance movement's opposition to male drinking habits.

Consequences of Alcohol Consumption

  • Negative Impacts:
    • Correlation with crimes.
    • Impaired decision-making.
    • Health hazards, including liver problems.
    • Potential for abuse (physical, emotional, etc.).
    • Economic issues due to excessive spending on alcohol, primarily by men who were theoretically the main wage earners.

Private Charity Organizations (Late 1800s - Early 1900s)

  • Importance:
    • Provided essential services like food and shelter.
    • Addressed societal issues and aided those in need.
    • Filled gaps in services not yet provided by the government.
    • New York was a major focal point for these organizations and their activity.

Aid to Immigrants

  • Charitable Efforts:
    • Organizations like the New York charity organization assisted immigrants with various needs.
    • Recognized that immigrants were a permanent part of society and required support.
    • Assisted with child raising, cooking, and cleaning.
    • Religious groups were involved, but faced accusations of potentially recruiting or contributing to vices like drinking and gambling.

Settlement Housing

  • Hull House:

    • Founded by Jane Addams and Ellen Yates Starr in Chicago.
    • A successful model that spread, leading to over 400 settlement houses across the United States.

  • Approach:

    • Initially, volunteers lived in the settlement houses to learn from and understand the local communities and their problems.

  • Services Provided:

    • Addressed issues faced by immigrant families.
    • Offered temporary housing.
    • Education and daycare services.
    • Childcare, playgrounds, clubs, and summer camps were established.
    • Provided parents opportunities to improve themselves while ensuring childcare.

Temperance Movement

  • Revival:

    • Re-emerged as a significant force during this period.

  • Goals:

    • Sought to eliminate alcohol consumption.
    • Supported the banning of alcohol sales.

  • Challenges:

    • Difficult to achieve due to cultural entrenchment and economic factors.

  • Key Supporters:

    • Primarily driven by women, who lacked voting rights.

  • Limited Success:

    • Some states (Maine, Kansas, North Dakota) temporarily became "dry states."
    • These states were less urbanized, more religious, and had fewer social options outside of the church.

Purity Crusaders

  • Vice:

    • Included immoral behaviors such as drugs, gambling, and prostitution.
    • These activities were often associated with males, and female involvement was stigmatized.

  • Crusades:

    • Resembled missions with specific goals for social change, led by religious groups and women.

  • Aims:

    • Sought to curb vices.

  • Limited Success:

    • Struggled due to resistance from men and general opposition to being told how to behave.
    • People dislike being told how to act.