Discussion Questions
1) What factors led to urban growth (urbanization) during the late nineteenth
century and early twentieth?
2) Who were the ‘New’ immigrants during the period of 1880 to 1920 and what
distinguished them from previous immigrants?
3) What were urban poor living conditions like and explain why this came to
be. What reforms were made to address these living conditions?
4) Examine family and life patterns in American society between 1877 and 1920.
What subcultures will emerge?
5) What leisure time activities will come about and what changes in this era
enabled the urban dweller to participate?
Turmoil Of Urban Life
1877-1929
Introduction:
Cities gained great importance in the 1880s and much of what
American Society is today originated in the urbanization that occurred between 1877
and 1920.
Industrial Growth and Transportation:
Since the cities of the late nineteenth century provided everything that factories
needed, they became the main arenas for industrial growth
(industry, capital, and people).
In the late 1800s, the compact pedestrian city of the past gave way to urban sprawl
as commuter railroads, cable cars, and streetcars allowed for greater mobility in
urban America. As consumers moved outward – businesses followed.
Population Growth:
Between 1870 and 1920, the number of Americans living in cities increased from 10
million to 54 million. Cities could grow by
annexation
(territorial), by
natural
increase
, and by
migration
.
Urban newcomers arrived from two major sources: American countryside
(urbanization) and eastern and southern Europe.
Additionally, in the 1880s and 1890s, thousands of rural African Americans and
Western Hispanics, seeking better economic situations, moved to cities.
The New Immigration
:
Immigration to the United States was part of a worldwide movement pushing
people away from traditional means of support and toward new and better
opportunities. Although many never intended to stay about 26 million will,
between 1870-1920, and the great majority settled in cities.
Most immigrants prior to 1880s were from England, Ireland, and Germany. A new
wave of immigrants, from eastern and southern Europe (Italy, Austria Hungary,
and Russia), frightened Americans because of the emigrant’s customs, different
faiths, illiteracy, and poverty.
The influx of immigrants from 1870 to 1920 changed the United States from a
mostly Protestant nation into one of Protestants, Catholics, and Jews.
In the multiethnic neighborhoods with cheap housing (
urbanborderlands
)Immigrants anchored their lives to the rock they knew best: their
culture and Old World customs.
Racial discrimination forced many African
Americans to live in highly segregated ghettos
as Mexicans in southwestern cities became
increasingly isolated in residential districts call
Barrios.
Living Conditions of the Inner City:
Urban growth seemed to harbor every affliction that plagues modern urban
centers: poverty, disease, crime.
Masses of people jammed into the inner cities, leading to housing shortages and
unsanitary living conditions from the unprecedented crowding.
Reform campaigns, led by New York State, created some improvements in
housing conditions (safety codes, ventilation). These laws did little to remedy the
existing buildings but did improve new construction and imposed minimal
obligations on landlords.
New technology brought about several changes to home life: furnaces, artificial
lighting, and indoor plumbing eventually enabling city dwellers to live in greater
comfort and safety.
Public health regulations (1880s)as applied to water purity, sewage disposal, and
food quality helped to control diseases as Steel-frame
Poverty Relief
:
Since colonial days, Americans have disagreed
about how much responsibility the public should
assume for poor relief.
The industrial belief, widely spread at the
beginning of the 20
thcentury, that anyone could
escape poverty through hard work and thrift.
Some city governments discontinued direct
welfare and instead provided relief only in
exchange for labor.
Private relief agencies or Charity organizations
often acted out of the belief that poverty was
caused by personal defects (laziness,
alcoholism). These organizations often visited
the poor intending to identify those who were
“deserving” of social welfare.
Some humanitarians began to advance the more
progressive belief that people’s environments
caused poverty.
Urban Crime:
Many people feared urban crime and Nativists
were quick to blame immigrants and African
Americans. In all likelihood, cities did not have
increased crime, but urban problems proved
more visible than rural crime.
Managing the City:
Those concerned with managing cities faced growing populations, business expansion, and
technological change created urgent needs for sewers, police, schools, parks and other civil services.
Urban growth strained city governments and led to the rise of political machines, which – whose main goals were to maintain power and its rewards: money, influence, and prestige.
In turn this created bosses, who catered to the working class and new immigrant voters, and tried to solve the problems of everyday life by exchanging favors for votes or money.
“ There’s got to be in every ward somebody that any bloke can come to… and get help.” – Martin Lomasney (Boston South End Boss)
Civil and Urban reforms arose in part because of fear of the Bosses power (middle and upper class fear) and
the industrial emphasis on eliminating inefficiency.
Social reforms focused mostly on settlement house movement in inner-city neighborhoods. Settlement houses fought for education, better jobs, building codes, public playgrounds, and labor unions.
While female activists tried to revive neighborhoods, a group of male reformers organized the City Beautiful movement (Urban Renewal) to improve urban landscapes (parks, sidewalks, civic centers, - Chicago, San Francisco)
Family Life:
The vast majority of households consisted of nuclear families (80%), although some extended families existed (15-20%).
As infant mortality rates fell (diet and medical), couples had fewer children (Urban vs. Rural). Smaller families also improved standards of living.
Young people were leaving home earlier, normally before twenty, and they often became boarders in the cities. Many urban families took in boarders to help pay the rent.
In a time when welfare agencies were rare, the family remained the institution that people could turn to in times of need.
A subculture of unmarried young people living separate from their parents emerged in urban areas (42% men, 37% women – single city dwellers)
Distinct social changes occurred as decreasing birthrates shortened the period of parental responsibility, and as formal education made childhood more unique. An emphasis on family
togetherness became especially visible at holiday celebrations as new holidays were added in the early 20th century.
Leisure:
Americans had long tried to create labor saving devices, but not until the late 1800s did
mechanization cut the average workweek. (1870 - 66 hours, 1920 – 47 hours)
A shorter work-week allowed more Americans to enjoy a variety of leisure time diversions. As
a result, a segment of the economy began providing entertainment.
Musical Instruments Circuses
Board games Drama, Musical Comedy, Vaudeville
Baseball Movies
Football Journalism
