Immigration, migration, Immigration, migration, and city life in the and city life in the

Gilded AgeGilded Age(Gilded age: external glitter of (Gilded age: external glitter of

wealth conceals corrupt politics wealth conceals corrupt politics and the growing gap between the and the growing gap between the

few rich and the many poor)few rich and the many poor)

Class and IndustryClass and Industry The shift from an agrarian to an industrial The shift from an agrarian to an industrial

economy brought new patterns of production economy brought new patterns of production and created a new class structure.and created a new class structure.– Factory assembly lines replaced apprentice Factory assembly lines replaced apprentice

workshops. workshops. – Machines replaced skilled craftsmen. Machines replaced skilled craftsmen. – A new working class of semi-skilled wage laborers A new working class of semi-skilled wage laborers

operated the machinery.operated the machinery. By 1900, the industrial workforce comprised By 1900, the industrial workforce comprised

one third of the population one third of the population

Class and IndustryClass and Industry The upper-class entrepreneurs who controlled The upper-class entrepreneurs who controlled

American industries and the middle-class American industries and the middle-class managers who supported them formed "one managers who supported them formed "one half" of Gilded Age society.half" of Gilded Age society.– These businessmen promoted the doctrine of free These businessmen promoted the doctrine of free

labor as the symbol of American democracy.labor as the symbol of American democracy.– Using themselves as examples, they argued that Using themselves as examples, they argued that

Americans could achieve success through hard work.Americans could achieve success through hard work.– They built mansions for their families and donated They built mansions for their families and donated

funds for parks and public architecture to display funds for parks and public architecture to display their newfound wealth and social power.their newfound wealth and social power.

““The Other Half”The Other Half” "The other half" of Gilded Age society "The other half" of Gilded Age society

consisted of working-class families.consisted of working-class families.– One out of every three laborers was an One out of every three laborers was an

immigrant. immigrant. Lured by the promises of freedom and Lured by the promises of freedom and

opportunityopportunity motivated by the desire to escape oppressive motivated by the desire to escape oppressive

living and working conditions at homeliving and working conditions at home many immigrants sold their possessions and many immigrants sold their possessions and

moved to America. moved to America. often, however, they found themselves in similar often, however, they found themselves in similar

situations in this country.situations in this country.

What is an American?What is an American?

Melting PotMelting Pot VersusVersus Fruit Fruit SaladSalad

““America Is the Great Melting Pot” America Is the Great Melting Pot” – What does this actually mean?What does this actually mean?

How about a theory using “Fruit How about a theory using “Fruit Salad” instead?Salad” instead?– Healthier? Healthier? – Socially correct?Socially correct?

Port of EntryPort of Entry Ellis Island / Angel Ellis Island / Angel

IslandIsland– Europeans treated a Europeans treated a

little better than Asians little better than Asians entering in Californiaentering in California

– From 1892 to 1954, From 1892 to 1954, over twelve million over twelve million immigrants entered the immigrants entered the U.S. at Ellis IslandU.S. at Ellis Island

– Around 3% were sent Around 3% were sent back to their countries back to their countries of Origin due to being of Origin due to being found “undesirable” found “undesirable”

Main Sources of Main Sources of Immigration 1861-1890Immigration 1861-1890

From 1861 to From 1861 to 1890, the 1890, the country that had country that had the most the most immigrants immigrants come to the come to the United States United States was….?was….?

From 1861 to From 1861 to 1870, the 1870, the country that had country that had the least the least amount of amount of immigrants immigrants come to the come to the United States United States was….?was….?

Once in America they became Once in America they became “the other half”“the other half”

About 40 percent of working-class citizens About 40 percent of working-class citizens lived below the poverty line of $500 per year. lived below the poverty line of $500 per year.

They faced long hours,They faced long hours,– low pay, low pay, – random wage cuts,random wage cuts,– periods of high unemployment,periods of high unemployment,– danger to life and limb on the job, danger to life and limb on the job, – lack of insurance, and lack of worker's lack of insurance, and lack of worker's

compensation.compensation. The overcrowded tenements in which they The overcrowded tenements in which they

lived often had inadequate sewage, heat, lived often had inadequate sewage, heat, water, and electricity.water, and electricity.

Based on Darwin’s Theory of EvolutionBased on Darwin’s Theory of Evolution– ““Natural Selection”Natural Selection”– Survival of the fittestSurvival of the fittest

Government should not interfere with businessGovernment should not interfere with business– God did not interfere with a dying speciesGod did not interfere with a dying species– Weak businesses should be allowed to dieWeak businesses should be allowed to die– Poor People deserve to be poor!Poor People deserve to be poor!

Social DarwinismSocial DarwinismHoratio Alger writes over 100 books about the “Self-Made Man”

•If men like Andrew Carnegie can do it so can you!

•Is this a myth or a reality?

Social Darwinism at workSocial Darwinism at work The native customs of working-class The native customs of working-class

immigrants seemed foreign to middle-immigrants seemed foreign to middle-class and upper-class citizens.class and upper-class citizens.

Their neighborhoods seemed Their neighborhoods seemed mysterious and dangerous.mysterious and dangerous.

The media reinforced the stereotype The media reinforced the stereotype of working-class citizens as "other," of working-class citizens as "other," portraying them as immoral, ignorant, portraying them as immoral, ignorant, or unable to help themselves.or unable to help themselves.

Reform Efforts?Reform Efforts? Gilded Age reformers appealed to Gilded Age reformers appealed to

the consciences and fears of these the consciences and fears of these citizens, encouraging them to serve citizens, encouraging them to serve as guardians of the poor and protect as guardians of the poor and protect themselves against crime. themselves against crime.

Jacob RiisJacob Riis Lewis HineLewis Hine

Jacob Riis— Jacob Riis— How the Other Half How the Other Half LivesLives

documented the living and working conditions of the documented the living and working conditions of the poorpoor

Riis argued for better housing, adequate lighting and Riis argued for better housing, adequate lighting and sanitationsanitation

construction of city parks and playgrounds.construction of city parks and playgrounds. He portrayed middle-class and upper-class citizens as He portrayed middle-class and upper-class citizens as

benefactors and encouraged them to take an active benefactors and encouraged them to take an active role in defining and shaping their communities.role in defining and shaping their communities.

Riis believed that charitable citizens would help the Riis believed that charitable citizens would help the poor when they saw for themselves how "the other poor when they saw for themselves how "the other half" lived half" lived

Photography of Jacob Photography of Jacob RiisRiis

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA01/Davis/photography/slideshows/slideshows.html

According to historian Robert According to historian Robert Bremner:Bremner:

"The reformers' problem was to "The reformers' problem was to rouse the public from its lethargy, rouse the public from its lethargy, make consciences uneasy, and stir make consciences uneasy, and stir genial good will into enthusiasm for genial good will into enthusiasm for social betterment. Their first step social betterment. Their first step was to lay bare the responsibility of was to lay bare the responsibility of the community for needless the community for needless suffering." suffering."

Nurture, Not NatureNurture, Not Nature

Critics of charities argued that poverty Critics of charities argued that poverty was the result of individual or moral was the result of individual or moral weakness;weakness;

poor could not be helped through poor could not be helped through charitable donations. charitable donations.

Gilded Age reformers like Riis believed Gilded Age reformers like Riis believed that poverty was the result of that poverty was the result of environmental conditions; thus, reform environmental conditions; thus, reform efforts could help the poor. efforts could help the poor.

Riis’ ideas on CharityRiis’ ideas on Charity "The reason charity has been "The reason charity has been

discredited is because it has worked discredited is because it has worked with the broken fragments, the with the broken fragments, the drunken and the shiftless, helping as drunken and the shiftless, helping as it could, mourning that such things it could, mourning that such things must be, but never asking the reason must be, but never asking the reason why or knowing anything of the why or knowing anything of the honest, thrifty poor who live lives of honest, thrifty poor who live lives of heroism such as we cannot live." heroism such as we cannot live."

Riis’ ideas on CharityRiis’ ideas on Charity Riis believed that moral citizens, Riis believed that moral citizens,

regardless of their economic status, regardless of their economic status, should be given a chance to improve should be given a chance to improve their lives. Like Riis himself, given their lives. Like Riis himself, given that chance, many could rise out of that chance, many could rise out of poverty and into the ranks of the poverty and into the ranks of the middle class middle class

Riis’ ideas on CharityRiis’ ideas on Charity He believed that private wealth could He believed that private wealth could

help transform the slums into better help transform the slums into better places to live.places to live.

"I am a believer in organized, "I am a believer in organized, systematic charity upon the evidence systematic charity upon the evidence of my senses,"of my senses,"

NeighborhoodsNeighborhoods

Riis's photographs had a certain Riis's photographs had a certain shock value. He looked for images shock value. He looked for images that would have a strong effect on that would have a strong effect on his viewers—dirty children on the his viewers—dirty children on the streets, men living in dumps and streets, men living in dumps and cellars. cellars.

Mothers and ChildrenMothers and Children

Riis's photographs challenged Victorian Riis's photographs challenged Victorian notions of mothers and children. One of notions of mothers and children. One of his photographs shows a mother with her his photographs shows a mother with her naked children standing on a rooftop. In naked children standing on a rooftop. In others, children play out on the streets others, children play out on the streets unattended. These photographs unattended. These photographs contrasted sharply with images of contrasted sharply with images of children in late-nineteenth-century children in late-nineteenth-century America.America.

DwellingsDwellings

Riis's photographs also challenged Riis's photographs also challenged Victorian notions of the home. In one Victorian notions of the home. In one photograph, a tenement family photograph, a tenement family makes cigars at the table. In another, makes cigars at the table. In another, a man sits down to a solitary meal in a man sits down to a solitary meal in a coal cellar.a coal cellar.

De-Emphasizing the De-Emphasizing the IndividualIndividual

He often de-emphasized the He often de-emphasized the individual in favor of the total setting. individual in favor of the total setting. Accordingly, he photographed many Accordingly, he photographed many of his subjects at a distance to show of his subjects at a distance to show them in their squalid surroundings. them in their squalid surroundings.

Bandit’s RoostBandit’s Roost

“Most dangerous alley in New York City”