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Ch. 15 Urban America. Section 3 The Gilded Age. I. A Changing Culture .
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Ch. 15 Urban America Section 3 The Gilded Age
I. A Changing Culture • In 1873 Mark Twain and Charles Warner co-wrote the novel, The Gilded Age. Historians use this term to refer to the time between 1870 and 1900. The term “gilded” refers to something being gold on the outside while the inside is made of cheaper material. The authors tried to point out that although this was a time of growth, beneath the surface were corruption, poverty, and a huge difference between rich and poor. • Industrialization and urbanization caused Americans to look at society in a different way. This gave way to new values, art, and forms of entertainment.
I. A Changing Culture • A strong belief during the Gilded Age was the idea of individualism. This is the belief that regardless of your background, you could still rise in society. Horatio Alger, a minister from Massachusetts, left the clergy and moved to New York where he wrote over 100 novels about rags-to-riches stories.
Question Why did Mark Twain and Charles Warner call the era from about 1870 to around 1900 the Gilded Age? They were trying to warn people about the society during this time. “Gilded” refers to something covered in gold on the outside while the inside is cheaper. They believed that although on the surface, society appeared to shine, the inside actually held corruption, poverty, and crime.
II. Social Darwinism • Herbert Spencer, an English philosopher, first proposed the idea of Social Darwinism. Spencer took Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and natural selection and applied it to human society. Like Darwin’s theory—that a species that cannot adapt to the environment will eventually die out—Spencer felt that human society evolved through competition. He concluded that society progressed and became better because only the fittest people survived. Industrial leaders agreed with Social Darwinism. • Social Darwinism paralleled laissez-faire, an economic doctrine that was opposed to government interference with business.
II. Social Darwinism • Many devout Christians and some leading scientists opposed the idea of Darwin’s conclusions about the origin of new species. They rejected the theory of evolution because it went against the Bible’s account of creation. • Andrew Carnegie, a wealthy business leader, believed in Social Darwinism and laissez-faire. However, he also felt those who profited from society should give something back, so he softened Social Darwinism with his Gospel of Wealth. This philosophy stated that wealthy Americans were responsible and should engage in philanthropy, using great fortunes to further social progress.
Question Why were devout Christians and some science leaders against Social Darwinism? They rejected the theory of evolution because it went against the Bible’s account of creation.
III. Realism • A new movement in art and literature, called realism, portrayed people in realistic situations instead of idealizing them as the romantic artists had done. • Thomas Eakins, a painter from Philadelphia, observed and painted day-to-day living in a realistic fashion. He used realistic detail and precise lighting. • Writer and literary critic, William Dean Howells, wrote realistically about American life. He also recognized talent in several writers of this time, including Mark Twain, who wrote Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in 1884. Twain is thought to have written the first true American novel. Henry James, an English writer, portrayed the lives of the upper class in his 1881 novel, Portrait of a Lady. • Edith Wharton won a Pulitzer Prize for the novel The Age of Innocence, which portrayed the complicated lives of the upper-class in New York in the 1870s.
Question How did the Realist movement in art and literature differ from that of the romantic artists? People had more money to spend during this time. As a result, they spent money on entertainment and recreation. They were also willing to leave their homes to go out in public to have fun.
IV. Popular Culture • Popular culture changed in the late 1800s. People had more money to spend on entertainment and recreation. Work became separate from home. People looked to have fun by “going out” to public entertainment. • During the 1800s, the saloon acted like a community and political center for male workers. It offered free toilets, water for horses, free newspapers, and free lunches. • Coney Island in New York was an amusement park that attracted working class families and single adults. It offered amusements such as water slides and railroad rides. • Watching sports became very popular in the late 1800s. Baseball began to appear in the United States in the early 1800s. In 1869 the first salaried team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, was formed. Football and basketball also became popular during this time.
IV. Popular Culture • In the early 1880s, vaudeville became popular. It was adapted from the French theater and combined animal acts, acrobats, gymnasts, and dancers in its performance. • During this time, people began enjoying ragtime music. The most famous African American ragtime composer was Scott Joplin, who became known as the King of Ragtime.
Scott Joplin • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFeF_yFtssk • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieuj7hTLVk0
Ch. 15 Urban America Section 4 The Rebirth of Reform
I. Social Criticism • Changes in industrialization and urbanization led to debates among Americans over the issue of how to handle society’s problems. • In 1879 journalist Henry George wrote a best-selling book called Progress and Poverty. It raised questions about American society and challenged the ideas of Social Darwinism and laissez-faire economics. • In 1883 Lester Frank Ward’s Dynamic Sociology argued that humans were unlike animals because they could think and plan ahead. He concluded that it was cooperation and not competition that caused people to succeed. He wanted government to become more involved in solving societal problems. These ideas became known as Reform Darwinism. • In 1888 Edward Bellamy’s Looking Backward 2000–1887 became a bestseller and helped shape the thinking of American reformers in the late 1800s. The book tells the story of a perfect society in the year 2000.
Who Am I? Wrote Progress and Poverty Henry George Wrote Dynamic Sociology Wrote Looking Backward 2000–1887 Lester Frank Ward Edward Bellamy
Question What was the real importance of Henry George and his writings? George raised questions about American society and challenged the ideas of Social Darwinism and laissez-faire economics.
II. Naturalism in Literature • Realists argued that people could control their lives and make choices to improve their situation. In a style of writing known as naturalism, writers criticized industrial society. They suggested that some people failed in life due to circumstances they could not control. • Prominent naturalist writers included Stephan Crane, Frank Norris, Jack London, and Theodore Dreiser. All wrote stories of characters caught up in situations they could not control.
question What did Jack London’s tales of Alaskan wilderness illustrate? They demonstrated the extreme power that the natural environment can have over civilization.
III. Helping the Urban Poor • Reformers began to organize to help the poor. Organizations such as the Social Gospel movement, Salvation Army, YMCA, women’s clubs, settlement houses, and temperance movements formed to help the needy. • MinisterWashington Gladden was an early supporter of the Social Gospel movement. He wanted to apply “Christian Law” to social problems. From 1870 to 1920, members of the Social Gospel group worked to better conditions in cities through charity and justice. Baptist minister Walter Rauschenbusch later led the movement. He believed that competition was the cause of many social problems. This led to many churches taking on community functions to improve society by offering gyms, social programs, and daycare.
III. Helping the Urban Poor • In 1878 the Salvation Army offered aid and religious counseling to urban poor. The YMCA attempted to help industrial workers and urban poor through Bible studies, prayer meetings, citizenship training, and group activities. They had facilities that offered libraries, gyms, pools, and low-cost hotel rooms. • Dwight L. Moody was an evangelical Christian and president of the Chicago YMCA. He founded his own church, today known as Moody Memorial Church. By 1867 Moody was so popular that he brought his revival meetings to other cities. He was against Social Gospel and Social Darwinism. He felt the way to help the poor was by redeeming their souls and not by providing them with services.
III. Helping the Urban Poor • The settlement house movement was promoted by reformers who felt it was their Christian duty to improve the living conditions of the poor. Jane Addams set up settlement houses in poor neighborhoods. Addams opened Hull House in 1889 and inspired many others, including Lillian Wald’s Henry Street settlement house in New York City. Medical care, recreation programs, and English classes were provided at settlement houses.
Question How did Jane Addams and Lillian Wald help the poor? They set up settlement houses that provided poor residents a place to go for medical care, recreation, English classes, and hot lunches.
IV. Public Education • In the late 1880s, the increase of industry resulted in a need for better-trained workers. As a result, there was a need for more school and colleges. • Americanization, or becoming knowledgeable about American culture, was key to the success of immigrant children. • Due to the lack of educational opportunities for African Americans, Booker T. Washington led the crusade to form the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1881. • The grammar school system in the city divided students into eight separate grades to help teach successful habits in the workplace. • The number of colleges greatly increased in the late 1800s. This was partly a result of the Morrill Land Grant Act, which gave federal land grants to states for the purposes of establishing agricultural and mechanical colleges. College attendance increased. The number of women’s colleges also increased. • Free libraries provided education to city dwellers. Andrew Carnegie donated millions toward the construction of libraries.
Question In what way did public schools pose a problem for immigrants? Parents were afraid their children would become too Americanized and forget their culture and traditions.
