Ch. 9: Life at the Turn of the
20th Century: 1870-1915
Section 1: The Expansion of
Education
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With urban migration, schools became bigger
and new needs needed to be addressed.
Public School Growth
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In 1870, just over half the
nation’s white children
attended free public
schools, but few earned
high school degrees.
Only 2% of all 17-year-olds
graduated from high
school.
Most students only went
for a few years, often
seasonally.
Growth
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By 1900, 31 states had laws requiring students
between ages 8 and 14 to attend school.
By 1910, 72 percent of children attended school and
8.6 percent graduated from high school.
School Days
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In the early 1900s, most of the nation’s children
attended one-room schools, particularly in rural areas.
Schooling focused on reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Discipline was often harsh.
Classrooms varied in age, ability, and numbers.
Immigrants and Education
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Immigrants placed a high value on
American public education.
In some cases, free, public education was
not available in their home countries.
Parents saw a good education as a
necessary tool for their children’s
development and success in a new
country.
Immigrant Education
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Literacy, the ability to read and write, was the most
important aspect of an immigrants education.
Being able to communicate in English was vital for
immigrants in order to survive and gain employment.
Schools helped immigrants assimilate to American
culture.
World Literacy Rates
Immigrant Assimilation
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Assimilation- the process of adopting a new
culture.
Many immigrants tried hard to assimilate to
American culture, food, sports, and traditions in
order to “fit in”.
Assimilation often causes tension between
families and people groups, as some try to
assimilate while others cling to their former
culture.
Higher Education Expands
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Between 1880 and 1900,
over 150 new American
colleges and universities
opened.
Despite new colleges,
only a small, wealthy
percentage of students
attended colleges.
Women and Higher Education
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In the late 1800s there was increased pressure on
men’s colleges to admit women.
Rather than admit women, some schools founded
separate institutions for women.
Other schools became coeducational- admitted both
men and women.
African Americans and Higher
Education
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In 1890, only 160 African
Americans attended white
colleges.
While some white schools
began accepting blacks, the
late 1800s also saw the
founding of a number of black
colleges.
These schools include, Atlanta
University, Fisk University, and
Howard University.
Perspectives of African American Education

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There were two different schools of thought regarding
the best method for uplifting African Americans through
education.
The two schools of thought came from two prolific,
highly education African Americans: Booker T.
Washington and W.E.B Du Bois.
Booker T. Washington
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Tuskegee Institute.
African Americans should
focus on becoming
successful in practical,
vocational trades.
Succeeding vocationally
and economically would
win white respect.
“Cast down your bucket where you
are”
“To those of my race who depend
on bettering their condition… I
would say: ‘Cast down your bucket
where you are’- cast it down… in
agriculture, mechanics, in
commerce, in domestic service,
and in the professions… No race
can prosper till it learns that there
is as much dignity in tilling a field
as in writing a poem.”
-Booker T. Washington
W.E.B. Du Bois
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Ph.D. from Harvard.
Called for the “talented
tenth,” brightest 10% of
African Americans to
pursue top tier careers
(law, medicine, politics).
Opposed to the vocational
schooling that Washington
proposed.
“not to make men carpenters,
but carpenters men.”
“I insist that the true object of all
true education is not to make
men carpenters, it is to make
carpenters men… The Talented
Tenth of the Negro race must
be made leaders of thought
and missionaries of culture
among their people. No other
can do this work and Negro
colleges must train men for it.”
– W.E.B. Du Bois
Niagara Movement
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In 1905, Du Bois helped found the Niagara Movement.
Called for full civil liberties, an end to racial discrimination, and
recognition of human brotherhood.
Du Bois went on to work for the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), becoming one of the
most well-known black leaders of the century.
Section 2: New Entertainment

The growth of urban areas and technological
advances created new opportunities for entertainment
at the turn of the century.
Vaudeville
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Vaudeville shows were a kind of
inexpensive variety show.
Acts consisted of
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Comic sketches based on ethnic
or racial humor
Song and dance routines
Magic acts
Ventriloquism, jugglers, and
animals
Minstrel Shows
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“Blackface”
These racist shows reinforced racial
stereotypes, exaggerating imitations of African
Americans in music, dance, and humor.
Movies
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By 1908, the nation had 8,000 nickelodeons, old stores or
warehouses converted into movie theatres.
Early movies were silent, often accompanied by a live piano player
Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
The Circus
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In 1872, the traveling
circus was introduced.
“advance men” came to
town to promote the
traveling circus.
Circuses came, set up big
tents, held a parade to
kick off the event, then
started the paid
performances.
Posters
Amusement Parks
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The technology of trolley lines gave berth to
mechanical rides like the roller coaster.
Amusement parks followed, providing music, games,
vaudeville productions, bathing beaches, and exciting
rides.
Coney Island, NY
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Coney Island led the way with numerous amusement
parks and festivities.
Sports
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Sports grew in popularity.
Baseball was most popular.
Investors began building enclosed fields and charging
people to watch games.
Pro teams arose and the nation’s best players were paid to
play the game.
Newspapers
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Between 1870 and 1900,
newspaper circulation went
from 2.6 to 15.1 million
copies a day.
To compete for readership,
publishers encouraged
reporters to cover scandals,
murders, and vice. This
sensational news coverage
became known as yellow
journalism.
Popular Fiction
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Many “rags to riches”
novels, such as those
written by Horatio Alger,
became popular.
“dime books” referred to
inexpensive books with a
wide readership.
Mark Twain was one of
the most influential
authors.

Wrote The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn (1884)
The Negro Spiritual
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Through concerts, African American religious folk music,
or spirituals, were introduced to white audiences.
While making the Negro spiritual more acceptable
among whites, singers also transformed the music by
adopting other, European musical characteristics.
Ragtime and Jazz
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Originated among black
musicians in the South and
Midwest during 1880s.
Jazz grew out of the vibrant
musical culture of New
Orleans.
Jazz was influenced by
African, Spanish, French,
and Latin American musical
traditions.
Scott Joplin: “entertainer”
Section 3: The World of Jim Crow
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Despite receiving their “freedom” after the Civil
War, African Americans continued to experience
discrimination, both informally and legally.
Voting Restrictions
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Fearing the power of the black and poor white
vote, many southern states implemented tactics
to deny voting rights to African Americans.
(p. 333)
Voting requirements included
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Poll tax (African Americans couldn’t afford)
Must own property (most African Americans didn’t)
Literacy test (few African Americans were literate)
Grandfather clause- if you or your ancestor had
already voted, you were exempt from the other
requirements (helped whites avoid restrictions)
Segregation
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Many states instituted a system of legal
segregation, keeping different racial groups
separate.
Sometimes racial separation happens naturally
as a result of custom, not legality, this is called
“de facto segregation”.
Jim Crow laws
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In the South,
segregation was
actually required by
law.
These segregation
laws became known
as Jim Crow laws, its
name based on a
popular minstrel show
called “Jump Jim
Crow”
Separation
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Segregation laws impacted every aspect of life.
They required the separation of schools, parks, public
buildings, hospitals, and transportation systems.
South Africa
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South Africa is another
example of racial segregation
Apartheid, the South African
term/system for separation,
was firmly in place until
1994.
Whites only accounted for
around 10% of the
population, yet still
subjugated the entire black
population.
Plessy v. Ferguson
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In 1896, African American Homer Plessy says
segregation laws violate his right to “equal protection of
the laws”.
Court rules that African Americans’ rights are not
violated if kept separate, as long as their facilities are
equal.
“Separate but equal” becomes the argument of
segregationists for the next 60 years.
Lynching
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Lynching is the murder of an accused person by mob without lawful
trial, often including bodily mutilation and hanging.
1,200 African Americans were lynched during a 10 year period,
1882-1892.
Lynchings were rarely the result of a legitimate crime, but rather a
way to inflict fear and a feeling of inferiority among blacks.
Race Relations in North
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Segregation in the North was not a legal
matter, but de facto segregation.
African Americans that moved north to
avoid segregation often found
employment and opportunities scare there
as well.
The NAACP
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The National Association
for the Advancement of
Colored People was
founded in 1909.
Purpose was to abolish
segregation and
discrimination, and oppose
racism.
NAACP remained a vital
force for civil rights in
coming decades.
Achievements
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Despite discrimination, some African Americans
overcame the obstacles of racism and achieved
significant success.
Booker T. Washington with powerful group including
Harvard President (far left) and Andrew Carnegie
George Washington Carver
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Became known for his scientific and agricultural research
at Tuskegee Institute.
Scientist, botanist, educator, inventor, musician, and
artist. A true renaissance man.
Madam C. J. Walker
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Successful businesswoman.
Started a chain of hair and
beauty products as well as
training schools.
By 1916, her company had
20,000 employees.
Section 4: Changing Roles of
Women
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With new jobs, new educational opportunities, and new
roles in the home and marketplace, many women
experienced significant changes at the turn of the
century.
Women’s Equality
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Traditionally, women
worked at home or on
the farm.
People had conflicting
opinions about
whether or not
women should work
outside of the house.
Shifts
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At the turn of the century some young women were
migrating to cities to work in factories.
Many immigrant women also found work in factories.
Women from poor families were forced to work outside
the home for income.
Women in the Home
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Most women, however,
continued to work primarily in
the home.
Without many of the modern
appliances and conveniences of
today, housework itself was
much more demanding.
Some estimate that simply
cleaning the house took 18-27
hours a week.
Women often made their own
bread, butchered and
preserved their own meat, and
made their families own
clothing.
From Producer to Consumer
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As ready-made goods
became more available,
women began to spend
more time purchasing
necessities instead of
producing them.
New methods of
consumption, such as
stores, catalogs, and
advertising were targeted
toward women.
Department Stores
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Growing populations, new
manufacturing, and
improved transportation
led to the development of
department stores.
Large retail stores
carrying a wide variety of
goods.
Attractive due to their
variety.
Marshall Field in Chicago
and Macy’s in NYC
Macy’s: Past & Present
Chain Stores
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Chain stores, such as
F. W. Woolworth, are
born in this era.
Due to their size,
chain stores could
purchase goods from
suppliers in large
quantities for cheaper
prices.
Chain Stores today
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Nearly all major retail/food businesses are chains.
Brand Names
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Both department and chain stores began to popularize
and advertise the concept of brand names.
Brand names today
Rural Free Delivery
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The United States Post
Office began offering
rural free deliver (RFD)
in 1896.
By 1905, the Post Office
was delivering mail on
32,000 RFD routes.
Bad for local stores, but
gave rise to mail-order
consumption
Mail-order catalogs
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Rural free deliver
(RFD) gave birth to
the mail-order
catalog industry.
Allowed rural
families to order
products by mail
order.
Sears, Roebuck, and Co.
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The Sears catalog was
the biggest, most
dominant mail-order
catalog.
Very popular among rural
farmers early on.
Known as “the
consumer’s bible”
Sold everything: bicycles,
automobiles, groceries,
appliances, sewing
machines, sporting
goods, farming
equipment, etc.
Shopping online
Women in Workplace
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Many believed careers and
married life did not mix,
many working women were
single.
Employer rarely gave these
single women supervisory
jobs or advanced training,
assuming they would leave
when they got married.
Educated women often
became nurses and
teachers.
Volunteering
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Many women from the North
and South volunteered during
the Civil War.
After the war many continued
volunteering.
Women’s clubs were formed,
such as the New England
Women’s Club and the
Chicago Women’s Club
These clubs acted as social,
educational, and political
networks for women.
New England Women’s Club
“New women”
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Aside from economic and
political changes, the lifestyles of
many women began to shift.
As more women entered the
workforce or college, they gained
a new form of independence.
Wore shorter hair, less
conservative clothing, even
pushed to legalize the spread of
information about birth control.
These “new women” were
shocking and threatening to
more traditional Americans.