Urbanization and Foreign Immigration
Progressive Feminism
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“At the center of the new industrial order
was the city. But to accommodate the
global migration of laborers and families,
to support the sprawling factories and the
masses who kept them going, urban
centers of the late 19th century had to
reinvent themselves.”
Urbanization and Foreign Immigration
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During the period between 1880 and 1930, the U.S.
experienced dramatic increases in industrialization,
immigration and urbanization.
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Trades were Mechanizing and more people were
working longer hours for less pay;
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City populations were swelling due to immigration and
an influx from the countryside;
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By 1900, immigrants formed 1/3 population of all major
US cities;
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Cities were overcrowded, unsanitary and crime-ridden
Cities and Eco-systems
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Surrounding country sides transformed to feed
these cities, provide fuel and transportation and
even leisure.
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Smaller city municipal structures mirrored their
larger sister metropolis's.
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Some even specialized in services and goods—
such as Milwaukee(beer), Tulsa(oil), and
Hershey, PA(chocolate).
Foreign Immigration
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Why did so many Europeans choose to
migrate to America at these times?
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How did immigration transform American
society?
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How did Americans react to immigration
Immigration
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Many newly arriving immigrants when seeing the
American shore wept tears of joy. They had finally
arrived in the “Land of Milk and Honey.”
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The thought of an egalitarian and democratic society
of riches was more than they could bear.
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The reality was much different—Once the “native”
Americans realized immigration might be bad, they
began to take counter-measures to discourage or at
least control immigration.
Exclusionary acts
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Chinese exclusionary act;
“Gentleman’s Agreement—exclude Japanese;
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Set up something called The Dillingham
Commission. 1907 Senate set up a commission to
study the effects and origins of immigration.
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Crucial shift in demographics—many coming from
Eastern Europe and Asia—all these were
undesirable—they were inferior and a drain on
society—explains the high crime rate, illiteracy, and
other social issues.
Why Immigrate?
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17th century immigrated fleeing religious
persecution or political turmoil; America
needed both skilled and unskilled workers.
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19th century all things changed: In Europe
1) dramatic population increase;
2) Spread of commercial agriculture(displaced many
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workers).;
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3) Rise of European factory system;
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4) Proliferation of inexpensive transportation (steamships
and railroads—small shop owners and farmers forced off the land—may as well immigrate)
Why Immigrate to Cities?
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Though some immigrants made it to the
countryside, many remained in cities.
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They arrived with little money; farm equipment
and land expensive; many were duped into
coming; no land or assistance available.
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Many opted for urban life; such as the Irish and
the Jews—many wanted the vibrant cultural
and religious life and education.
Nativism
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Native—refers in this context as one who considers
himself a “true American.”
Some argued immigration = large supply of unskilled
workers=boosted economy;
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Minds changed when they became afraid immigrants
would soon out number “True Americans.” This would
create social issues. (Haymarket Bombing seem to add veracity).
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Haymarket Square Riot(May 4, 1886)—anarchists
loosely organized national strike(8hr work day); some
police officers were killed, they retaliated and some
anarchists were killed; then a bomb exploded;
triggered a national wave of immigration fears. (some
hung others imprisoned)
Urbanization and Foreign Immigration
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Three Great waves of Immigration:
1) 1815-1860: 5 million settled mostly from
England, Ireland, Germany and
Scandinavia;
2) 1865-1890: 10 million: again mostly
northwestern Europe;
3) 1890-1914: 15 million mostly from
Austro-Hungary, Turkey, Lithuania, Russia,
and many Jews, Greeks, Italians, and
Romanians.
Justification for Exclusion
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Anglo-Saxon Myth—put forth by john Fiske; this
suggested that human evolution had culminated in
the Anglo-Saxon race.
Outside northwestern Europe people lacked mental
power or social capabilities as did the Anglo-Saxons;
Used phrenology(measuring slope and size of
forehead) to determine intelligence—higher, the
more intelligent and vice versa.
Eugenics—heredity determined by cultural and
social patterns—selective breeding would enhance
civilization.
Justification for Exclusion
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Many used Eugenics as scientific proof to
justify “racism.” These were inferior peoples.
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Dr. Charles Benedict Davenport wrote a book
suggesting that those of darker pigmentation,
smaller stature—more given to larceny,
kidnapping, assault, murder and rape—
tended to be more musical and artsy, but
lacked perspective of responsibility—what
was needed was to breed these people like
Race Horses to attain racial purification.
Exclusionary Acts
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Immigration restriction
League—formed in 1894 by
Boston Lawyers and
philanthropists who urged
that immigrants be given a
literacy test.
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Not discriminatory, just keep
out illiterates and
undesirables.
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Bill passed, but Grover
Cleveland vetoed it—but
Woodrow Wilson in 1917
signed a literacy bill
Immigration Restriction League
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Henry Cabot Lodge, sr. (Boston Brahmin)—as a legal
consultant and board member of the league stated—
“It’s the object not to advocate the exclusion of
laborers or other immigrants of such character and
standards that fit them to become citizens, but public
opinion must be made to recognize the necessity of a
further exclusion of elements undesirable for
citizenship or injurious to our national character.”
Victorianism and Convention
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“All feminists are suffragists, but not all suffragists are
feminists.”
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“Cult of true Womanhood.” Preached 4 cardinal
virtues for women:
1) Piety—women far more religious than men;
2) Purity—pure of heart and mind—participated in
sex, but to chaste of spirit to enjoy it;
3) Submission—perpetual childhood passively
responding to the actions and decisions of man;
4) Domesticity—Home and Hearth the domain of
woman.
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Victorian and Convention
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Two constant goals of Victorianism: 1)
rejection of sin and 2) practice of
responsibility;
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Women were the weaker vessels therefore
needed help to avoid sin and temptation—
male the rightful superior and dominant
protector of the family.
Three Areas of Social Change concerning to
Victorians
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1) Dress Reform—women moving away from
the restrictive bustles and corsets; wearing
bloomers and simple dresses—this was
considered “sexually aggressive.”
2) Education—accepting the notion of
Darwinism, many doctors believed women
stopped evolving sooner than men; therefore
mentally not suited for the rigors of higher
education;
If women devoted themselves to the 3 Rs they
would become deficient in the 4th R
Reproduction.
Three Areas of Social Change
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3) Workforce; poor women
and immigrant women had
to work;
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But proponents of
Womanhood argued the
working world one step on
a downward spiral leading
women to prostitution; if
nothing else it would give
them independence
undermining their fathers
and husbands and
endangering reproduction
Feminism
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Politically correct speech is not new. For
instance, the Victorians avoiding
unpleasantries or innuendos changed
terminology.
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Arms and legs seemed sexually suggestive—
so call them “Limbs.” At dinner, one requested
“Light “ or “dark” meat never Legs or breasts.
Feminism
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1874—Woman’s Christian temperance Union—
originally concerned about temperance as evil to
society—Francis Willard most famous and
successful president.
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Eventually evolved into Suffrage and other reform
movements—women learning how to be organizers
and leaders.
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Anthony Comstock crusaded against pornography,
gambling, prostitution and even nude art models—
U.S. Grant in 1873 signed the Comstock Law.
NWSA
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Led by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady
Stanton (national women's suffrage association). More radical
than the WCTU. Accepted only women; opposed the
15th amendment; focused on family as the real
source of inequality—chained women to the home
and hearth; marriage was designed to benefit men
and disempowering women.
(15th amend. Caused split in women’s movement)
American Woman Suffrage Association(AWSA);
more moderate, allowed men to join, ratified the 15th
amend.
Suffragette Parade 1913
Victoria Claflin Woodhull
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Very outspoken feminist;
dabbled in spiritualism, ran
a successful brokerage
firm(clients such as
Cornelius Vanderbilt);
Published a newspaper with
Marxist leanings;
In 1872, declared herself
candidate for President of
U.S.
Called herself a “Free
Lover” and advocated the
overthrow of the U.S.
government—w/o free love
it was submissive love!
Three Main Feminist Movements
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1) Suffragists—focused on getting vote; natural right
to vote; women in many cases better than men;
more noble, spiritual, purify the political process;
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2) Social Feminists—wanted suffrage, but also
social reforms; Jane Addams and Florence Kelley;
saw the state as beneficial agent of social welfare;
tended to be conservative, but pragmatic; wanted to
vote to reform society and embraced world peace;
reunited the AWSA and NWSA into the NAWSA(National
American Woman Suffrage Association)—headed by Carrie
Chapman Catt.
Three Main Feminist Movements
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3) Radical Feminists—much stronger critique of
society, economics, and politics. Most prominent was
Charlotte Perkins Gillman—a sociologists, author,
lecturer and socialist;
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Penned a book, Women and Economics: condemned
the cult of true womanhood:
1) common humanity shared by men and women—
more important than sexual differences;
2) social environment not biology determined the
roles of men and women;
3) Women should be released from the home to
make a broader contribution to society.
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Alice Paul
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Introduced first Equal
Rights Amend, 1916.
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Radical feminist—ERA
considered to radical
for the time—most
feminists rejected it
outright—feared it
would endanger the
vote and other
protective legislation
for women.
Radical Feminist
End of Feminism
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1920s these movements died down; women gained
the right to vote no need to continue activism; three
discoveries made—
1) Women did not vote in block; no real women’s vote;
2) struggle for suffrage no longer united disparate
elements of the feminist movement;
3) younger women less interested in reform more
interested in rebelling against normal social
conventions with their male counterparts;
More interested in smoking, drinking, bobbing hair,
reading risqué literature and doing the “Charleston”
and exploring the new found sexual freedoms of the
20s and the automobile.
Summary of Progressivism
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The Progressive System of Beliefs
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Progressives: moderate modernizers not revolutionaries
Philosophy of pragmatism
The Pragmatic Approach
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Behaviorism (study and change this incrementally)
Social jurisprudence (keep it legal, but in the sense of a
changing practicality—”guide by light of reason.”)
Brandeis Brief (1908) highlighted the damaging effects of
long working hours on women (Muller vs. Oregon—not so
much legal precedent but on social fairness attitude)
How did they achieve this?
“Seeing the nation riven by
conflict, progressives tried to
restore a sense of community
through the ideal of a single
public interest.”
Muckrakers—Nellie Bly, Upton
Sinclair, Sinclair Lewis.
(exposes , The Jungle, The
shame of the cities and child
labor laws…)
Volunteers and professional
Business people and
Churches—all formed viable
effective organizations …
Idea: Find the Good Society
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The Good society culminated in the following
achievements (or so thought the
progressives):
Social Welfare
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Child labor legislation
Keating-Owen Act (1916) forbade goods
manufactured by children to cross state lines
Woman Suffrage
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Militant suffragists
Nineteenth Amendment