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Chapter 3 Birth of Modern America – Section 1 Settling the West The lure of mineral mining sent many people west. Placer mining, a hand process involving picks, shovels and pans was quickly replaced with larger quartz mining operations. Henery Comstock stacked a claim in Six-Mile Canyon Nevada. When he found the mud to be full of silver ore, nearly 30,000 miners arrived almost overnight in Virgina City, Nevada looking to strike it rich. Crime became a big problem as there were little or no law enforcement to settle disputes over claims, or punish thieves. One of the biggest strikes occurred in the mining boomtown of Leadville Colorado, where deep deposits of lead were found to contain much silver. Nearly 1 billion in silver and gold were discovered. These discovers lead to the building of western railroads to assist in transportation. In addition to miners, farmers began settling west as well. At first, people did not believe ranching on the great plains was possible due to scarce water. However, the Texas longhorn was a breed of cattle adapted to such conditions. Ranching grew because of open range policies of the United States. Ranches could graze their cattle on government owned grassland free of charge. After the civil war the price of beef had gone up, due to shortages in the East and the development of the railroad made it relatively easy to transport. As a result ranches began rounding up the longhorns in Texas and began the “Long Drive” and driving them north to Kansas and Missouri to be sold and sent East for over 10 times their value in Texas. In 1863 the government supported the growth of the plains by passing the Homestead Act. For a $10 registration fee an individual could claim up to 160 Acers of government land and receive a title to that land after living their for 5 years. The lack of water, summer heat, and threat of prairie fires made life on the plains difficult. However, those with resources could make farming very profitable. The Great Plains was great for growing Wheat and the U.S. became the worlds leading exporter in Wheat. As a result of ranchers, miners and farmers moving into the Plains they deprived Native Americans of hunting grounds, land gaurenteed through treaties and often forced them to relocate. The native Americans began resisting and attacking wagon trains and settlers. Congress formed and Indian Peace Commission which created two reservations for the Native Americans to move to. By the 1870’s most Native Americans left the reservations and resumed roaming the plains and hunting Buffalo. However due to increased traffic many by 1889 few Buffalo remained. The Sioux, led by chief Sitting Bull tried to organize resistance against the reservations. In an attempt to arrest Sitting Bull, a gun battle broke out and the chief was killed. Some wanted the Native Americans to assimilate into U.S. culture. Congress passed the Dawes Act which gave 160 acres of reservation land to families. Some succeded as farmers, but most disliked it. In the end, assimilation was a failure as the Plains Indians were dependet on Buffalo for their way of life and the Buffalo were disappearing. Chapter 3 Birth of Modern America – Section 2 Industrialization Though the industrial revolution had begun in the early 1800’s, after the civil war the nation was still primarily a farming country. After the war industry began to spread rapidly because of the abundance of natural resources found here. The increasing population also created a large workforce as well as a consumer base for new products. Due to large family sizes and a flood of immigrants, the population tripled between 1860 and 1910. The free enterprise system and laissez-faire attitude from the government allowed industrialization to flourish. New inventions began leading to new corporations, new jobs and more wealth for Americas. In 1874 Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone and created Bell telephone company which has now become AT&T. Thomas Edison invented the phonagraph, electric generator, motion picture and most importantly the Light bulb. His company Edison General Electric Corporation is now known as GE. Thaddeus Lowe invented the Ice machine, the basis for the refrigerator. During this time, new inventions improved life and prices on other products like food, shoes and clothes dropped due to industrialization. In 1862 President Lincoln had signed the Pacific Railway Act, May 10,1869 a gold spike was hammered into the final rails that created the transcontinental railroad. The railroads provided an inexpensive way for goods to be transported and opened up new markets to sell products. The cost in railroads was installing the tracks, to help facilitate their growth, the government gave land to the railroad companies, which they would sell to settlers to cover the costs, more than 120 Million acres were giving to them. The wealth of many railroad entrepeners led to accusations of the bribery, cheating and swindeling of government officials, taxpayers and investors. As a result some were given the title of Robber Barron. Corporations began selling stock to raise money and invest in new technologies and hire large labor forces. Some corporations like Andre Carneie’s steel company pursued verticle integration, meaning they owned all levels of production for a product. Carnagie also tried for horizontal integration by combining all firms in the same industry and creating a monopoly. Some states created laws against monopolies, but big corporations found ways around them. Working conditions were poor in factories and workers began to organize in unions. There were no laws that gave workers the right to organize in Unions and often the courts often punished strike leaders with fines or jail time. Many early attempts at organizing in unions ended in violence and bloodshed. However, in 1886 The American Federation of Labor organized delegates from 20 major trade unions. They began negotiating with companies fighting for collective bargaining rights, closed shop hiring, and an 8 hour work day. The AFL was made up of only men, Women in industry often were paid less than men for the same work. Chapter 3 Birth of Modern America – Section 3 Immigration and Urbanization In the late 1800’s European immigrants began arriving in the United States throughout Ellis Island in New York. Most passed through Ellis Island in less than a day, however some who did not pass inspection, were isolated and sent back to Europe. Most of these immigrants headed for the big cities, New York, Chicago, Milwaukee and Detroit. Generally, they lived in communities distinguished by their ethnic group, like “Little Italy, where they spoke their native language and recreated things from their homeland. 1 in 3 Immigrants would later return to Europe. Chinese Immigrants also began arriving in the United States via Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay. Many of these immigrants were fleeing starvation and unemployment in China. Unlike the processing at Ellis Island, people at Angel Island could be held their for months before being allowed in to the United States. Once here, the Chinese worked as laborers, servants, or in skilled trades. Americans often kept the Chinese from being involved in business so some started their own. Immigration again spurred a sense of Nativism. Some feared that the Catholic Irish immigrants would take power away from the predominantly protestant United States. Unions also opposed immigration because immigrants worked for lower wages and also would accept work as strike breakers. In 1882 laws began appearing to limit immigration including the Chinese Exclusion Act. This law prevented Chinese already in the country from becoming citizens and stopped immigration for 10 years. This act was renewed 10 years later and made permanent in 1902. It was not repealed until 1943. Most immigrants arriving in the U.S. lacked money. They could not buy land to farm, so most went to work in the city factories. It provided an opportunity to rise from the working class to the middle class. Some immigrants even amassed great wealth through hard work and a little luck. Farmers also began moving to the city because they offered better paying jobs. Cities also provided plumbing, bright lights running water and activites for people. As the price of land increased, buildings began going upwards as opposed to outward. Mass transit bega appearing including the cables car in San Francisco. In the cities the wealthy and working class lived in different parts. As transportation increased and the middle class grew, people began moving away from the centeral ciries. However, the working class often lived in multi family apartments called tenements. Pollution in the big cities became a huge problem and as a result, political machines began providing services for the poor in return for votes. City dwellers who needed jobs, food, housing, heat or police protection looked to these political machines or party bosses. In return they would be sure to vote for them in the next election. Corruption was big as officials also took bribes from contractors and sold permits for public utilities to friends. Some officials like William M. “Boss” Tweed were sent to prison on corruption charges. Chapter 3 Birth of Modern America - Section 4 Early Reforms in a Gilded Age Though the industrial revolution improved the quality of life, beneath the surface much corruption, poverty, crime and wealth disparities between rich and power existed. However, many Americans still believed in Individalism, that they can rise from poverty to gain wealth. This came from a belief in Social Darwinism an idea proposed by Herbert Spencer. He applied Darwins theory on natural selection to human society. This “survival of the fittest” ideal supported the Laissez-faire attitude and opposed governments involvment in business. People like John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnagie supported it whole heartedly. Carnegie also believed in the Gospel of Wealth. It was a philosophy that helped soften Social Darwinism through philanthropic activites. Carnegie himself ave millions of dollars for social causes, specifically libraries around the country. As life became less difficult for individuals and the standard of living increased entertainment began to change. Spectator sports, amusment parks and leisure activities were a few of the new changes. Art evolved as well and realism became popular. Writers, painters, and other artists attempted to portray the world the way they saw it, unlike the romanticized art that proceeded it. The increase in industrialization and urbanization created debates on how to best fix society. Many critics of Social Darwinism appeared. Lester Frank Ward came up with the idea of Reform Darwinism, that people succeded in the world because thaey had the ability to cooperate. He argued government should be more involved in the economy. The Social Gospel movement attempted to use Christian ideals of charity and justice to improve city conditions. Churches began offering community functions like day care and helping the poor. They YMCA was created to help industrial workers and the poor, through bible studies, citizenship training and fitness activites. Dwight L. Moody, the president of the Chicago YMCA rejected the Social Gospel theory and set out to help the poor by redeeming their souls and reforming their character. Education quickly became a priority in America. In 1870, 6,500,000 children attended school. By 1900, 17,300,000 attended. For immigrant children, schools provided an opportunity for Americanization, to assimilate in to American culture. Students learned English, American History, and the responsibilities of citizenship. Schools tried to instill a strong work ethic, values and discipline. Some immigrant parents feared that through Americanization, their cildren might lose their native identity. As students got older schools provided vocational training preparing students for jobs in specific trades. Universities also became popular. Not all people had equal access to schools. In rural areas, not many existed. African Americans were also often denied equal education opportunites. As a result, leaders like Booker T. Washington started schools for African American Students, he founded the Tuskegee Institute in 1881. Chapter 3 Birth of Modern America - Section 5 Politics and Reform Going against the traditional spoil system, President Hayes removed officials who owed their jobs to party bosses. This infuriated the bosses of the republican political machines, called “Stalwarts.” As a result, the nomination for the next election went to James Garfield and “Stalwart” Chester A. Arthur for vice President. Garfield was assassinated several months later by a republican, who was angry that he was not offered a job under the spoil system. Congress then passed the Pendelton Act, which further moved the governmet away from the spoil system. Between 1877 and 1896 the country was evenly split between democrats and republicans. Twice during that period, the winner of the popular vote lost the election. 4 of the 6 elections in that period were won by republicans, however, they often had a house full of democrats and a senate full of republicans. Federal politics was at a dead lock. After years of powerful corporations exploiting the public, pressure reached Washington to act. Congress passed the interstate commerce act which was designed to regulate interstate commerce. In 1890 the Sherman Antitrust Act declared it illegal for trusts and monopolies to regulate commerce. However the courts rarely ruled against corporations . In the 1890’s farmers were struggling due to an increased supply of crops and tarrifs raising the cost of manufactured goods. The populism movement began trying to increase farmers political power. As a result of the increased money supply during the civil war inflation finaly caught up with the U.S. Congress responded by stopping the printing of greenbacks and reducing the money supply and a period of deflation became devastating for farmers. Many became indebted to bankers. Farmers tried to organize and created the Grange. It was a group of farmers who tried to increase prices by holding surpluses of food off the market and tring to negotiate better rates with the railroad. However, The Grange was too small to be effective. Western states tried to help grangers by regulating rates railroads could charge. However, the supreme court limited the states ability to do this in Wabash V. Illinois. Populsim continued to gain momentum and in 1892 the first candidate from the populist party was nominated for president of the United States. He was defeated by Grover Cleavland. Not long after Cleavlands innaguration, the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad declared bankruptcy because they had expanded to quickly. The stockmarket crashed the country fell into a severe recession with 18% of the workforce unemployed. During the next election the country held democrats responsible for the recession. Republican William McKinley defeated another Populist candidate. Gold strikes in Alaska and South Africa increased the amount of gold available and in 1900 The U.S. adopted a gold based currency and the populist movement died. Chapter 3 Birth of Modern America - Section 5 Politics and Reform This period of highly contested elections led to the disnfranchisment of many African American Voters in the South. Poll Taxes required a fee that most could not afford in order to vote. Literacy tests required the voter to first pass a test reading from the constitution, often the most difficult passages were picked for African Americans. The grandfather clause only allowed one to vote if an ancestor had been a registered voter, as slaves were not allowed to vote, their was often no voter record of any African American ancestors. These were a few ways states discriminated in the south. Discrimination did not just occur at the polls, In the South Jim Crow Laws enforced segregation. The courts supported segregation in the south ruling the 14th amendment only offered equal protection from the states, not private organizations. In 1896 the suprmeme court ruled that segregation was legal as long as African Americans were given “separate but equal” facilities. This became the basis of legal segregation until 1954. African Americans also faced man acts of violence in addition to segregation. Mob lynchings increased in the 1890’s and executed many African Americans with out any court proceedings. Ida B. Wells launched a crusade against lynchings pointing out that most were not acts of racial prejudice but greed. Booker T. Washington preached that African Americans should focus less on civil rights and more on gaining economically. His views were opposed by the new generation of African Americans led by W.E.B. Du Bois. He demanded that African Americans be given back their civil rights that had been stripped from them by Southern Whites, specifically the right to vote. This was the beginning of a long struggle for African Americans.