Community High School District 117

Volume 1, Issue 1

Urbanization in the Gilded Age

Special points of interest:

· The amount of American newspapers produced doubled during the Gilded Age

· The first sky scraper was in Chicago

· By 1900, only 10.79% of Americans were illiterate

                 The Gilded Age was a period of reform and change in the United States in the late 1800’s, provoked by the rapid immigration of southern and eastern Europeans and the growth of cities.  The Gilded Age provided much needed improvement and modernization after the Civil War.  During the Civil War and the following Reconstruction Era, the focus of the nation was on politics and rebuilding, rather than industry and urbanization.  The forced unity between the North and the South allowed the economy to thrive and paved the way for new movements and ideas that shaped the Gilded Age. Although the Gilded Age brought corruption and social problems, the reforms prompted by the growing county were necessary.

                 Urbanization occurred as poor immigrants poured into the country and quickly settled into cities.  The growing cities had to transform and modernize to accommodate their growing population.  Urbanization was present both physically and socially.  Notables such as the first skyscraper, more colleges, and new ways of transportation, changed the structure of city life.  Cities became crowded and filthy due to the growing populations, and often became viewed as places of corruption.  The new lower class of immigrants changed the social structure in cities and created their own class.  The availability of jobs transformed the roll of women.  The press and news coverage also grew as the population increase.

                 The incredible urbanization following the Civil War was due to immigrants as well as a America becoming a country of consumers.  Cities provided jobs and technological advancements that could not be found anywhere else.  During the Gilded Age, the city became the hub of both advancement and corruption.

Harrison

    President Benjamin Harrison served towards the end of the gilded age, from

1889-1893. On the positive side under his administration, 6 states were

rejoined with the Union, the United States became a power in global

trading, a positive relationship with Central America was made (creating

the Pan-American Games), and navy and armed forces were strengthened under

his beliefs that the military should be a career choice, not a draft. On

the negative side, domestic policy was not addressed well and the spoils

system ruled the politics of the day. The republican's were Harrison's

main opponents, because he himself stayed honest and based his political

selections on ability, not on bribes. Under his administration, the House

of Representatives was hardly a place for discussion of ideas. Instead, it

was merely a way of carrying out Thomas Reed's (Speaker of the House)

wishes. When looking at the big picture, Harrison's administration did a

lot of good, but the corruption in the government of the time causes many

people to frown upon him.

 

Hayes

        Rutherford B. Hayes’ presidency had a corrupt beginning.  His

presidency was decided by a fifteen many jury made of eight Republicans

and seven Democrats.  Hayes first action as a president, choosing a

cabinet, brought him Republican scorn.  Hays chose both an ex-Confederate

and a liberal Republican. 

        In 1877 Hayes set forth the Compromise of 1877.  The compromise

ended military occupation in the South and appeased Democrats.  Hayes also

restricted Chinese immigration during his presidency.  Rutherford B. Hayes

only served one term as president. 

 

Cleveland

   Grover Cleveland was the 22nd (1885-1889) and 24th (1893-1897)

President.  He was the only President to leave for four years and return

to the White House for a second term.

  He was born in New Jersey on March 18, 1837.  Before becoming President,

he was first a lawyer, the Mayor of Buffalo and the Governor of New York.

When he went into his first term in 1885, he was a bachelor.  However, in

June of 1886, he married Frances Folsom.

  During his first term, he passed several acts.  In 1887, the Interstate

Commerce Act produced the Interstate Commerce Commission.  It regulated

interstate railroad rates.  The Dawes Severalty Act was passed 1887

allowed citizenship and reservation land for Native Americans that were

willing to go against their tribal leaders.

  During his second term in 1893, he vetoed the treaty that would have

taken over Hawaii.  He felt that America should not help in overthrowing

their Queen.  Also, the Panic of 1893 broke out.  This was an economic

depression where many businesses failed and riots occurred.  The

government did little to help because they felt it was unconstitutional.

In 1894, Cleveland sent federal troops in to arrest Eugene V. Debs when

violence broke out at the Pullman Palace Car Company due to reduced wages.