Social Changes 1890-1920 Flashcards
Possible exam question: “The position of African-Americans improved 1890-1920” give three lines of argument
There were political improvements
Segregation didn’t improve
Violence didn’t improve
Name 3 political improvements for Black people?
Booker T Washington became a prominent figure and his Atlanta address in 1895 was an offer f partnership between races. He was invited to the White House by Roosevelt.
A black congressman proposed an anti-lynching bill in 1901 - showing some power and possible changes
The NAACP formed in 1909 - black people were banding together in organisations to advance them.
Why could it be argued the political improvements for black people were minor?
Despite Roosevelt inviting Washington he put through little legislation and Wilson was a racist indebted to the Solid South.
The NAACP formed in order to record lynchings that weren’t officially done, this was a group of necessity.
Despite the anti-lynching bill being proposed it was voted down by congress and is yet to pass to this day.
Give 2 ways segregation was affecting black people’s lives?
Jim Crow laws were in place and were backed up by the Supreme Court Plessy vs Ferguson ruling of ‘separate but equal’ which enforced segregation of transport and water fountains. In 1887 they also introduced segregated rail carriages.
Voting segregation was enforced through loopholes of the 15th Amendment. Georgia introduced a poll tax in 1898 and Louisiana introduced a grandfather clause.
Describe examples of violence on black people?
The KKK was revived in 1925 - also there was support for it within congress and even President Wilson
There were continued lynchings with 3000 between 1889 and 1929 and only 4 perpetrators were ever put in prison. In fact congressmen like Ben Tillman of Florida encouraged and participated in lynchings.
Possible exam question: “Society changed dramatically in the years 1890-1920” Give 2 examples for and against
For - Urbanisation and Immigration
For - Progressivism
Against - Regional divisions
Against - African Americans
How had immigration changed society?
Created different communities within cities - Polish Triangle in Chicago and Little Italy in New York- this affected the food and culture of those places.
Urbanisation - as the population of cities rose by over 40 million it surpassed all rural areas. But rural areas also expanded and received more street lighting and trams. Also cities became increasingly black due to the Great Atlantic Migration of 18.4 million between 1890-1914.
How did immigration not change society?
WASPs - there was still negative opinion on outsiders who weren’t ‘natives’ - saw them as negative stereotypes like predators or drunks especially as 80% of Italians were male.
Trade unions - still hated immigrants as they were ‘strike breakers’ who made American workers dispensable as there was so much cheap labour
Give 2 push and 2 pull factors for immigrants
Push - Persecution for Jews in Russia led them to flee
Push - Travel had improved with more efficient ships and sophisticated ports at Liverpool or Hamburg
Pull - better administration at new immigration centre in Ellis Island opened 1892
Pull- established immigrant communities in cities
How did progressivism change society?
The rise of prohibition - middle class used this as a reaction against immigration and urbanisation- there was the creation of successful groups like the Anti-Saloon League and Women’a Christian Temperance Union. One member Carrie Nation the ‘kansas bar room smasher’.
These groups also linked to Women’s Liberation as more women were taking a prominent role in society - Pankhurst visited New York in 1913 to give a speech and the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920.
How did regional divides persist in this period?
While The North was changing and becoming more urbanised
The South - still dominated by values from before the civil war like segregation and state autonomy and still supported the Democrats. Also there was no industrial revolution occurring in the South as the economy was still reliant on agriculture and especially ‘king cotton’.
How did regional divides arguably change somewhat?
The south did urbanise at a slower rate - due to the new oil industry in cities like New Orleans and Atlanta. Atlanta’s population went from 66,000 to 155,000.
The West - Port cities like LA had a 6 times increase in population and gold rushes meant more people went to Alaska and Seattle.
