Chapter 15Chapter 15Urban AmericaUrban America

Section 3Section 3

The Gilded AgeThe Gilded Age

A Changing CultureA Changing Culture

• 1873 – Mark Twain & Charles Warner 1873 – Mark Twain & Charles Warner co-wrote the novel, co-wrote the novel, The Gilded AgeThe Gilded Age..

• Term refers to the time b/w 1870 & Term refers to the time b/w 1870 & 1900.1900.

• ““gilded” – refers to something being gilded” – refers to something being gold on the outside while the inside is gold on the outside while the inside is made of cheaper material.made of cheaper material.

• This was a time of growth, but beneath This was a time of growth, but beneath the surface there was corruption, the surface there was corruption, poverty, and huge class differences.poverty, and huge class differences.

A Changing CultureA Changing Culture

• Changes in society caused by Changes in society caused by industrialization & urbanization gave industrialization & urbanization gave rise to new values, new art, and new rise to new values, new art, and new forms of entertainment.forms of entertainment.

IndividualismIndividualism

• Strong belief during this era.Strong belief during this era.• Belief that regardless of your Belief that regardless of your

background, you could still rise in background, you could still rise in society.society.

• Horatio Alger wrote over 100 novels Horatio Alger wrote over 100 novels about rags-to-riches stories.about rags-to-riches stories.

Horatio AlgerHoratio Alger

• ““No matter how No matter how many obstacles many obstacles you face, success you face, success was possible.”was possible.”

Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism

• Herbert Spencer first Herbert Spencer first proposed the idea of proposed the idea of Social Darwinism.Social Darwinism.

• He took Charles He took Charles Darwin’s theory of Darwin’s theory of evolution & natural evolution & natural selection and applied selection and applied it to society.it to society.

Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism

• Species that cannot adapt to the Species that cannot adapt to the environment will die out.environment will die out.

• Spencer felt human society evolved Spencer felt human society evolved through competition.through competition.

• Industrial leaders agreed with Social Industrial leaders agreed with Social Darwinism.Darwinism.

• Churches disagreed with Darwinism.Churches disagreed with Darwinism.• S.D. paralleled laissez-faire – no gov’t S.D. paralleled laissez-faire – no gov’t

interference with business.interference with business.

Gospel of WealthGospel of Wealth

• Andrew Carnegie, believed in S.D. & Andrew Carnegie, believed in S.D. & laissez-faire.laissez-faire.

• However, he felt those who profited from However, he felt those who profited from society should give something back.society should give something back.

• This Gospel of Wealth philosophy stated This Gospel of Wealth philosophy stated that the wealthy were responsible & that the wealthy were responsible & should engage in philanthropy, using should engage in philanthropy, using great fortunes to further social progress.great fortunes to further social progress.

RealismRealism

• New movement in art and literature.New movement in art and literature.• Portrayed people in realistic Portrayed people in realistic

situations instead of idealizing them.situations instead of idealizing them.• Thomas Eakins – observed & painted Thomas Eakins – observed & painted

day-to-day living in realistic fashion. day-to-day living in realistic fashion. Used realistic detail & precise Used realistic detail & precise lighting.lighting.

Realism in LiteratureRealism in Literature

• William Dean Howells, wrote realistically William Dean Howells, wrote realistically about American life.about American life.

• Mark Twain, wrote Mark Twain, wrote Adventures of Adventures of Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn in 1884. 1 in 1884. 1stst true true American novel.American novel.

• Henry James, portrayed the lives of the Henry James, portrayed the lives of the upper class in his 1881 novel, upper class in his 1881 novel, Portrait of Portrait of a Lady.a Lady.

• Edith Wharton, portrayed the lives of the Edith Wharton, portrayed the lives of the upper class in New York in the 1870s upper class in New York in the 1870s novel, novel, The Age of InnocenceThe Age of Innocence..

Popular CulturePopular Culture

• Popular culture changed in the late Popular culture changed in the late 1800s.1800s.

• People had more money to spend on People had more money to spend on entertainment & recreation.entertainment & recreation.

• People started “going out” for public People started “going out” for public entertainment.entertainment.

The SaloonThe Saloon

• Saloon acted like the community & Saloon acted like the community & political center for male workers.political center for male workers.

• Offered free toilets, water for Offered free toilets, water for horses, free newspapers, and free horses, free newspapers, and free lunches.lunches.

Amusement ParksAmusement Parks

• Coney Island – amusement park that Coney Island – amusement park that attracted working class families & attracted working class families & single adults.single adults.

• Offered amusements such as water Offered amusements such as water slides and railroad rides.slides and railroad rides.

Coney IslandConey Island

Coney Island – 1Coney Island – 1stst Coaster Coaster

SportsSports

• Watching sports became popular in the late Watching sports became popular in the late 1800s.1800s.

• Baseball appeared in the early 1800s.Baseball appeared in the early 1800s.• 1869 the 11869 the 1stst salaried team, the Cincinnati Red salaried team, the Cincinnati Red

Stockings, was formed.Stockings, was formed.

VaudevilleVaudeville

• Early 1880s, Early 1880s, vaudeville vaudeville became popular.became popular.

• Adapted from Adapted from the French the French theater and theater and combined animal combined animal acts, acrobats, acts, acrobats, gymnasts, and gymnasts, and dancers.dancers.

MusicMusic

• Ragtime became popular.Ragtime became popular.• Mix of riverside honky-tonk, saloon Mix of riverside honky-tonk, saloon

pianists, and banjo players, using pianists, and banjo players, using patterns of African American music.patterns of African American music.

• Scott Joplin – King of RagtimeScott Joplin – King of Ragtime

Scott JoplinScott Joplin

End of Section 3End of Section 3

Next: Section 4Next: Section 4

The Rebirth of ReformThe Rebirth of Reform