HIST 2112 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Gilded Age, Separate Spheres, Emma Lazarus
Document Summary
Introduction: mark twain coined the term the gilded age in the late 19th century -- when you look at america from a distance, it glittered like gold. Western europe white, anglo-saxons, protestants -- wasps): three major forces reshaped american society between 1870 and 1920: In 1850, most americans did not live in big cities, new york being the biggest city. By 1900, new york was one of 3 cities with nearly 1 million people: most people who lived in the cities were poor, working class, and new immigrants. Ii. who live in tenants: living in city = not positive. Iii: four waves of immigrants in american history, first wave: 17th and 18th c. most came from northern and western europe (wasps). Brought political, religious, and moral values: second wave: 18th and 19th c. large number of irish and german immigrants. Irish were in drought poor, no food, suffering.
