Gilded Age America: Society, Culture, and Conservation

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Questions and Answers

How did the rise of consumer spaces in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contribute to evolving social class distinctions in America?

Consumer spaces, like department stores and first-class rail cars, catered to different classes, widening the gap through access to goods/services. Some spaces promoted segregation, further reinforcing divisions.

What was the significance of Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) in relation to consumer spaces like railroad cars?

Plessy v. Ferguson legalized segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine. It allowed railroad companies to maintain segregated cars, reinforcing racial inequality in public transportation.

Explain how the concept of "Muscular Christianity" influenced the rise of sports like basketball and volleyball.

Muscular Christianity promoted physical fitness as a means of building character and moral strength in men. This led to the creation and popularity of sports like basketball and volleyball, fostered by organizations like the YMCA, as alternatives to perceived 'softness'.

How did the emergence of the Negro Leagues reflect both the popularity and limitations of baseball as "America's Game"?

The Negro Leagues emerged due to racial segregation preventing Black players from joining Major League Baseball. While baseball's popularity extended to Black communities, systemic racism limited their access to the sport at the highest level. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the key differences in the goals between John Muir and other hunters concerning environmental conservation efforts during the late 19th century.

Muir advocated for preservation: setting aside land untouched. Hunters often supported conservation (managed use) for continued hunting, leading to conflict over land use and wildlife management. Signup and view all the answers

What impact did the Lacey Act of 1900 and the Antiquities Act of 1906 have on environmental conservation in the United States?

The Lacey Act established federal penalties for selling illegally obtained animals/plants/birds, curbing commercial exploitation. The Antiquities Act allowed the president to create national monuments, protecting areas of scientific or historical interest. Signup and view all the answers

How did the increasing popularity of bicycles in the 1890s reflect broader changes in American society and culture at the end of the 19th century?

The bicycle craze reflected a growing interest in outdoor recreation, increased mobility, and changing gender roles (as women gained more independence using bicycles). It symbolized a shift toward leisure and consumerism. Signup and view all the answers

Explain why John Muir was so strongly against the damming of the Tuolumne River in the Hetch Hetchy Valley, despite arguments that it would provide a valuable water source for San Francisco.

Muir believed that Hetch Hetchy was a unique and irreplaceable wilderness area that should be preserved in its natural state, regardless of the potential benefits of a dam. He believed in the intrinsic value of nature. Signup and view all the answers

How did the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) expand its focus beyond just temperance, and what does this reveal about the broader goals of some women's organizations at the time?

The WCTU expanded its focus to include issues such as soup kitchens, libraries, prison reform, the eight-hour day, child labor laws, and women's suffrage. This reveals that some women's organizations had broader goals related to social reform and improving society, using temperance as a gateway to address a range of social issues. Signup and view all the answers

In what ways did the views and goals of white women's organizations, such as the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), differ from those of Black women's organizations, such as the National Association of Colored Women (NACW)?

White women's organizations like the UDC often celebrated the 'Lost Cause' of the Confederacy, while Black women's organizations like the NACW advocated for themselves and addressed the specific challenges faced by Black women and communities, often excluded from the concerns of white organizations. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how Social Darwinism was used to justify discrimination, particularly through the eugenics movement. Give one specific example of a group that was targeted.

Social Darwinism applied the concept of 'survival of the fittest' to society, leading to the belief that certain groups were inherently superior. Eugenics used this idea to promote preventing certain people (e.g. non-whites) from reproducing, justifying discrimination against them. Signup and view all the answers

How did the focus of literary movements shift from Realism/Naturalism to Modernism? What factors contributed to this shift?

Realism and Naturalism presented humans as victims of external forces, while Modernism rejected traditional literary standards and explored the 'primitive' mind. Factors contributing to this shift could include disillusionment with established societal norms, increased knowledge of other cultures, and new psychological theories. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the core difference between the Social Gospel movement and the Fundamentalist movement in terms of their approaches to engaging with society and religious doctrine.

The Social Gospel movement sought to address social problems and reach the unchurched and poor, while the Fundamentalist movement focused on reaffirming the 'truth' of the Bible in response to rising secularism. The Social Gospel was outward focused and the Fundamentalist movement was inward focused. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how the Comstock Act of 1873 reflected anxieties present in the industrializing society of the late 19th century.

The Comstock Act reflected anxieties about changing social norms, particularly regarding sexuality and reproduction, in response to industrialization. There was fear of pornography and its perceived impact on morality, further fueled by concerns over declining birth rates and the changing roles of women. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the shift in women's moral influence from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, and what movement did it transition towards?

In the late 19th century, women asserted influence through moral suasion, often linked to temperance and social reform. By the early 20th century, this shifted towards feminism, emphasizing women's rights, equality, and challenging traditional gender roles and dependence. Signup and view all the answers

What were the main goals shared by reformers in the 1880s and 1890s, excluding the goal that is 'loading...'?

Reformers in the 1880s and 1890s primarily focused on cleaning up politics (reducing corruption,) limiting the power of big business (regulating monopolies,) and reducing poverty (addressing economic inequality.) Signup and view all the answers

Compare and contrast the approaches of Booker T. Washington and Ida B. Wells in addressing racial inequality during the late 19th century.

Washington advocated for accommodation and vocational training through the Atlanta Compromise, emphasizing economic self-reliance within a segregated society. Wells, conversely, promoted direct confrontation of racial injustice through activism, investigative journalism, and anti-lynching campaigns while advocating for black militancy and armed resistance. Signup and view all the answers

How did the expansion of women's education in the late 19th century challenge traditional gender roles?

The increased availability of education for women, exemplified by the rise of women's colleges like the Seven Sisters, challenged the notion that women's primary role was domestic. Education equipped them with the skills and knowledge to pursue employment and engage in social and political activism, thus moving away from dependency. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the main focus of the Atlanta Compromise speech given by Booker T. Washington, and what type of education did he promote?

The Atlanta Compromise speech focused on advocating for African Americans to pursue vocational training and economic self-reliance as a path to gradual integration and acceptance, rather than immediately demanding social and political equality. He promoted industrial education. Signup and view all the answers

Identify three reform movements, besides women's education, that women actively participated in during the Progressive Era, and what was a common limitation they faced in these movements?

Women actively engaged in temperance, suffrage, and anti-lynching movements. A common limitation they faced was segregation, which persisted even within these reform efforts. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how the decrease in the average number of births per American woman between 1800 and 1900 connects to the rise of industrial society.

The decline in average births from 7 in 1800 to 3.6 in 1900 is a direct result of industrial society since it brought changes like greater urbanization and cost of living, increased access to (and awareness of) birth control methods and family planning, and shifting societal values regarding family size and women working outside of the home. Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

WCTU

Established in 1871, advocated for various reforms including temperance, women's suffrage, and social welfare.

NAWSA

Reunited suffragist organizations in 1890, advocating for women's voting rights on a state-by-state basis.

Heterodoxy Club (1912)

A club of NYC intellectuals, journalists, and labor organizers promoting full equality and feminist ideals.

Social Darwinism

Applied Darwinian concepts to society, leading to ideas about racial superiority and discriminatory policies.