The American Pageant Chapter 25 Reading Questions

CHAPTER 25
Urbanization, Immigration, and Culture, 1865–1900

1. Urbanization This section highlights some of the post–Civil War trends that helped transform rural America into a
country that would be much more familiar to us today. Looking at the chart, you can see that city-dwellers constituted
only ____ percent of the population in 1790. By 1900, that had risen to _____ percent (about half of the 1990 figure
of _____ percent). Improved agricultural productivity helped feed the urban population. It also forced European and
American farmers off the land and into the cities looking for industrial jobs. Cities could grow upwards because of the
___________ (means for moving people up) and the steel-framed skyscraper made popular by Chicago architect
Louis _____________. Commuting to the suburbs became possible because of mass transit improvements such as the
electric ___________. The city offered attractions such as electric light, indoor plumbing, _____________ (the new
communications device), and shopping at department stores. On the other hand, list a few of the disadvantages of
primitive city life:
2. The “New” Immigration

a. Compare and contrast the characteristics of the “new” and “old” immigration.
(1) Old (1840s–1880s):
(2) New (1880s–1920s):
b. *** Can you make any general conclusions about immigration?
c. Though America accepted large numbers of immigrants, the government provided virtually no social or economic
services to these immigrants. How and why did the urban political machines (such as “Boss” Tweed in New York)
provide many of these services?
d. The authors say that the “social gospel,” as advocated by ministers like Walter ___________________, tried to get
the churches involved in solving the new urban problems. They also mention the name of Jane __________ of
Chicago as a central person in bringing mostly middle-class women into the new occupation of social work and
founding the first American “settlement house” called ________ House. What connection do the authors make
between this movement and the changing roles of women?
e. What was the significance of the immigration law passed in 1882?
© Copyright Houghton Mifflin Company Student Reading Questions for The American Pageant, Twelfth Edition
3. Religion and Education Many churches became more secular in the face of an increasingly materialistic culture. The
new immigration drastically expanded the ____________ and __________ faiths and new varieties emerged,
including the __________ Army and the Christian __________ Church. Finally this section covers the important
explosion of public and private schools (including parochial schools for the new Catholic immigrants).
4. African-Americans react to “Jim Crow” a. By 1900, the day-to-day plight of blacks was little better than it had
been under slavery. Summarize the views of these two leaders on the subject of black advancement. *** Under
conditions prevailing at the time, which of these would you have supported and why?
(1) Booker T. Washington:
(2) W. E. B. DuBois:
(3) Your view:
5. Universities, Press, and Literature Expansion of public universities was boosted by passage of the __________ Act
of 1862 granting land for this purpose, and “robber barons” such as Leland __________ used their wealth to found
many private universities. Andrew _________ funded the expansion of public libraries and the circulation of
newspapers increased, notably with the competition between “yellow journalists” Joseph __________ and William
Randolph __________. Of the extensive list of quality writers and authors discussed at the end of this section, pick
three that you like and list a few of their characteristics. *** Have you read anything by any of them?
(1)
(2)
(3)
6. Moral Values and Women’s Rights a. The new urban environment sparked debate over changing sexual attitudes
and the role of women in the family. A new generation of women activists formed the National American Women’s
____________ Association in 18___. What were the differing arguments of the following two leaders in favor of
women’s suffrage? *** Then put a (W) by the leader whose argument seems to you to be most similar to that of
Booker T. Washington, and a (D) by the one whose argument you can connect to that of W. E. B. DuBois.
____ 1. Charlotte Perkins Gilman:
____ 2. Carrie Chapman Catt:
7. Reform, Art, and Culture Women, most notably the colorful Carrie A. ________, led the fight against excessive
drinking (mostly by men!), forming the Woman’s ____________ ______________ Association in 1874. Artists of the
period included James _________ and Winslow __________. Popular music blossomed, including uniquely
American forms of blues, ragtime, and jazz. The biggest world’s fair ever, the Great __________ Exposition, was
held in __________ in 1893. And urban Americans had the time and money for new popular amusements such as the
circus and spectator sports such as baseball, football, and boxing. *** After reading this chapter, reflect a bit on life at
the end of the nineteenth century. Imagine growing up in this period and list one or two advantages and disadvantages
compared to today.

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CHAPTER 25

Urbanization, Immigration, and Culture, 1865–1900

2. The “New” Immigration

(2) New (1880s–1920s):

b. *** Can you make any general conclusions about immigration?

e. What was the significance of the immigration law passed in 1882?

(3) Your view:

____ 2. Carrie Chapman Catt:

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