Lesson 18: Social Issues (Part 2)
Schools
There were very few high schools before the Civil War, but by 1900, 6,000 high schools had been built. Education begins to take a larger part of people's lives.
As far as colleges and universities, most of these schools were religious schools. In 1862, the Morrill Act was passed. It said that any land that would be surveyed in the future had to have a particular amount set aside for public schools and colleges/universities. To add to this, in 1887, the Hatch Act was passed (not to be confused with the Hatch Act passed during the Great Depression). It was the first act to give federal money to colleges and universities. Without the Morrill Act of 1862 and Hatch Act of 1887, you would not be in school now and there would be far fewer universities and colleges.
New curriculums began to be developed in colleges and universities. Prior to this time, the emphasis in universities was on languages, such as learning Latin and Greek. The new curriculum created more diversity in the types of things that could be studied. The original curriculums lined up closer to getting a Bachelor of Arts degree. Today, more people get Bachelor of Science degrees, meaning that they don't study languages during their time in college.
As far as colleges and universities, most of these schools were religious schools. In 1862, the Morrill Act was passed. It said that any land that would be surveyed in the future had to have a particular amount set aside for public schools and colleges/universities. To add to this, in 1887, the Hatch Act was passed (not to be confused with the Hatch Act passed during the Great Depression). It was the first act to give federal money to colleges and universities. Without the Morrill Act of 1862 and Hatch Act of 1887, you would not be in school now and there would be far fewer universities and colleges.
New curriculums began to be developed in colleges and universities. Prior to this time, the emphasis in universities was on languages, such as learning Latin and Greek. The new curriculum created more diversity in the types of things that could be studied. The original curriculums lined up closer to getting a Bachelor of Arts degree. Today, more people get Bachelor of Science degrees, meaning that they don't study languages during their time in college.
Civil Rights
Former slaves, and now children of former slaves, were still in a rough place. Many of them were not allowed to vote due to unfair laws. They were discriminated against and often not considered to be full citizens by their white contemporaries. Wanting the rights that they deserved, the African-American community looked to their leaders to help them. This led to two ideas of what to do, led by Booker T Washington and WEB De Boy.
Booker T Washington said that African Americans should work to get their rights slowly. He said they should back off and work towards their rights by becoming educated, working hard, and showing the white people that they were deserving of their rights.
WEB DeBois said that African-Americans should put the civil rights issue into white peoples' faces. They should hold rallies and force the government to enforce their rights.
At this time, the African-American people decided, as a whole, to follow Booker T Washington's theory.
George Washington Carver did more to help save the south than any other person. He helped make the south agriculturally viable again. Read about him and watch the video here: http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/george-washington-carver
Booker T Washington said that African Americans should work to get their rights slowly. He said they should back off and work towards their rights by becoming educated, working hard, and showing the white people that they were deserving of their rights.
WEB DeBois said that African-Americans should put the civil rights issue into white peoples' faces. They should hold rallies and force the government to enforce their rights.
At this time, the African-American people decided, as a whole, to follow Booker T Washington's theory.
George Washington Carver did more to help save the south than any other person. He helped make the south agriculturally viable again. Read about him and watch the video here: http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/george-washington-carver
The Press
With the new push in education, illiteracy rates began to decrease. This created the opportunity for newspaper and book sellers to expand. The top two publishers of the time were Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hurst. Both of them owned several newspapers. One way they kept their readership was through yellow journalism. Read about yellow journalism here: http://www.pbs.org/crucible/frames/_journalism.html
Both Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hurst became unpopular in the eyes of the public. Both had problems with their employees at times, as portrayed in the movie Newsies. Watch a film portrayal of part of one strike in the 1890s against Pulitzer and Hurst here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_59pP_Xcw0g Notice how quick this "labor union" is to violence.
Towards the end of his life, Joseph Pulitzer wanted to pull his name out of the mud, so he started to do things for the public with the money he had made over his career. The thing that really pulled his name out of the mud with the public was the Pulitzer Prize, which is still given out today. William Randolph Hurst would never try to pull his name out of the mud.
Below are several writers that have been remembered for things they wrote during this time period:
Henry George - He was an economist who wrote for a magazine and newspaper. Read about him here: http://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-George He believed that people should be kind to one another. He said, "The milk of human kindness should flow through human veins."
Horatio Alger - He stressed the survival of the purest in his writings. He was trying to get people to go back to the Puritan ethics. Read about him here: http://web.stanford.edu/dept/SUL/library/prod/depts/dp/pennies/1860_alger.html
Louis Wallis -He was a general in the battle of Shiloh during the Civil War. He wrote the book Ben Hur. He tried to prove Christianity in his books and combat Darwinism.
Walt Whitman - Although most of his writings came before this period, Whitman was still writing during this time period. Read about him here: https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/walt-whitman
Samuel Clemens - Better known by his pen name, Mark Twain, he tried to encourage people to put down racism and slavery in his books. He is well known for his satire (sarcasm used to make a subtle point).
Jack London - Read about him here: http://www.biography.com/people/jack-london-9385499
Emily Dickinson - Dickinson is the only woman in America known for her writing during this time period. Today, she is often considered the United States' most famous poet. Read about her here: https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/emily-dickinson
Both Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hurst became unpopular in the eyes of the public. Both had problems with their employees at times, as portrayed in the movie Newsies. Watch a film portrayal of part of one strike in the 1890s against Pulitzer and Hurst here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_59pP_Xcw0g Notice how quick this "labor union" is to violence.
Towards the end of his life, Joseph Pulitzer wanted to pull his name out of the mud, so he started to do things for the public with the money he had made over his career. The thing that really pulled his name out of the mud with the public was the Pulitzer Prize, which is still given out today. William Randolph Hurst would never try to pull his name out of the mud.
Below are several writers that have been remembered for things they wrote during this time period:
Henry George - He was an economist who wrote for a magazine and newspaper. Read about him here: http://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-George He believed that people should be kind to one another. He said, "The milk of human kindness should flow through human veins."
Horatio Alger - He stressed the survival of the purest in his writings. He was trying to get people to go back to the Puritan ethics. Read about him here: http://web.stanford.edu/dept/SUL/library/prod/depts/dp/pennies/1860_alger.html
Louis Wallis -He was a general in the battle of Shiloh during the Civil War. He wrote the book Ben Hur. He tried to prove Christianity in his books and combat Darwinism.
Walt Whitman - Although most of his writings came before this period, Whitman was still writing during this time period. Read about him here: https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/walt-whitman
Samuel Clemens - Better known by his pen name, Mark Twain, he tried to encourage people to put down racism and slavery in his books. He is well known for his satire (sarcasm used to make a subtle point).
Jack London - Read about him here: http://www.biography.com/people/jack-london-9385499
Emily Dickinson - Dickinson is the only woman in America known for her writing during this time period. Today, she is often considered the United States' most famous poet. Read about her here: https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/emily-dickinson
Amusements
As more people move into the cities, the entertainment business begins to boom. Vaudeville, a variety show with a host, several acts, intermediate jokes, etc., begins to tour from city to city. PT Barnum begins a circus performance that would tour as well. (The equivalent to day is known as Barnum and Bailey circus.) Western shows were created and hosted by Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley. (Today's equivalent is the rodeo.) Sports such as baseball and boxing become popular. Basketball and American football are created as well.
Assignment #4
1. Who had his name published twice on the cover of books? Why?
2. What did the Morrill Act of 1862 do for education?
3. Thinking about the Morrill Act o 1862, why do you think more public colleges and universities in the United States exist in the West versus the East?
4. If you were going to a university or college in the 1830s, what would the emphasis of your education be on?
5. Who is the most well known American poet? The second?
6. Compare and contrast (how are they the same and how are they different) the ideas of Booker T Washington and WEB DeBois.
7. What led to a decrease in illiteracy?
8. Explain yellow journalism in your own words.
9. Due to urbanization, what industry began to boom?
10. What did all the authors listed above do in their writings?
2. What did the Morrill Act of 1862 do for education?
3. Thinking about the Morrill Act o 1862, why do you think more public colleges and universities in the United States exist in the West versus the East?
4. If you were going to a university or college in the 1830s, what would the emphasis of your education be on?
5. Who is the most well known American poet? The second?
6. Compare and contrast (how are they the same and how are they different) the ideas of Booker T Washington and WEB DeBois.
7. What led to a decrease in illiteracy?
8. Explain yellow journalism in your own words.
9. Due to urbanization, what industry began to boom?
10. What did all the authors listed above do in their writings?