Social Activism in the Progressive Era

When the American Dream evolved into a dream of upward mobility, African Americans were thrilled to have the opportunity to enhance their way of life, provide better means for their families and share in the dream of upward mobility. Unfortunately, they were not informed that dreams of upward mobility did not apply to them entirely. Instead, to satisfy their longing to share in the same advantages and privileges as White Americans, Separate but Equal laws were initiated to provide a small portion of the dream while allowing White Americans to keep their neighborhoods, schools and families inaccessible.

Wikipedia states that, “under the 'separate but equal doctrine', blacks were entitled to receive the same public services and accommodations such as schools, bathrooms, and water fountains.” To the expectation of the Whites and the dismay of the Black community, accommodations were far from equal. “African Americans were systematically deprived of political, civil, and social equality for decades to come” [1]. African American schools received less funding than White American schools, impacted the quality of the schools and the education and learning experiences between the groups. African Americans were put through rigorous tests in order to allow them to vote, disqualifying the majority and allowing the White American vote to prevail repeatedly. Restaurant, restrooms and other public areas established for African Americans were also inferior to the presentation, cleanliness and quality that White Americans used.

 

In the midst of the legalized separation, Homer Plessy, an African American man who was able to pass for White and “enjoyed a series of constitutionally protected rights as a United States citizen”[2], decided to relinquish his ability to be accepted by both races and joined with others in an effort to outlaw segregation. Plessy and the team that dedicated years to struggling through the legal system wholeheartedly trusted in the Progressive influences and believed that activism could influence social justice. Ultimately, the Supreme Court did not rule in favor of outlawing segregation and the case of “Plessy vs. Ferguson” was “considered among the worst decisions the Supreme Court ever made”[3].

The American Dream for Upward Mobility became an obscure and inaccessible goal for African Americans in a single moment. The continuation of ambiguously defining equality of opportunity had prevented equality from ever being obtainable to the masses [4] and would continue to influence separation of the classes and the American culture in future generations.

Besides racial issues, social activist also targeted prostitution and aimed at enhancing provisions to women either forced into a life of prostitution or attempting to escape from a career that only led to judgment and tragedy. Prostitution had grown massively among young girls and politicians and social activist began to battle the cause as fiery as they had battled the revolution.  “There is a slave trade in this country, and it is not black folks this time, but little white girls – thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen and seventeen years of age”[5]. Men who were utilizing brothels and prostitutes were targeted as villains against the American Dream by certain philanthropist. The cry for help begin to rescue these young girls from a life of slavery and drugs and to provide them with the same freedom and ability to achieve upward mobility as African Americans were fighting for. Some women were able to find work in the high class brothel, such as the notorious Everleigh Club, but the life of a prostitute was not glamorous for all.  Unfortunately, facing similar political barriers as with segregation, the brothels were in some ways safeguarded by unethical police officers and judicial workers that gave in to bribes and payoffs, which delayed the illegalization of prostitution and brothels. [6]

During the Progressive Era, the crusade against the Separate but Equal laws were more influential due to the frequency of the battles and the empowerment that begin to grow for social activist allowing them the confidence and will to face other areas of discrimination and unethical behavior.

Both social issues widely opposed during the Progressive Era have impacted and influenced the current culture of American and neither issue has fully ceased to exist. Racism, segregation and trafficking of young girls are all heartbreaking issues that are current political platforms and exist on the agendas of many activist groups today. “Legalized segregation might be a thing of the past in 21st-century America, but that doesn't mean that communities are fully integrated”[7]. Clearly stated by author Simon Fuller, even though the ruling in the “Brown vs. The Board of Education” case brought an end to legalized segregation, exclusivity and seclusion still remains vivid and thriving in our Nation. Perhaps one day, the dream will be available for all. Please use the link below to view Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's famous speech, " I have a Dream." This is something that everyone should view at some point in their life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gdTpU5WZHHM

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[1] Cullen, Jim. The American Dream. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003, Page 106

[2] Cullen, Jim. The American Dream. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003, Page 103

[3] Cullen, Jim. The American Dream. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003, Page 106

[4] Cullen, Jim. The American Dream. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003, Page 108

[5] Abbott, Karen. Sin in the Second City, New York: Random House, 2008, Page 49

[6] Bertrand, Melanie. Social Activism and Prostitution in the Progressive Era. n.d. http://melaniebertrand.hubpages.com/hub/Social-Activism-and-Prostitution-in-the-Progressive-Era.

 

[7] Fuller, Simon. Harmful Effects of Segregation. n.d. http://www.ehow.com/info_8514884_harmful-effects-segregation.html (accessed September 2012).

 

Cultural Influences of the Condeferate and Union States

While the lack of healthcare and the long cold winters were still largely an issue for Northerners, there was hope with the continued investment in factories and machinery. The South omitted from investing in machinery and continued to invest in manual labor. This decision alone would shape the culture of the Union and the Confederacy. The initiation of factories highly influenced the unionistic point of view. The North had learned how to invest and import, providing greater wealth and self-sufficiency. Those in the South were dependent upon the Northerners for financial assistance during hardships. The establishment of factories also allowed African Americans to join the workforce and earn respect. They were seen less as people needing someone to aid their race and were meriting value and equality. The North became a land of opportunity for all.

The impact of the Puritan work ethic would establish the work ethic of the North. Southerners did not have to adopt the strict and strategic planning diligence and the Northerners due to the mild winters in the South.  The culture of the South was not as investment oriented as the Yankees of the North. The long-term goals were varied between the different cultures. The Northerners adopted the American Dream for Upward Mobility, believing in self-sufficiency. [1] The dream for upward mobility also lived in the South; however the South chose to invest in other men to work for them as slaves, rather than doing the work themselves. The dream impacted the two regions very differently and continued to weave through areas of life such as the conception of factories and industrialization.

Cotton Factory in New York during the Civil War

With the establishment of factories and other investments, the Northern culture had incorporated a small amount of middle class into its culture slowly decreasing the elitism and power separation between the classes. In the North, “people were investing in labor saving machinery -- advancing technology in order to reduce manual labor or labor costs”[2] further eliminating the need and support of slavery. The culture in the South desired the power that owning slaves offered. Those that could not afford slaves would envy slave owners. Southerners even believed that “adds to its refinement, allows more time to cultivate the mind, exalts the standards in morals, manners and intellectual endowments.”[3] The presence of power and exclusivity remained in the South and influenced the culture the Reconstruction era that become hostile and aggressive towards African Americans.

Citizens divided during the Reconstruction Era

Education was also more favored and appreciated in the North. Southerners had a greater amount of illiteracy with education being reserved for the privileged. Since agriculture dictated the school schedules, children in the South had to work their schooling around the agriculture calendar. This accommodation eventually influenced our cultural practice of summer breaks for schools. [4] Those in the North also had to accommodate scheduling around school, however invested in the education of more than the elite, which also supported the growth of the middle class.

When the time came for men to enlist in the War, African Americans remembered the opportunities granted with the ability to learn and work and become equal and therefore they were more willing to serve for the cause of the Civil War. African Americans made up 10% of the Union soldiers initially and the numbers continued to grow reaching over 180,000 men who enlisted. The following video describes the contribution that African Americans provided to the Union frontier: http://www.5min.com/Video/African-Americans-in-the-American-Civil-War-300994331

 

 

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[1] Cullen, Jim. The American Dream. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003

[2] Macrohistory and World Report. 2011. http://www.fsmitha.com/h3/h42cw-culture.htm (accessed September 2012).

[3] Genovese, Fox-Genovese. Fatal Self-Deception. New York: Cambridge, 2011.

[4] Civil War Trust. 2011. http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/on-the-homefront/culture/education.html (accessed September 2012)

 

Religion and Freedom in American Colonial Culture

The dominate trend that existed and influenced decisions during the Colonial and Revolutionary period was religion. Religious freedom was the driving force that inspired men of all ages to revolt against their native country of England in order to pursue a life that would develop into the American Dream. As described by James Truslow Adams, the American dream would provide “a better, richer and happier life for all out citizens of every rank.” [1] During the Colonial period, the American Dream was designed to establish “a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe” [2] when the preamble to the Declaration of Independence inaugurated three basic rights: the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

To read the full preamble of the Declaration of Independence visit: http://www.elcivics.com/us_declaration_preamble.html

                                                        

Religion influenced more than the foundation of the Colonies, the set of beliefs founded by the Puritans prompted intolerance and self-righteousness.  While Christianity was the popular religion, there was no unified beliefs system to create a happier life for all people as religion based on Puritan beliefs assisted the influence elitism and the separation of classes. “Although most colonists considered themselves Christians, this did not mean that they lived in a culture of religious unity. Instead, differing Christian groups often believed that their own practices and faiths provided unique values that needed protection against those who disagreed, driving a need for rule and regulation.” [3] The Puritans did have the best interest of the people in mind, but like the Founding Fathers, could not decide amongst themselves how to make the world a better place.

Thomas Jefferson attempted to better American culture through his love of food and entertaining. Jefferson believed that Relationships cultivated through sharing a meal could enhance the community and narrow the gap between classes. He encouraged appreciation of other cultures by sharing food knowledge and crops and bringing a blend of different nations to America. [4]

Religion was a definite trend during the Colonial and Revolutionary period and the inability to agree on an interpretation of liberty continued to shape how the American culture matured. When questioned about the interpretation of liberty in the Declaration of Independence, John Winthrop is quoted as declaring liberty “makes men grow evil, and in time to be worse than brute beasts.” [5] While the loose definition of freedom allowed slavery to continue and the belief that “freedom was to be a relative and racially limited term”[6], during the Revolution period the problem of slavery developed moral clarity. The Revolutionary period was about power and American were able to recognize their own power issues and relate the desire for power with the power that initiated the separation from England.

As religion continued to trend through the American culture, impacting freedom and class, the Declaration of Independence continued to transform and adjust to the beliefs and morals of the nation. The desire for a better and happier life is still a dominate goal for the current culture and much like the Colonial period, the translation of that goal requires clarification and implementation to ensure freedom for all.

                                            

[1]

Cullen, Jim. The American Dream. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.

[2] Dictionary.com. http://dictionary.refernece.com/browse/universe (accessed September 2, 2012)

[3] http://nobigotry.facinghistory.org/content/religion-colonial-america-trends-regulations-and-beliefs

 

[4] DeWitt, Dave “The Founding Foodies” 2010 Sourcebooks

[5]

Cullen, Jim. The American Dream. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.

 

[6] Cullen, Jim. The American Dream. New York; Oxford University Press, 2003