Slavery in the 1800's
Samuel Ruiz Plaza
The Wealthy
- Bankers, Manufactures, and Merchants made up the Wealthy Upper Class
- They had leaders that would decide who could make up the wealthy social class
- They voted on who was allowed to attend the wealthy gatherings
- They determined "social grade"
The Middle Class
- Artisans, Farmers, Lawyers, Ministers, and Shoe keepers made up the Middle Class
- It was founded in the early 1800s
- It was an in between wealthy and poor
- The people in the middle class lived a simple but comfortable life which lead to male and female roles
The Poor
- The poor lived in attics, cellars, and small apartments
- There neighborhoods were full of crime, disease, and filth
- Those who were employed had very poor paying jobs
- They hoped that the Market Economy would give them an opportunity to a better life
Male Roles
- The men worked outside of home to earn money in order to support their families
- During this period of time many men transferred from working in farms to factories, offices, and shops
- They were seen as the dominant figure of the family
Female Roles
- The women stayed home and took care of the children
- They did house work which they received no pay for taking care of the house
- They were seen as inferior to men
Children
Upper and Middle Class
- They did not have to work to support there family
- They were sent to school to learn skills needed for adulthood
- They lived at home longer than they do now in time
Poor Children
- They had to work to support the family
- Most were not able to go to school
Trade Unions
- Many families were living in poverty even though the US was going through an economic prosperity
- Children who had to work faced grim working conditions in factories
- National Convention in 1834 founded the National Trade Unions
- Trade Unions gave workers reforms
- These reforms included shorter work days and better wages
- Tension between the wealthy factory owners and poor workers lead to strikes and protests
Immigrants
- Over 1.5 million Germans came to the USA from 1831-1860
- They came in search of a new life
- Some came because of political and religious reasons and others came looking for economic prosperity
- They brought there culture with them when they came
Nativist Response
- Protests to the arrival of immigrants
- They believed that the immigrants were inferior to the natives (Americans)
- Viewed them as corrupt people
- Many wanted to restrict immigrants the right to vote and hold public office