The Life And Struggles Of The Urban Working Class

ASU HST 200 (Historical Themes) The Growing Pains of Urbanization, 1870-1900 The Life And Struggles Of The Urban Working Class Working-class Americans living in American cities found two useful ways to deal with the hardships of urban living: one was to take advantage of the machine political system, while another was to find solace in the diverse range of entertainment and popular culture that could be found in and around cities. The working class was the group that benefited most from both of these sources of relief, despite the fact that none was exclusive to them. For the working class, the years of American urbanization between 1870 and 1900 presented formidable obstacles. The urban working class faced several difficulties in their everyday life as cities grew with migrants looking for jobs in factories and other businesses. Nevertheless, they managed to adapt and even prosper in the urban environment in spite of these difficulties. Participating in machine politics was one typical tactic used by the metropolitan working class to manage the complicated political terrain. Local government in several cities was dominated by political machines that provided votes and favors in return for allegiance. To get access to essential resources and support, the working class—especially recent immigrants and underprivileged communities—may need to unite with a political machine. Urban laborers might obtain housing, employment, and other requirements that might otherwise be out of reach by participating in the machine political system. Even while machine politics has been criticized for corruption and manipulation, many members of the working class see it as a practical strategy for surviving and advancing in the urban setting. The rich entertainment and popular culture scene that flourished in and around cities provided the urban working class with additional means of escape and relief from their struggles. Urban areas provided a wide range of leisure options, from dance halls to saloons, from amusement parks to vaudeville theaters. These places allowed working-class people to mingle, unwind, and experience fleeting moments of happiness and companionship while offering a brief respite from the grind of the workplace and the difficulties of city life. Additionally, urban people found diversion and escapism in popular culture, which transported them to imaginary realms far apart from their own reality through newspapers, magazines, and dime novels. The working class profited disproportionately from these sources of relief, although not being the only population to benefit from them due to their social and economic standing. Engaging in urban entertainment and machine politics were vital techniques for many working-class people to navigate the intricacies of urban life and find moments of relief from the struggles they encountered. In addition, these events strengthened links and promoted a feeling of collective identity among the urban workers who lived in the working-class districts and villages dotting the city. It's crucial to understand, though, that depending too much on urban entertainment and machine politics has its limitations. Political machinery frequently exacerbated social divides and sustained structural inequities by fostering corruption and inequality. Similarly, whereas urban entertainment offered short-term respite, it also had the potential to strengthen societal injustices and prejudices, especially those pertaining to gender, race, and class. In conclusion, the urban working class of the late 19th century engaged in urban amusement and popular culture, as well as machine politics, to help them overcome the obstacles posed by urbanization. Even with their shortcomings, these tactics offered working-class people coping with the increasing hardships of urban living vital sources of support and camaraderie.