FARM AND CITY
1865-1900

Generalization: Both city dwellers and farmers struggled with enormous problems as America transformed itself into an urban society in the 19th century.  There were, however, many attempts at reform--some fairly successful, others rather disappointing.  Comment.

ID’S: BOSS TWEED, SALVATION ARMY, D. L. MOODY, WCTU, THOMAS NAST, GRANGE, BRYAN POPULISTS, OMAHA CONVENTION, COXEY'S ARMY, CLEVELAND, MCKINLEY, MARK HANNA

I.    Introduction

Those who labor in the earth are the chosen people of God if ever he had a chosen people, whose breasts He has made His peculiar deposit for substantial and genuine virtue…. When we get piled upon one another in large cities, we shall become corrupt as in Europe, and go to eating one another as they do there. – Thomas Jefferson

II.    Growth of U.S. cities to 1900

III.    Urban problems
A.    Housing
B.    Waste
C.    Crime, theft, prostitution
D.    Disease
E.    Political Corruption (example: Boss Tweed, Tammany Society)

IV.    Christian response to urban problems
A.    Social Gospel (Walter Rauschenbusch)
B.    YMCA
C.    Salvation Army
D.    Dwight L. Moody
E.    WCTU (Frances Willard)
“No sectarianism in religion, no sectionalism in politics, no sex in citizenship.”
“ Mental suasion for the man who thinks, moral suasion for the man who drinks, but legal suasion for the drunkard maker.”

V.    Journalists and urban problems

VI.    Growth of Agriculture 1865-1900

VII.    Farm Problems

VIII.    Attempts at Reform (e.g., Grange)

IX.    Populists

X.    1892 Presidential campaign

XI.    Cleveland’s 2nd Term

XII.    1896 Presidential campaign