It’s apparent that most saw America as a new way of life and wanted to experience some form of change. “In 1900, the population was more than seventy-six million, an increase of nearly 21 percent from the 1890 census. The population continued to grow rapidly throughout the decade as nearly nine million immigrants entered the country, with most arrivals coming from Italy, Austria-Hungary, and Russia” (1). In the 1900s women’s rights were still not equal to men. In other areas than education, women were often looked over in their abilities other than at home. “In 1900 the salary for a female elementary-school teacher started at $600; for each additional year of experience, her salary increased $40. Male elementary-school teachers started at the same base of $600 but received an extra $150 for each additional year of experience. As a result, a male elementary school teacher with ten years of experience earned $2,100, while a woman with the same experience and same job earned $1,000 (2). In the 19th century women started to demand for equality to prove that they were just as equal to men. As no economy is perfect, in the 1900’s some had their ups and downs hoping for a better living but working conditions were rough with low wages. “Tycoons such as J.P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie amassed fortunes greater than many European nobility. But in the same cities, factory workers and coal miners, often children, slaved for perhaps $1 to $2 each 12-16 hour day. With no safety net, many workers just couldn't make it — nearly a third of 1900's immigrants headed back home. Awareness of poor working conditions and unfair wages increased.”(3).
By Tamra Brown
2. "The 1900s: Education: Overview." American Decades. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 18 Feb. 2011 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.
3. http://www.genealogy.com/76_life1900.html
