Question 1

Which of the following is not an example of the impact of the department store?

Accepted Answer

The statement "It convinced middle class families to buy cheaper products that they would have to replace annually" is not an example of the impact of the department store. Instead, it is an example of the impact of planned obsolescence, which is a strategy used by manufacturers to encourage consumers to buy new products by intentionally making products obsolete or less functional over time. The other options listed are all examples of the impact of department stores.

Question 2

According to its defenders in the late nineteenth century, college football

Accepted Answer

The defenders of college football in the late nineteenth century argued that it was a character-building sport that could function as a surrogate frontier experience in an increasingly urbanized society. This emphasized the importance of physical strength, discipline, and toughness in a changing American society.

Question 3

Who was known as the king of ragtime?

Accepted Answer

The king of ragtime was Scott Joplin, an African-American composer and pianist who popularized the genre in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is best known for his compositions "Maple Leaf Rag" and "The Entertainer".

Question 4

Which of the following is a valid conclusion to draw about the ways in which immigrants adjusted to urban life in their new society?

Accepted Answer

The passage suggests that some immigrants, particularly those who were skilled or familiar with Anglo-American customs, had an easier time adjusting than others, indicating that adjusting to urban life was sometimes difficult. The other choices are not supported by the passage.

Question 5

Why was the development of the flush toilet and indoor plumbing so significant?

Accepted Answer

The development of the flush toilet and indoor plumbing allowed for the proper disposal of human waste, which greatly reduced the amount of pollutants in water sources. This, in turn, helped to fight many diseases that thrived in contaminated water such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery.

Question 6

Which statement best represents urban residential patterns among ethnic groups?

Accepted Answer

Immigrants often arrived in American cities with limited financial resources and were forced to live in overcrowded and often unsanitary tenements. As they became more established, they could move into better housing.

Question 7

What was the key to Hull House's success in its anti-poverty mission?

Accepted Answer

Hull House's success was due to a combination of factors, including the establishment of settlement houses where workers lived among and served the neighborhood residents, a philosophy that recognized the systemic causes of poverty and the need to address them, and the development of a social center that provided diverse programs including art, education, and childcare.

Question 8

During the 1880s and 1890s, which new obligation was added to the traditional middle-class woman's role as director of the household?

Accepted Answer

During the 1880s and 1890s, middle-class women were increasingly expected to foster an artistic environment in the home that would contribute to the cultural improvement of their families. This new obligation was part of the broader cultural movement emphasizing refinement and the arts within the domestic sphere.

Question 9

What was the importance of "culture" for American Victorians?

Accepted Answer

"Culture" was seen as a means of achieving social and moral elevation, particularly for those striving for middle-class status. The Victorians believed in the power of education and refinement to improve individuals and society as a whole.

Question 10

How did the settlement-house movement distinguish itself from other urban social-welfare organizations?

Accepted Answer

The settlement-house movement distinguished itself from other urban social-welfare organizations by insisting that charity workers live in slum neighborhoods to better understand the living conditions of the poor. This approach was known as the "residence" or "neighborhood" plan, which aimed to provide social services and education to the poor in their own neighborhoods rather than having them travel to a central location for assistance. This approach emphasized solidarity with the poor and attempted to break down the social barriers between different classes of people.

Question 11

Why did the New York campaigns against vice (gambling, prostitution, saloons) ultimately fail?

Accepted Answer

The city's population was too large and ethnically diverse for reformers to curb all the illegal activities. This made it difficult for reformers to enforce their agenda in a city that had diverse cultures and different beliefs about what was acceptable behavior. Despite their efforts, they were unable to completely eradicate vice from the city.

Question 12

Which of the following statements accurately describes urban growth in the late 19^th century.

Accepted Answer

Urban populations grew dramatically in the late 19th and early 20th century, with cities such as Chicago growing by over 400 percent. This was due in part to increased immigration and industrialization.

Question 13

During the late nineteenth century, the working-class saloon was not

Accepted Answer

The working-class saloon was not a meeting place for husbands and wives during the late nineteenth century. Women were not welcome in saloons during this time period and saloons were mostly male-only spaces.

Question 14

The Salvation Army was

Accepted Answer

The Salvation Army was organized along pseudo-military lines to provide food, shelter, temporary employment and morality to poor immigrant families. This organization was not formed to clean up slums, police ghettos or force immigrants out of respectable neighborhoods, nor were they based on the idea of gently persuading the urban poor to adopt middle-class values.

Question 15

How were the new research universities of the late 19^th century different from earlier colleges?

Accepted Answer

The new research universities of the late 19th and early 20th centuries differed from earlier colleges in that they offered courses in a wide variety of subject areas, established professional schools, and encouraged faculty members to pursue basic research. They focused on research and innovation, in addition to teaching, whereas earlier colleges were primarily focused on classical education.

Question 16

The Young Men's Christian Association and the Young Women's Christian Association were formed mainly to

Accepted Answer

The Young Men's Christian Association and the Young Women's Christian Association were formed to help young men and women who migrated from rural areas to the city. They provided housing, job training, and other services to assist with their transition to urban life.

Question 17

Who argued in The American Woman's Home that those of "good breeding" should avoid "reaching over another person's plate; ...using the table-cloth instead of napkins; ...and picking the teeth at the table"?

Accepted Answer

Catharine Beecher, a prominent 19th century educator and writer, argued in her book The American Woman's Home (1869) that those of "good breeding" should avoid "reaching over another person's plate; ...using the table-cloth instead of napkins; ...and picking the teeth at the table."

Question 18

Why did leisure-time activities become increasingly important to the working class during the late nineteenth century?

Accepted Answer

Factory labor during the late nineteenth century was characterized by long hours, repetitive tasks and very little social interaction among co-workers. This led to a growing sense of isolation and monotony, making leisure-time activities increasingly important for the working class to find a sense of community and social interaction outside of work.

Question 19

What was the goal of William S. Rainford's institutional church movement?

Accepted Answer

William S. Rainford's institutional church movement aimed to insist that downtown churches provide social services to immigrants such as recreational facilities and industrial training programs.

Question 20

What major change took place during the late nineteenth century in the teaching of medicine, architecture, engineering, and law?

Accepted Answer

The major change that took place during the late 19th century in the teaching of medicine, architecture, engineering, and law was the raising of standards and professionalization of practice. This involved establishing professional organizations, developing standardized curricula, and requiring a certain level of education and training for certification or licensure. This change was driven by the desire to improve the quality and consistency of these professions and to establish them as respected and reliable fields of expertise.

Quiz 19: Immigration, Urbanization, and Everyday Life