Lucia Lopez
Before the 19 century, most Americans considered the path to success to be simple, consisting of hard work and integrity. These are the values that the novel Ragged Dick, written by Horatio Alger, is based on. This became one of the most influential books of the 19th-century despite the fact that modernization and industrialization changed American society’s view on the formula for success .
Ragged Dick was actually the first book to depict New York City in a positive light, claiming that one could reach success through hard work and honesty. However, people living in the city knew the reality; unsafe working conditions, abusive bosses, and the increasing gap between the rich and the poor made New York City a symbol of exploitation and gloom. This darker version of New York was portrayed in the book Maggie: A Girl of the Streets by Stephen Crane, where a young girl gets trapped in the city of despair because of her lack of wealth or support. This negative view stemmed from the fact that although New York City became the center of finance and industry, immigrants in the city and those living in poverty did not see as much economic and social growth as the rich. This time would become known as the Gilded Age.
The late 19th century saw the end of mastery and apprenticeship and welcomed the beginning of urban bossism. These men that followed the path to become archetypal robber barons, using their frugality and hard work to climb the economic ladder and create businesses, became “New York’s heroes.” Significantly wealthy businessmen such as John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie went on to form monopolies on businesses including petroleum, steel, and more. This caused two main outcomes: the first being that the role of government in the economy was being looked over, and the second being that due to initially weak regulations, trusts increased and became central to New York’s corporate-based economy.
Along with conceptual changes, the city saw physical symbols of what New York became. The Statue of Liberty replaced the Liberty Bell as the symbol of freedom, granting those who met it as they passed through Ellis Island a breath of fresh air away from poverty and sadness. The Brooklyn Bridge, opened in 1883, represented the connection between capital and labor in their pursuit of progress and success. When the 5 boroughs combined, New York became the second largest city in the world. Suddenly, the optimistic view that Alger held in the beginning seemed more true to life. However, now that New York City had accomplished so much, what would it do with its wealth and power?
The emergence of a new capitalistic economy came with the emergence of a new political system as well. This was best exemplified by Tammany Hall, where William M. Tweed connected the city’s conflicting interests from 1865 to 1871, albeit with a corrupt system. Although he was never mayor, he held just about every other position he could, ranging from school commissioner to congressman. His followers would also serve in government, forming what would be known as the Tweed Ring. Under him, schools were built, the Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park were constructed, and bills were passed to help the city’s disadvantaged. This did not all come out of good will, however; many new immigrants voted for him in exchange for naturalization and people who worked for him were rewarded with more governmental power. The only groups that did not like Tweed were blacks and advantaged Protestant reformers, the former because he used race to appeal to white people and the latter because he centralized power with his corrupt ways.
Tweed’s reign obviously did not last, and he was put in jail until his death at 55. His legacy, however, did, and corruption did not escape New York City’s government so quickly. This pushed peopled to fight against the “poison” affecting the city and made good government a national priority.
Still, there remained the issue of poverty and suffering of the lower class. Some believed the poor to be inferior, unable to get themselves out of their class, while others believed that they could be helped. Despite what sides they were on, people were concerned with the effects that the extreme levels of poverty could cause such as violence and social instability. Journalists played their part by exposing urban poverty, a significant piece being Jacob Riis’ “How the Other Half Lives: Studies Among the Tenements of New York.” In this book, Riis used photography and social science to expose the horrible conditions of tenements and the experiences of those living in them. Journalists like Riis inspired a movement of social reform, causing businesses to revisit their standards and working conditions. As society’s standard of living rose, the perceptions of those living in poverty changed.
This was also a part of the economic reform that took place during the Gilded Age. Because low wages and poor labor conditions meant unemployment and instability, reformers fought for change so that the progress and success of the economy would be reflected in the people who made it possible. People would riot and mob the streets, demanding that employers change the way they treat their employees. Labor unions were created, and the American Federation of Labor came to fruition in 1886. The people’s fight against these problems changed the dynamic between bosses and employees as companies began to change policies and labor laws were created.
Although New York is not very old of a city, it remains one of the most important both economically and culturally. Its ways of addressing issues as the city grows is interesting and unique, proving that Horatio Alger’s positive view of the city may not be so unrealistic.
