Question

How did prejudice and discrimination affect the development of society in America in the late 19th and early 20th century?

Answer 1

In the north discrimination lead to the abuse and tenements of young Irish men and women. Because of this they were lead to crowded factories with young girls working 10 hour days for pennies with no vacations. When the Pemberton Mill fire occurred in 1860 (killing 145, gravely injuring 166 more) it brought alot of interest in Mills and mill towns and helped to lead to changes in child labor and treatment of immigrants. Still it persisted and other tragedies occurred before it we have the laws we do now.

In the south the freed slaves still couldn't act like free people. Many lived better than those in tenements in the north, able to live off the land and educate their children. However, they were still prevented from owning land and going in many stores. It was not ideal.

In the west native Americans and Mexicans were discriminated against. They, like the blacks and Irish/Scots were not allowed to own property. They worked as cattle hands and lived a general migratory lifestyle following cattle and in the end dying during the 1930's due to the dustbowl (its far more complicated than that, but it gives you some idea.

Other classes that were though of as unworthy were Russians, Norweigens, Italians and Jews.