What were people in Boston like in the 1800s?

Answer 1

It depends on which people, and on which part of the century. Boston became a city officially in 1822. At that time, the city's dominant group was white Anglo-Saxon Protestants, most of whom had British ancestry. But Boston also began to get many new immigrants-- Catholics came in large numbers from Ireland, and later from Italy. Also, later in the century, Jews came in large numbers from Europe (especially Russia, Lithuania, and Poland), a sizable number of Chinese immigrants arrived, and there were also Negroes (as black people were called back then), many from the Caribbean but a few who had migrated from the south. I would love to tell you the immigrants were welcomed, but many were not: the dominant Protestants were not happy about the arrival of the Catholics, for example.

But as the city changed, gradually the various groups learned to accommodate and accept each other. There was a black community in Boston as early as the 1820s (and the African Meeting House, used by both black and white abolitionists, is still standing); the first synagogue in Boston was established circa 1843, and by the early 1880s, Boston had its first Irish Catholic mayor. However, Boston also became known as a city of neighborhoods, with each ethnic group inhabiting a specific, self-segregated part of the city-- something that would not change for many years. But thanks to excellent public schools and well-respected colleges, the various groups were able to meet each other and at least study together. There was also an active civic and cultural scene, dominated by upper-class Protestants (who were jokingly called the "Boston Brahmins") but enjoyed by almost everyone-- an impressive public library and a number of museums and theaters brought Bostonians together to appreciate the arts, music, plays, talks by famous public speakers, and by the end of the century, movies (which were then called "moving pictures). Also by the end of the century, the new sport of Baseball was becoming more popular, enjoyed by men (and even some women) from all social classes.

As with many other cities, there were some residents of Boston who became prosperous: some learned a skilled trade, or opened a shop, or entered manufacturing. By the mid-1800s, Boston's downtown was turning into a successful shopping district, and big department stores like Jordan Marsh and Filene's became well-known. Those who could afford it attended college, and Boston had its share of doctors, lawyers, and scientists. Occupations were gendered back then, so most women were encouraged to either marry young or become teachers or office workers; but some women became writers or artists, and a few even entered the legal profession. As for the immigrants, many of them struggled to learn English and those who could not, or who did not have much education, ended up living in impoverished parts of the city; while others adapted and assimilated into the life of their new city. Boston was in many ways very conservative (certain plays and books were banned, and the church played an often dominant role in public life-- attending sporting events on Sunday was discouraged); but in other ways, Boston was very modern and cosmopolitan, with residents who came to the city from a wide variety of places.