Life at the Turn of the Century

Life at the turn of the century is getting better for many reasons. One reason is that there are new innovations in the field of photography. Another reason is that states are starting to require children to go to school. Lastly African Americans are fighting legal discrimination.

One innovation in the field of photography is George Eastman (Eastman-Kodak) invented the first widely available camera. It cost only $25 for the camera which includes a roll of film with 100 negatives. George Eastman would then develop and send back the camera for only $10.

Another reason is that states are requiring children to go to school for 12-16 weeks annually. During which they would focus on reading writing and arithmetic. This is a major improvement over having children work 12 hour days 6 days a week. School gave children a break from work and allowed them to learn vital skills for when they grow older. Also between 1880 and 1920 college enrollment more than quadrupled.

Lastly African Americans start to fight legal discrimination. They protested the Jim Crow's Law which established segregation. There was also a Supreme Court case over this law, Plessy vs. Ferguson, but it was not until Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954 that segregation was abolished.

In conclusion life at the turn of the century was improving in many ways. One was the many innovations in the field of photography. Another was that states required children to go to school for no less than 12 weeks per year. Lastly another improvement was that African Americans started to fight legal segregation.