Chapter 6 Section 2 Urbanization

Make a list of reasons why people would move to the BIG city.

American Cities In the United States 20 years before the Civil War, there were only 131 cities. However, the number jumped to 1,700 around the turn of the century.

Big Cities – Urban Environments NYC went from 800,000 people in 1860 to 3.5 million by 1900.

Big Cities – Urban Environments Immigrants moved to the big cities because they had no money to buy farm land and education to get a high paying job. Farmers in the US moved to the big cities to get better paying jobs.

Why move to the BIG city Higher wages Bright lights Running water Modern plumbing Attractions Museums Libraries Theaters

Skyscrapers As the population grew, the demand and rising price for land increased. Builders began building up with tall, steel frame buildings called skyscrapers.

Louis Sullivan American architect who has been called the "father of skyscrapers“.

Transportation in the Big Cities 1st form of public transportation – Horsecar, Railroad cars pulled by horse By 1873, San Francisco installed the first cable car system.

Transportation (continued) As streets got more crowded, engineers decided to build transit systems off the street. Ex. New York City subway system, first subway system in the nation.

Separation of Classes High Society Middle-Class Gentility The very rich who built homes like European castles, chateaus, villas, or pavilions. Had maids, butlers, and chauffeurs Middle-Class Gentility This class grew during the Industrial revolution. Included doctors, lawyers, engineers, managers, social workers, architects, and teachers. Had at least one live-in servant so the women could pursue social activities.

Working class Lived in tenements or multiple family apartments that were dark and crowded. 75% of residents lived in tenements.

Working Class Families Economy Native-born, white men earned higher wages than African American men, immigrants, and women. Both the men and women worked and in some cases, the children worked as well. The fact that children were not in school, alarmed social reformers.

Working Class Families If a worker was hurt on the job, they did not get any compensation. When older workers could not longer work, they usually moved-in with their children.

Urban Problems Threats that were present by city living, especially for the working poor included crime, violence, fire, disease and pollution. Additionally in these large cities, alcohol abuse was a big problems.

Crime Minor Crime such as pickpockets and thieves boomed. Major crime also rose with the murder rate in NYC jumping from 25 murders per million to 100 murders per million in just 20 years.

Alcohol Abuse Alcohol was blamed for violent crime. Jacob Riis, wrote about how bars lead to breeding poverty and corrupting children by selling beer minors.

Pollution Improper sewage disposal lead to an outbreak typhoid fever and chorea. Horse poop left in the streets and smoke from chimneys in factories and at home also lead to more pollution

Dirty Politics Political machines and party bosses got rich by committing fraud while in office. Political Machines – informal political group whose goal is gain and keep their power.

Party Bosses Party Bosses – people who ran the political machines. Recently, Jimmy Dimora, a political leader in Cleveland was convicted for the same type of crimes. Party Bosses – people who ran the political machines. These party bosses accepted bribes from contractors (people who build roads or buildings), who were supposed to complete fairly to win contracts.

Tammany Hall Most famous political machine. Democratic political Machine in New York City. Controlled police department and most city services.

Tammany Hall Ran by William “Boss” Tweed. An example of out right fraud by the party bosses included providing necessary services and helped to assimilate the urban masses.