Becoming an Urban Nation

Urbanization The Industrial Revolution pushed more and more people into cities to find jobs. –Cities offered Good transportation Plenty of workers Urbanization – The growth of cities that resulted from these changes.

Urbanization Advances –Skyscrapers Buildings that looked tall enough to scrape the sky. –Elevator Elisha Otis (Otis Elevator Company) –Installed the first electric elevator in –Buildings could now be built higher and hold more people. –Steel Also aided in the construction skyscrapers because it could hold the weight of these large buildings.

Urbanization Advancements –Electric streetcars First was installed in Richmond, Virginia (1888) Some cities, like Chicago, elevated these cars –Els Some cities, like New York, placed these cars in underground tunnels. –Subways People could now live further from cities which lead to the development of suburbs. –Many of these suburban cities were annexed by larger cities which expanded their border

Urbanization Disasters –People were so crammed together in cities that disasters were common. Examples –Fires –Disease Living Conditions –Tenements An apartment house that is usually run-down and overcrowded.

Urbanization Living Conditions –Slums Overcrowded neighborhoods with dangerous housing.

Urbanization Reforms –Settlement Houses Helped immigrants improve their lives. –Daycare, education, and health services. Hull House – Chicago 1889 –Jane Addams –Became the model for other settlement houses.

Immigration Until the 1890’s most immigrants were northern and western European. –New Immigrants The southern and eastern Europeans who immigrated to the U.S. after 1900.

Immigration Ellis Island – New York City –Processed immigrants to the East. Physical Exam –Seriously ill were sent home. Asked a series of questions –Name? –Occupation? –How much money do you have?

Immigration Angel Island – San Francisco –Processed immigrants to the West Mostly Asian –Buildings were filthy and many immigrants were held for weeks.

Immigrants Becoming American –Melting Pot A place where cultures blend –Assimilation The process of blending into society. –Study English –Took Citizenship classes Some of the foreign cultures blended into American culture.

Immigrants Prejudice –Protestants feared Catholics and Jews –Many feared immigrants would not fit in –Many people pushed for restrictions on immigration.

Changes in Culture Education –Schools grew in number as a result of immigration Laws were passed making school required. –Increased literacy rates in America

Changes in Culture Literature –An increase in literacy lead to an increase in reading. –Newspapers became more popular. Joseph Pulitzer – New York World William Randolph Hearst – New York Morning Journal –Created comic and sports pages.

Changes in Culture Entertainment –Leisure – Free Time New Parks were created –Central Park – New York First Amusement Parks were built –Coney Island – New York World’s Fairs – –Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis –Show off American technology –Millions attended

Changes in Culture Sports –Spectator sports became popular Baseball. Football, and Boxing –Baseball was the most popular »By 1890, had an organized league.

Changes in Culture Music and Art –Vaudeville Variety shows –Combination of song, dance, and comedy. –Ragtime Blend of African American and European musical forms. –Scott Joplin –Movies Silent After 1905 movie theaters became popular.