1. Compare and Contrast Urban Growth Rural = country area (usually associated with farming Rural = country area (usually associated with farming Urban = city area Urban = city area 1850 1850 6 cities in the United States had a population greater than 100,000 6 cities in the United States had a population greater than 100,000 Tallest building was 5 stories tall because of poor materials Tallest building was 5 stories tall because of poor materials 1900 1900 35 cities in the United States had a population greater than 100,000 35 cities in the United States had a population greater than 100,000 40% of Americans lived in urban areas 40% of Americans lived in urban areas

2. So, What happened? New farm machinery reduced the need for farm labor, so they moved to the city. New farm machinery reduced the need for farm labor, so they moved to the city. African Americans from the rural South began moving to northern cities for jobs hoping African Americans from the rural South began moving to northern cities for jobs hoping to escape discrimination to escape discrimination to find better economic opportunities to find better economic opportunities Strain on available downtown space Strain on available downtown space Growth and improvements in steel production allowed for skyscrapers which allowed for limited space Growth and improvements in steel production allowed for skyscrapers which allowed for limited space

3. Urban Transportation Pedestrians and horse- drawn carriages crowded city streets Pedestrians and horse- drawn carriages crowded city streets Streets were poorly paved or not paved at all Streets were poorly paved or not paved at all Mass Transit Mass Transit Public transportation Public transportation To ease the traffic for business people To ease the traffic for business people First American Subway in Boston 1897 First American Subway in Boston 1897 In 1904 a much larger system was opened in NYC In 1904 a much larger system was opened in NYC

4. Suburbs Many middle class Americans who could afford to chose to live outside the city Many middle class Americans who could afford to chose to live outside the city They moved to suburbs They moved to suburbs Suburbs = neighborhoods surrounding urban centers Suburbs = neighborhoods surrounding urban centers Quieter & safer than the city Quieter & safer than the city Also allowed people to buy homes rather than rent apartments Also allowed people to buy homes rather than rent apartments Mass transit made it cheap to travel to the city Mass transit made it cheap to travel to the city

5. New Public Places As cities grew larger, public areas began to disappear As cities grew larger, public areas began to disappear In 1856 New York City began buying land In 1856 New York City began buying land Prior to this public parks were relatively unknown Prior to this public parks were relatively unknown City Parks City Parks Provide residents with quiet green spaces Land for public use Improve urban life Central Park, NYC

6. Libraries & Museums In the 1870s a group of Chicago leaders founded a public library In the 1870s a group of Chicago leaders founded a public library Libraries were built across the country to educate and serve the public Libraries were built across the country to educate and serve the public Philanthropists helped open museums in large cities (NYC, Chicago, Boston) Philanthropists helped open museums in large cities (NYC, Chicago, Boston) Public display of art, natural history, and science. Public display of art, natural history, and science. Intended to educate and create beautiful city centers. Intended to educate and create beautiful city centers.

7. Department Stores Giant retail shops or department stores appeared in city centers Sold a variety of goods in one place Low prices, high sales volumes, & newspaper advertising were used to bring large # of customers Department stores were designed to impress the public with high ceilings, fancy displays, huge windows & bright lighting Department stores & skyscrapers held form a new downtown business section

8. Urban Problems Cities not ready for rapid population growth Cities not ready for rapid population growth Shortages of affordable housing Shortages of affordable housing Overcrowded tenements Overcrowded tenements Tall buildings with little light Tall buildings with little light Or little fresh air Or little fresh air Lack of sanitation led to disease and health problems Lack of sanitation led to disease and health problems Had to walk to street to get water from pumps Had to walk to street to get water from pumps No regulations to require landlords (apartment owners) to No regulations to require landlords (apartment owners) to Fix buildings Fix buildings Maintain safety Maintain safety Fire and Crime became problems Late 1800’s … cities had full-time firefighters and police Helped lost children, enforced health codes and traffic codes.

9. Settlement Houses In addition to benevolent societies, settlement houses popped up In addition to benevolent societies, settlement houses popped up They were neighborhood centers in poor areas staffed by professionals They were neighborhood centers in poor areas staffed by professionals Volunteers offered education, recreation, and social activities. Volunteers offered education, recreation, and social activities. Hull House was opened in 1889 Chicago by Jane Adams. Hull House was opened in 1889 Chicago by Jane Adams. It focused on helping immigrant families. It focused on helping immigrant families. Started a kindergarten and public playground Started a kindergarten and public playground Taught classes in English Taught classes in English Worked for reforms in child labor and for the eight-hour work day Worked for reforms in child labor and for the eight-hour work day

10. Society and Culture Amusement parks were built to draw families Parks appealed because of their technology Mechanical rides such as the Shoot- the-Chutes & Ferris wheel offered thrills World’s fairs in cities like Philadelphia. Chicago & STL showed people the latest technological inventions

11. In the late 1800s, the U.S. began to develop forms of mass culture Mass Culture = leisure & cultural activities shared by many people P.T. Barnum created the “Greatest Show on Earth” with his circus Athletic events began drawing fans In 1896 the first modern Olympic Games were held Other popular spectator sports included baseball & football

12. The invention of the Linotype helped increase magazines & newspapers Linotype = automatic typesetting machine that greatly reduced time & cost of printing Authors began creating books with REALISM which presented accurate images of American Society Mark Twain and Horatio Alger Jr. were famous authors of the time George Eastman made improvements which led to the development of cheaper camera Eastman’s company sold Kodak cameras that people simply sent back for development