1. The movement of people from the countryside to town and cities
Urbanization
The movement of people from the countryside to town and cities

2. Urbanization – The Growth of Cities
Demography – the study of population
See map pg. 82 ‘The Growth of U.S. Cities ’
1865 only 2 U.S. cities has populations of more than 500,000
By 1900, 40% of Americans lived in cities

3. Factors that contributed to urbanization
Introduction of new farming equipment & technology
Cyrus McCormick’s reaper – cut and bundled grain – reduced the number of farm hands needed
Industrialization in the cities provided for many new jobs
Factories
Mines & workshops
Transport services
Immigration

4. Cities Face New Problems
Urbanization also led to physical changes of the land
Trees & fields were replaced by wood & brick buildings
Municipal (city) authorities were unable to adequately deal with the growing population
Overcrowding and Congestion
Essential services like clean water, sewer, garbage collection, adequate public schools were hard to deliver
Tenements – single-room apartments often without heat or lighting
Lived in by whole families
Often shared on toilet, shower
Inadequate Transportation
Social Tensions – between the wealthy and the poor who often lived next door to each other

5. Political Machines
Organized groups that controlled a political party and city governments
Often provided jobs, help finding housing, and other types of services to immigrants and the poor in exchange for their votes
Helped immigrants become naturalized citizens
Would provide cash handouts to help the poor & immigrants
Political bosses
Leaders of the political machines
Patronage – power to appoint government jobs, often appointed those people who helped him get elected to that office – a reward system for loyalty

6. Political Machines cont…….
Boss Tweed of Tammany Hall
Head of New York City’s political machine
Controlled thousands of city workers
Had influence over schools, hospitals, & lawmakers
Stole millions of dollars from the city through bribery & corruption