The Changing Landscape of the 19th Century California Content Standard 11.2.2

What was the Changing Landscape? The expansion of railroads in the 19th century linked towns that were formerly isolated. New towns sprang up along railroad lines. Some cities began to specialize in a particular product, which could be distributed to a large market across the country by railroad. Industrialization brought wealth to many Americans, but could also severe air and water pollution in cities. New inventions met the needs of cities, including the need for space (skyscrapers) and transportation (electric streetcars, suburban railroads).

What was the Growth of Cities? The early Industrialization Revolution in the first half of the 19th century caused new Northern cities to be formed and existing cities grow larger. Many cities grew near canals, major rivers, and railroads, which provided transportation. Between 1870 and 1920 the urban population in the United States grew from 10 to 54 million. Most of the growth took place in the Northeast and the Midwest. In 1890, 40 percent of the U.S. population lived in the cities with populations greater than 50,000. About 20 million Europeans arrived in the United States between 1870 and 1920. Before 1890, most came from northern and western Europe. After 1890, increasing numbers came from southern and eastern Europe.

What were the Growth of Cities cont. Ethic groups clustered together to preserve their cultures. Immigrants lived near others who shared their language, religion, and values. They created social clubs and aid societies and put their money together to build churches and synagogues. Many immigrants moved into crowded multifamily tenements in the central part of the cities. Improvements in transportation allowed middle- and upper- class families to move to new suburbs. Between 1890 and 1910, 200,00 African Americans moved to cities in the North and West to escape racial oppression in the South. They still faced segregation and job discrimination.