The Challenges of Urbanization Housing, Sanitation, Transportation, Water, Crime, Fire

Immigrant Populations Rapid urbanization occurred in late 19th century in Northeast and Midwest. Immigrants settled in cities because of available jobs and affordable housing. By 1910, immigrants made up more than half the population of 18 major American cities

Migration from Country to City Rapid improvements in farm technology made farming more efficient and required less labor. Many rural people left for cities to find work – including almost a quarter of a million African Americans. Discrimination and segregation were often the reality for African Americans who migrated north

Urban Problems Problems in American cities in the late 19th & early 20th centuries included: Housing: Overcrowded tenements (multi-family apartments) were un-healthy places to live. Sanitation: Garbage often was not collected and polluted the air. Famous photographer Jacob Riis captured the struggle of living in crowded tenements

Transportation: Cities struggled to provide adequate transit systems. Water: Without safe drinking water cholera and typhoid fever were common Crime: As populations increased thieves flourished. Fire: Limited water, wooden structures, and the use of candles led to many major urban fires. Harper’s Weekly image of Chicagoans fleeing the fire over the Randolph Street bridge in 1871 Major fires: Chicago 1871 and San Francisco 1906

Photographer Jacob Riis Captured Images of the City

Reformers Mobilize The Social Gospel Movement preached salvation through service to the poor. Some reformers established Settlement Houses. These houses provided a place to stay, classes, health care and other social services. Jane Addams, who founded Hull House in Chicago, was the most famous social worker involved with the settlement community.

Urban Politics

Tammany Hall Political Machine: an organization linked to a political party that controlled city government Party Boss: the person that controlled a political machine Graft: getting money through dishonest or questionable means. Many machine politicians grew rich as a result of fraud or graft (taking bribes, kickbacks, etc.) Tammany Hall, the NYC Democratic political machine, was run by the famously corrupt “Boss” Tweed in the 1860’s to 1870’s. That political system provided essential city services in return for political power. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YildL_ilQFY