Expanding and changing cities

Advantages of Cities Urbanization = The increase in city size and population. Most cities were in the Northeast, Pacific coast, and on waterways of the Midwest. They were connected by railroad lines and became magnets for immigrants and rural Americans.

Advantages of Cities Factory jobs, new education opportunities, and a growing middle class. A shift in opportunities for women: become servants to the rich, and work in factories. More entertainment, possibility to move up to the middle class, and increase children’s education.

Growth of Urbanization Cities grew rapidly Near raw materials Beside existing industrial areas Along transportation routes New opportunities in the job market Terrible Conditions Poor sanitary and living conditions Tenement apartments Sweathouses

Migration from Country to Cities Farm technology decreases need for laborers; people move to cities Many African Americans in South lose their livelihood 1890–1910, move to cities in North, West to escape racial violence Find segregation, discrimination in North too Competition for jobs between blacks, white immigrants causes tension

Electricity Powers Urban Transit Mass Transit: Public transportation systems that could carry large numbers of people inexpensively. First commuter trains were dirty, slow, and unreliable. (Coal Powered) Horse-pulled trolleys were small and slow,; Electric street cars were clean, quiet, and could carry more people. Boston: first subway system in 1897. NYC followed in 1904. Growth of suburbs for those who could afford transit fares away from the city.

City Planners Control Growth As cities grew, architectural firms expanded to offer city planning services to make cities more functional and beautiful. Cities were zoned for different uses. (residential, industrial and financial) Parks, boulevards, buildings and electric street lights were a few of the new developments. Frederick Law Olmstead = Designed Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, NYC’s Central Park, and similar parks in Detroit, Washington D.C., and California.

Housing Conditions Tenements: Low cost multifamily housing designed to fit in as many families as possible. Tenements were poorly constructed, dangerous, dirty, had small windows and poor ventilation.

Water and Sanitation Water Sanitation 1860s cities have inadequate or no piped water, indoor plumbing rare Filtration introduced 1870s, chlorination in 1908 Sanitation Streets: manure, open gutters, factory smoke, poor trash collection Contractors hired to sweep streets, collect garbage, clean outhouses- often did not do job properly By 1900, cities develop sewer lines, create sanitation departments

Fire and Crime Crime Fire As population grows, thieves flourish Early police forces too small to be effective Fire Fire hazards: limited water, wood houses, candles, kerosene heaters Most firefighters volunteers, not always available 1900, most cities have full-time, professional fire departments Fire sprinklers, non-flammable building materials make cities safer

1871 Chicago fire killed nearly 300 people and left more than 100,000 homeless. Police officers in 1900s.

Early Reforms to fix problems of Urbanization Settlement House – Community center organized to provide various services to urban poor Hull House -1889 – most famous settlement house established by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr Social Gospel Movement – social reform movement that sought to fix social problems in the name of Jesus

Make a T Chart-USE YOUR NOTES Put in your Composition Book Positives and Negatives of Urbanization Increased opportunity for Education Poor Sanitation

Exit Ticket (if time) Answer in Composition Book What factors led to the rapid growth of cities during the time period? What was life like for the average person living in a big city at the turn of the century?