Cities Expand and Change Chapter 10, Section 2

A Nation of Cities During the late 19th century, the U.S. experienced a rapid urbanization. Cities offered many advantages for both citizens and immigrants. Wide variety of jobs for men and women; Greater access to schools for children; Greater access to entertainment and cultural activities; Opportunity to raise a family’s standard of living.

Technological Improvements Mass transit improved transportation within these growing cities. This helped encourage the movement of the middle- class into the suburbs. Cities became more functional and beautiful as the concept of city planning grew. Skyscrapers dominated the city skyline, as buildings could hold more people in less space. With the development of the elevator safety brake by Elisha Otis, having to climb stairs was not an issue.

Problems of City Life As cities expanded and grew, many problems also arose. Substandard housing known as tenements (low- cost multi-family housing designed to accommodate as many families as possible) spread; Trash and filth littered the streets; Lack of clean water; High incidence of crime.

Americans Become Consumers The late 1800s are often referred to as the ‘Gilded Age’, a term taken from a Mark Twain novel. It referred to the U.S. as a gold-covered rotten apple. The U.S. seemed to be better on the outside, but a closer look showed the true problems. Consumption patterns changed during the late 19th century because people had more money to spend. Advertising emerged to attract consumers and department stores emerged encouraging consumers to buy brand-name goods.

Mass Culture Improvements in transportation and the growth of cities encouraged the spread of culture on a widespread scale. This was known as mass culture. Mass culture spread through newspapers, books and art. Public education spread as well, in which children took the same courses across the country. New forms of entertainment emerged, including: amusement parks, outdoor events, vaudeville shows, movies, and spectator sports.