How did location affect the society’s economy, culture, and development at the turn of the century? How did factors influence the location of industry after the Civil War?
Moving to Cities Cities in the United States grew quickly in the late 1800s and early 1900s Most immigrants worked in the cities Many people who lived on farms or in small towns also moved to big cities during this time to look for work
Good Locations Industry grew quickly after the Civil War Factories grew up all over the place (Especially in big cities) The South was dependent on Agriculture, but cities in both the North and the South specialized in making goods using the resources in the area Better transportation made specialization possible
Chicago Chicago grew quickly because of its location near transportation routes, natural resources, and Lake Michigan A Stockyard is a fenced area where large numbers of animals, such as pigs and cattle, are kept until they are used as food or moved to another place
Changes in Cities Technology allowed cities to grow, but crowding caused problems A Skyscraper is a very tall building. The growth of the steel industry made skyscrapers possible. Structures with steel frames could be taller buildings. Electricity also changed cities. Inventions that used electricity could now be found everywhere in big cities. Electricity powered rapid transit vehicles such as streetcars and subways Rapid transit is a system of trains used to move people around cities
Problems in Growing Cities As cities got busier, they grew noisier and more crowded Some people lived in slums. A slum is a poor, crowded part of a city. Slum buildings, also called tenements, were built quickly, cheaply, and were not safe. They could catch fire easily, and many had no fire escapes.
Helping Each Other City people, especially immigrants, helped each other find jobs and places to live Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr were reformers who opened Hull House in Chicago in 1889. Hull House was one of the first settlement houses in the United States. A Settlement House is a community center for people in cities. People came to Hull House to learn English, get medical care, or find jobs. Working mothers left babies in Hull House nursery.