Urbanization

Migration to the cities After the Civil War the urban population grew from 10 million in 1870 to more than 30 million by 1900 Most immigrants who came in the late 1800s did not have the money to buy farms and settled in the growing cities Many rural Americans moved to the cities where they could make more money than farming could offer

Changing scenery As populations grew in the cities, the price of land increased dramatically This created an incentive to build upward rather than outward Skyscrapers, tall steel framed buildings began to appear

Home Insurance Building – Built in Chicago in 1885

Separation by Class

High Society In the late 1800s, the wealthiest families established fashionable districts in major cities Homes were built to resemble castles, French chateaus, Tuscan villas, and Persian pavilions A great deal of money was spent on social events

Middle-Class American industrialization expanded the middle class Included: doctors, lawyers, engineers, managers, social workers, architects, and teachers Many in the middle class moved away from the center of the cities to avoid the pollution Most middle class household had at least one live-in servant Women joined “Women’s Clubs” to participate in social and charitable activities

The Working Class Few families in the Working Class could afford a home Most lived in tenements, or apartment buildings The average salary for an industrial worker was $445 in 1900

The Family Economy In 1900 64% of working class families relied on more than one wage earner It was common for everyone in a household to work, even the children Dangerous working conditions and lack of schooling for the children alarmed many law makers More women worked outside of the home during this period than ever before Most women found jobs as domestic servants

Urban Problems

Crime and Pollution Minor crime, such as pickpocketing, flourished in crowded cities Major crime also increased The murder rate in America quadrupled from 1880 to 1900 Alcohol contributed heavily to crime both inside and outside of homes Pollution and Disease also increased heavily with the increase in city living Improper sewage disposal contributed to several epidemics at the time

Politics Graft and Fraud were rampant in the late 1800s and early 1900s Political party bosses gained great power and took advantage of it in many major cities Tammany Hall – New York City Democratic political machine William “Boss” Tweed led corruption in NY during the 1860s and 1870s The political machine ran most city services including the police department Tweed was eventually arrested for corruptions and sentenced to prison in 1874