The movement of people from the countryside to town and cities Urbanization The movement of people from the countryside to town and cities

Urbanization – The Growth of Cities Demography – the study of population See map pg. 82 ‘The Growth of U.S. Cities 1865-1900’ 1865 only 2 U.S. cities has populations of more than 500,000 By 1900, 40% of Americans lived in cities

Factors that contributed to urbanization Introduction of new farming equipment & technology Cyrus McCormick’s reaper – cut and bundled grain – reduced the number of farm hands needed Industrialization in the cities provided for many new jobs Factories Mines & workshops Transport services Immigration

Cities Face New Problems Urbanization also led to physical changes of the land Trees & fields were replaced by wood & brick buildings Municipal (city) authorities were unable to adequately deal with the growing population Overcrowding and Congestion Essential services like clean water, sewer, garbage collection, adequate public schools were hard to deliver Tenements – single-room apartments often without heat or lighting Lived in by whole families Often shared on toilet, shower Inadequate Transportation Social Tensions – between the wealthy and the poor who often lived next door to each other

Political Machines Organized groups that controlled a political party and city governments Often provided jobs, help finding housing, and other types of services to immigrants and the poor in exchange for their votes Helped immigrants become naturalized citizens Would provide cash handouts to help the poor & immigrants Political bosses Leaders of the political machines Patronage – power to appoint government jobs, often appointed those people who helped him get elected to that office – a reward system for loyalty

Political Machines cont……. Boss Tweed of Tammany Hall Head of New York City’s political machine Controlled thousands of city workers Had influence over schools, hospitals, & lawmakers Stole millions of dollars from the city through bribery & corruption