Urbanization The lure of OPPURTUNITY

Urban Opportunities Urban Opportunities Immigrants settle in cities Cheap and convenient Offered jobs Social support Ethnic neighborhoods Americanization movement

Migration from Country to City New farm equipmentNew farm equipment Replaces farm workersReplaces farm workers Farms mergedFarms merged Moved to cities for new jobsMoved to cities for new jobs African Americans from the south moved to large citiesAfrican Americans from the south moved to large cities Forced to take low paying factory jobsForced to take low paying factory jobs

Urban Cultural Opportunities Life in a city was varied and excitingLife in a city was varied and exciting Each city had its own personality and cultural attractionsEach city had its own personality and cultural attractions NY- first moving pictureNY- first moving picture Chicago- Columbian Exposition or Buffalo Bill’s Wild West ShowChicago- Columbian Exposition or Buffalo Bill’s Wild West ShowColumbian Exposition Columbian Exposition Boston- ball parkBoston- ball park

Urban Problems HousingHousing Live in outskirts and commuteLive in outskirts and commute BoardinghousesBoardinghouses As populations increased, new optionsAs populations increased, new options Row housesRow housesRow housesRow houses Dumbbell tenementsDumbbell tenementsDumbbell tenementsDumbbell tenements

Row Houses Single-family dwellings that shared side walls w/ other similar houses After working class families moved out, immigrants took them over Immigrants occupied them w/ 2-3 families…overcrowded

Dumbbell Tenements Laws passed for standard plumbing and ventilation Long, narrow, 5 or 6 story buildings shaped like barbells. Central part indented on both sides to allow for an air shaft and thus an outside window for each room Dumped garbage into air shafts- nailed windows shut to avoid stench- thus defeating its purpose *Worse than row houses*

Transportation Transportation Street cars attached to moving underground cables (San Francisco, 1873)Street cars attached to moving underground cables (San Francisco, 1873) Electric streetcar line (Richmond, Virginia, 1888)Electric streetcar line (Richmond, Virginia, 1888) Electric subways (Boston, 1897)Electric subways (Boston, 1897) Mass transit networks by early 20 th centuryMass transit networks by early 20 th century

Water Before industrialization- bought from vendorsBefore industrialization- bought from vendors Cities eventually built public water worksCities eventually built public water works However many cities had inadequate water mains-or none at allHowever many cities had inadequate water mains-or none at all Disease riddenDisease ridden Chlorination and filtrationChlorination and filtration

Sanitation Scavengers- private contractors hired to sweep streets, collect garbage, and clean outhousesScavengers- private contractors hired to sweep streets, collect garbage, and clean outhouses Often didn’t do their jobOften didn’t do their job Sewer lines and sanitation departments instilledSewer lines and sanitation departments instilled

Fire Fire Limited water supply Wooden dwellings Candles and kerosene heaters= fire hazard From volunteer to paid firefighters Automatic fire sprinkler systems Replaced wood with concrete structures

Crime Pickpockets and thieves flourishedPickpockets and thieves flourished Con-men scammed immigrants and naïve country peopleCon-men scammed immigrants and naïve country people GangsGangs Inadequate police forcesInadequate police forces

Reformers Mobilize Reformers Mobilize Work to find solutions for growing urban problems Mostly educated, middle class men and women

Social Gospel Movement Preached salvation through service to the poor.Preached salvation through service to the poor. Erect churches in poor communitiesErect churches in poor communities Persuade business leaders to treat workers more fairlyPersuade business leaders to treat workers more fairly

Settlement House Movement Community centers in slum neighborhoodsCommunity centers in slum neighborhoods Provided assistance and friendship to locals (immigrants especially)Provided assistance and friendship to locals (immigrants especially) Educational, cultural, and social servicesEducational, cultural, and social services Jane AddamsJane Addams