Population changes and growth of cities produced problems in urban areas. Urban Growth

Urbanization – “city”

Looks shiny or “Gilded” but if you look close lots of issues! What were Cities Like? Gilded The Gilded Age: Mark Twain’s description of a time period of great wealth, but also great poverty

Rapid industrialization and urbanization led to overcrowded immigrant neighborhoods and tenements. 54 million immigrants 1870—1920 Urban over-crowding led to slums Tenement buildings created to pack as many apartments inside one building Poor ventilation; few bathrooms

Urbanization— “city” By 1910, immigrant families made up more than 50% of the populations of 18 major cities Assimilation of immigrants means to “Americanize” newcomers: English literacy, history, government, customs, culture By 1920, America’s population was evenly split between rural and urban

Reasons Why Cities Developed 1. Factory labor was needed in specialized industries including… …Steel from Pittsburgh… Meat Packing from Chicago… and Garment factories 2. Immigration from other countries

3. Migration – a voluntary movement from one place to another. African American families migrated from the South to the North and West. Other American families migrated from rural areas… to urban areas. Why?? For job opportunites!

Challenges Faced by Cities 1.Tenements and Ghettos Tenements are…an apartment house with poor safety, comfort conditions, and sanitation. And Ghettos are…neighborhoods where people of the same race, religion, or country live.

2. Political Corruption and Bribery by the Political Machines or groups. Political Machines What is a “Political Machine”? The men that provided social services and jobs in exchange for votes.

Political Machines or groups gained power by providing help to citizens and new immigrants. For Machine Leaders, the organization offered power and wealth. For some immigrants, it offered 14 hour-a-day jobs and tenement housing in the ghettos. One example of a political boss was William Boss Tweed. He was the political boss of Tammany Hall from New York and used his power to steal about $100 million from the government.

1.Settlement Houses Settlement Houses helped immigrants in the neighborhood. Community Centers Efforts to Solve Immigration Problems The first example was Hull House in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded by Jane Addams in 1889.

Hull House workers took care of small children while their mothers were at work. At Hull House immigrants learned to speak English. Addams also started the first playground for children.