Urbanization Chapter 15 Section 2

A New Urban Environment Price in land rose Price in land rose Gives owners incentive to grow up instead of out Gives owners incentive to grow up instead of out Skyscrapers – tall steel frame buildings Skyscrapers – tall steel frame buildings Forms of transportation Forms of transportation Horsecar – a railroad car pulled by horses – first transportation system cities relied on Horsecar – a railroad car pulled by horses – first transportation system cities relied on Cable cars – pulled along tracks by underground cables Cable cars – pulled along tracks by underground cables Electric trolley cars Electric trolley cars Elevated railroads and subway systems Elevated railroads and subway systems

Separation by Class High Society High Society Wealthiest families est. fashionable districts in the hearts of the cities Wealthiest families est. fashionable districts in the hearts of the cities Middle Class Middle Class Industrialization helped to create a growing middle class Industrialization helped to create a growing middle class They moved away from the central city They moved away from the central city The Working Class The Working Class Tenements – dark and crowded multi-family apartments Tenements – dark and crowded multi-family apartments Rented “extra” space to boarders Rented “extra” space to boarders Children went to work to help support the family Children went to work to help support the family

Urban Problems Crime, violence, disease, and pollution Crime, violence, disease, and pollution Result of overcrowding in the cities Result of overcrowding in the cities Native-born Americans blamed immigrants Native-born Americans blamed immigrants It was not their fault It was not their fault Alcohol contributed to violent crimes Alcohol contributed to violent crimes In and outside the home In and outside the home Improper sewage disposal contaminated city drinking water Improper sewage disposal contaminated city drinking water Triggered epidemics of typhoid fever, etc. Triggered epidemics of typhoid fever, etc.

Urban Politics Political machine - an informal political group designed to gain and keep power Political machine - an informal political group designed to gain and keep power Developed b/c cities had grown much faster than their gov’t Developed b/c cities had grown much faster than their gov’t Party boss – the person who ran the political machine Party boss – the person who ran the political machine In exchange for votes party bosses and the political machine provided new city dwellers with needed jobs, housing, food, heat, police protection In exchange for votes party bosses and the political machine provided new city dwellers with needed jobs, housing, food, heat, police protection

Graft and Fraud Party bosses controlled the city’s finances and they used “honest graft” to their advantage Party bosses controlled the city’s finances and they used “honest graft” to their advantage Honest graft – buy VERY marketable land, wait for the opportunity to materialize, then sell it to the city for a large profit Honest graft – buy VERY marketable land, wait for the opportunity to materialize, then sell it to the city for a large profit Fraud - accepting bribes, sell permits and grant work bids to friends, etc Fraud - accepting bribes, sell permits and grant work bids to friends, etc

Tammany Hall Tammany Hall – Democratic political machine for New York Tammany Hall – Democratic political machine for New York George Plunkitt George Plunkitt Party boss for Tammany Hall Party boss for Tammany Hall Irish immigrant Irish immigrant One of the most powerful party bosses One of the most powerful party bosses William M. “Boss” Tweed William M. “Boss” Tweed Tammany Hall’s leader 1860’s and 1870’s Tammany Hall’s leader 1860’s and 1870’s Corruptions led him to prison in 1874 Corruptions led him to prison in 1874