1. URBANIZATION - CHAPTER 10, SECTION 2 By Mr. Thomas Parsons

2. I. Americans Migrate to the Cities
The urban population of the United States grew:
From about 10 million in 1870
To over 30 million by 1900.

3. Immigrants remained in the cities
They worked long hours for little pay.
Still, most immigrants felt their standard of living had improved in the United States.

4. C. Farmers began moving to cities
Deflation in crop prices
Foreclosures of small farms
They found better paying jobs in the cities
Improved living conditions:
electricity,
running water,
plumbing,
and entertainment.

5. II. The New Urban Environment
- Housing and transportation needs changed due to the increase in the amount of people living in cities.
Skyscrapers
As the price of land increased, building owners began to build up.
Skyscrapers, tall steel frame buildings, were constructed for this reason.

6. Mass Transit
In the late 1800’s, various kinds of mass transit developed to move large number of people around cities quickly.
Beginning with the horsecar,
Later more sophisticated electric trolley cars and elevated railroads were developed.

7. 4. Engineers created new ways to move the ever-expanding population around the city
Subways
Elevated Trains
Elevators
Escalators

8. III. Separation by Class
- Definite boundaries could be seen between where the wealthy, middle class, and working class people lived.
Wealthy families lived in the heart of the city where they constructed elaborate homes.
The Vanderbilt Chateau
The Frick Mansion
Carnegie Mansion

9. The middle class, which included doctors, lawyers, engineers, and teachers, tended to live away from the city.

10. The majority or urban dwellers were part of the working class who lived in city tenements, or dark and crowded multi-family apartments.

11. IV. Urban Problems The growth of cities resulted in an increase in:
Crime - From 1880 to 1890, there was a large increase in the murder rate.
Fire – close proximity encourage rapid destruction

12. Pollution Factory smoke Animal waste (horses mostly)
Inadequate sewage systems
Contaminated water from sewage
Garbage in the streets

13. Disease – Cholera, dysentery, typhoid, influenza

14. Native born Americans (Nativists) blamed Immigrants for the increase in crime.
Alcohol contributed to crime in the late 1800s

15. V. Urban Politics
The new political system needed to cope with the new urban problems.
The political machine, an informal political group designed to gain and keep power, provided essential services to city dwellers in exchange for votes.
Party bosses ran the political machines.
George Plunket, an Irish immigrant, was one of New York City’s most powerful party bosses.

16. The party bosses had tight control of the cities money.
Many of the politicians became wealthy due to fraud or graft-getting money through dishonest or questionable means.

17. The most famous New York Democratic political machine was Tammany Hall.
During the 1860’s and 1870’s, Tammany Hall’s boss was William M. Tweed.
He was arrested for corruption and sent to prison in 1872.

18. Thomas and James Pendergast
Bosses in Kansas City, Missouri.
They led state and city politics for 25 years.

19. Although corrupt, political machines,
did provide important services for new immigrants housing and jobs.
they unified people
ethnically and politically.

20. Closing Assessment:
1.) Why did many Americans start moving back to the cities, and how was their life different from rural America? 2.) Explain and give examples of the differences between the social classes during the early 1900s? 3.) What role did Party Bosses play in shaping American society; give examples of their influence/power?