Urbanization

1. Urbanization Chapter 15 Section 2

2. Main Idea and Key Terms The rapid growth of cities forced people to contend with problems of housing, transportation, water, and sanitation Urbanization Americanization movement Tenement Mass transit Social Gospel Movement Settlement house Jane Addams

3. Urban Opportunities The technological boom in the 19th century contributed to the growing industrial strength of the country This resulted in rapid urbanization, usually in the Northeast and Midwest Most of the immigrants who streamed into the U.S. became city dwellers They were cheap and convenient

4. They also offered opportunity to unskilled laborers By 1910 immigrant families made up more than half of the total population of 18 major American cities

5. The Americanization Movement was a program designed to assimilate people of wide-ranging cultures into the dominant culture It was sponsored by the government and concerned citizens Schools taught skills like English literacy and American history and government

6. Some immigrants did not want to give up their traditions Ethnic enclaves provided social support of other immigrants from the same place These allowed immigrants to feel more welcome, but overcrowding became a problem

7. In addition to immigrants, there was a migration from the country to the city There were rapid improvements in farming technology Some farmers benefited, but fewer laborers were needed, so jobs were lost Many moved to cities in search of work

8. Many African-Americans moved north and west to escape racial violence, economic hardship, and political oppression Segregation and discrimination were often the same in Northern cities Job competition caused further racial tension

9. Urban Problems Housing Transportation Water Sanitation Crime Fire

10. Housing Workers could either buy a house on the outskirts of town and face transportation problems, or they could rent a cramped apartment in town As working class families moved out of the cities, immigrants took their place Many lived in tenements; multifamily urban dwellings which were crowded and unsanitary

11. What could a city do to improve the quality of housing? How could they maintain these policies?

12. Transportation Innovations in mass transit helped move large numbers of people enabling them to go to and from work easily What kind of mass transit was developed? What problems did cities face when developing these mass transit systems?

13. Water Cities had to supply safe drinking water Public waterworks were built to handle demand Many residents had inadequate water, or none at all Why would cities need to improve water quality? How could cities do this?

14. Sanitation As cities grew, so did the challenge of keeping them clean Horse manure was everywhere Sewage flowed through open gutters Factories spewed foul smoke into the air Garbage was dumped in the street How could cities solve these problems?

15. Crime As populations grew, so did crime Pickpockets and thieves flourished How can a city help prevent crime? What did cities do at the time to stem to flow of criminal activity?

16. Fire Limited water supply + wood construction = problems Fires could spread unchecked People used candles and kerosene heaters to light and heat their rooms This added to the problem What could cities do to help prevent fires, and stop those that did break out?

17. Reform Concerned citizens worked to find solutions Social welfare reformers targeted those living in urban poverty The Social Gospel Movement preached salvation through service to the poor

18. Some reformers established Settlement Houses, community centers in slum neighborhoods These homes tended to be run by college-educated women Nurses would visit the homes of the sick

19. Jane Addams Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr founded Chicago�s Hull House in 1889 By 1910, 400 settlement houses were operating in cities across the country These houses helped cultivate social responsibility toward the urban poor

20. Review Questions: Why did immigrants settle in American cities? What was the goal of the Americanization movement? Why did many Americans move from rural areas to the city?

21. More Review Questions What housing problems did many poor city dwellers face? What other difficulties did immigrants and poor residents encounter? What was the social gospel movement? What was the purpose of settlement houses? Who was Jane Addams?

22. Homework: By yourself or in groups of two, research the Chicago fire of 1871 and the San Francisco Earthquake in 1906 Answer the questions handed out on the sheet: