the emergence of urban america
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The Emergence of Urban America. Urbanization, the Emergence of Social Classes and Problems in the City. Urban America – Main Ideas . Americans migrate to the city in massive numbers Rural Americans and Immigrants City life is separated based on social classes - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Urbanization, the Emergence of Social Classes and Problems in the City
The Emergence of Urban America
Urban America – Main Ideas 1. Americans migrate to the city in massive
numbers Rural Americans and Immigrants
2. City life is separated based on social classes
Upper, Middle, Working and the Poor
3. Problems emerge in the city due to rapid urbanization
Crime, pollution and political corruption
Americans Migrate to the CitiesWhy would rural Americans and immigrants move
to the city? = “urbanization” 1. Jobs (factories and industrialization!) 2. Education (city/public schools, resources)3. City life/culture (parks, beaches, etc.)
Americans Migrate to the Cities
As cities grew, they also changed to deal with swelling populations!Cities grew ________ and (kind of) ________!
New urban architecture emerged to change life in the city…What new architectural changes were brought to the city?1. Mass Transit (streetcar – suburbs) 2. Elevators3. Skyscrapers (steel and glass)
STOP! and think…THINK: Have you ever
ridden the bus, subway or railway system? What would transportation be like without mass transportation?
For the same reasons, cities began to create and utilize mass transportation!
• 1832, New York and Harlem
• 1890, 70% of all urban traffic!
The Horse-Car
• 1873, San Francisco
Cable-Cars
1887, Richmond, Virginia
Electric Trolley Car
• 1892, The ‘L’
• Steam powered
Chicago’s Elevated
Train
• 1897, Boston
• 1904, New York
Subways
• 1852, Elisha Otis
• “safety elevator”
The Elevator
• Chicago’s Home Insurance Building, 1884
• “Form follows function” – Louis Sullivan
Skyscrapers
• Former middle-class houses and warehouses, were bought up and divided into small dwellings…
• Working class, poor
• Jacob Riis, “How the Other Half Lives”
1830s, Tenements
Separation by Social ClassAs cities grew, as transportation evolved and as
employment factors changed, social classes became more apparent as distinct neighborhoods popped up around the country!
What social classes became distinct during the 19th century? 1. “High Society” isolated themselves…
“Conspicuous consumption” ($360,000 on a dance!)
2. * Growth of the “middle class” * Professionals, “white collar” and conservative
3. * The “working class” * Farm vs. city, “blue collar” and progressive ($500/year)
• Potter Palmer, Chicago
• “High Society”
Palmer Castle
• Vanderbilt family, 1870s-1920s
• Biltmore, The Breakers, 5th Ave.
Vanderbilt Houses
• Professionals – Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers…
• “Modest comfort”
• “Streetcar Suburbs”
Middle Class Families
Rapid urbanization plagued the cities; made already existing problems worse!
What problems emerged in urban areas as cities grew in the 19th century? 1. “Slums” developed
Poor, ethnic and crowded neighborhoods – Lower East Side2. Increased crime
Gangs develop, violent crime (25 per 1 million to 100 per 1 million)
3. Disease and Pollution Sewage and garbage disposal – drinking water! (typhoid
fever) Pollution…
Urban Problems Emerge…