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The Emergence of Urban America

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

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The Emergence of Urban America

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  1. The Emergence of Urban America Urbanization, the Emergence of Social Classes and Problems in the City

  2. Urban America – Main Ideas • Americans migrate to the city in massive numbers • Rural Americans and Immigrants • City life is separated based on social classes • Upper, Middle, Working and the Poor • Problems emerge in the city due to rapid urbanization • Crime, pollution and political corruption

  3. Americans Migrate to the Cities • Why would rural Americans and immigrants move to the city? = “urbanization” • Jobs(factories and industrialization!) • Education (city/public schools, resources) • Citylife/culture(parks, beaches, etc.)

  4. 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? • Mass Transit (streetcar – suburbs) • Elevators • Skyscrapers (steel and glass)

  5. 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!

  6. The Horse-Car 1832, New York and Harlem 1890, 70% of all urban traffic!

  7. Cable-Cars 1873, San Francisco

  8. Electric Trolley Car 1887, Richmond, Virginia

  9. Chicago’s Elevated Train 1892, The ‘L’ Steam powered

  10. Subways 1897, Boston 1904, New York

  11. The Elevator 1852, Elisha Otis “safety elevator”

  12. Skyscrapers Chicago’s Home Insurance Building, 1884 “Form follows function” – Louis Sullivan

  13. 1830s, Tenements Former middle-class houses and warehouses, were bought up and divided into small dwellings… Working class, poor Jacob Riis, “How the Other Half Lives”

  14. Separation by Social Class • As 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? • “High Society” isolated themselves… • “Conspicuous consumption” ($360,000 on a dance!) • * Growth of the “middle class” * • Professionals, “white collar” and conservative • * The “working class” * • Farm vs. city, “blue collar” and progressive ($500/year)

  15. Palmer Castle Potter Palmer, Chicago “High Society”

  16. Vanderbilt Houses Vanderbilt family, 1870s-1920s Biltmore, The Breakers, 5th Ave.

  17. Middle Class Families Professionals – Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers… “Modest comfort” “Streetcar Suburbs”

  18. Urban Problems Emerge… • Rapid urbanization plagued the cities; made already existing problems worse! • What problems emerged in urban areas as cities grew in the 19th century? • “Slums” developed • Poor, ethnic and crowded neighborhoods – Lower East Side • Increased crime • Gangs develop, violent crime (25 per 1 million to 100 per 1 million) • Disease and Pollution • Sewage and garbage disposal – drinking water! (typhoid fever) • Pollution…

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