UrbanizationPower Point Notesheet

Question 1

from 1860-1900 how many people immigrated to NYC and Chicago

Answer 1

NYC: 800,000-35million
Chicago: 109,000-1.6 million

Question 2

Until 1920, the US was predominately what?

Answer 2

Until 1920, the US was predominantly a rural area. Only in 1920 did more than half of Americans live in cities

Question 3

list 3 things about immigrants in the cities

Answer 3

• Most lacked the money to buy farms or get a formal ed. to obtain higher paying jobs
• many remained in the cities where the cities where they worked long hrs for little pay
• many immigrants still improved their standard of living

Question 4

2 things about rural to urban places

Answer 4

1) Farmers moved to the cities because urban areas offered more and better paying jobs than rural areas
2) What the city could offer: bright lights, running water, modern plumbing, libraries, museums, theaters

Question 5

2 things about mass transit

Answer 5

a) 1890-Horse Cars moved about 70% of urban traffic

b) To combat congestion problems: 1- elevated RR(Chicago), 2- subway systems (NYC Boston)

Question 6

what were the 7 urban problems

Answer 6

Crime violence, fire, disease, pollution(especially for poor)
minor crimes: pickpocket, swindlers,theives
major crimes: gangs multiplied
Native Born Americans blamed immigrants
Overcrowding
sanitation
political corruption

Question 7

2 problems with Sanitation

Answer 7

1. Improper Sewage Disposal contaminated city drinking water which triggered epidemics
   a) Typhoid Fever
   b) Cholera
2. Other pollution
   a) horse waste in streets
   b) smoke from chimneys
   c) soot and ash from coal and wood fires

Question 8

3 things about urban politics

Answer 8

a) New Political system needed to cope w. urban problems
b) political machines informal political group that provide essential city services in exchange 4 votes and political power. Offered: jobs,housing,food,heat & police protection
c) Party bosses ran the machine and controlled the city’s money.

Question 9

3 things about political corruption

Answer 9

a) party bosses would accept bribes from contractors
b) controlled police dept.
c) sold permits to friends to operate public facilities such as RR, waterworks, and power systems

Question 10

pros and cons of urbanization

Answer 10

pros: Improved immigrants standard of living, cities offered jobs, running water, lights, etc., new forms of transits
cons: pollution, crime raise, poor sanitation in urban areas, political corruption.