The Challenges of UrbanizationCh 7-2

Urbanization

• The technological boom (steel, railroads, phone) led to rapid urbanization, or growth of cities.

• What are some consequences of urbanization?

• Answer- over population, lack of housing, pollution, disease, competition for jobs.

Americanization Movement• The Americanization movement was designed to

assimilate people of wide-ranging cultures into the dominant culture.

• Social etiquette classes were given as well as English to help immigrants learn the ways of native-born Americans.

• It encouraged recent immigrants to forget their own cultural traditions. Yet, many immigrants did not wish to abandon their traditions.

• Ethnic communities (like Santa Ana) provided much social support.

Urban Problems

• Tenement-urban housing usually occupied by more than one family and unsanitary.

• Overpopulation led to new housing developments such as row houses (similar to condos where walls are shared)

• Transportation-Mass transit enabled large numbers of people to be moved along a fixed route.

New York City Tenement

Water and Sanitation

• Many cities had no water due to the lack of pipes. Homes had no plumbing. You had to get your water from faucets located in the street for public use.

• Sanitation- horse manure piled up on the streets and sewage flowed through open gutters.

Social Gospel Movement

• The Social Gospel Movement preached salvation through the service of the poor.

• Its main interest was social reform.

• It called for settlement houses, or community centers in slum neighborhoods that provided assistance for low income people.