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…