American Metropolis Growth and Expansion

A vertical shaft in a building that allows air and light to reach the interior.

A densely populated urban area with tall buildings and narrow streets, often characterized by limited access to sunlight and fresh air.

A fire escape is a metal structure on the exterior of a building, providing an emergency exit in case of fire.

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was a devastating conflagration that destroyed much of the city and left thousands homeless.

Suburbs are residential areas located outside of the central city, often characterized by more space and greenery.

The rapid growth of cities during the late 19th century, marked by an increase in population, technological advancements, and social changes.

A type of building characterized by its tall height and steel frame construction, which allowed for greater density and vertical expansion in cities.

The principle that the form or design of a building should be dictated by its function or purpose.

Mass transit systems, like trolleys and subways, that enabled people to commute between their homes in outlying neighborhoods and their workplaces in city centers.

The transition from smaller, walkable cities to larger, more complex urban areas with specialized districts and segregated neighborhoods.

The separation of urban areas into distinct zones for business, industry, and residential areas, often with segregation based on race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.

The allure of city life, including opportunities for jobs, entertainment, and a sense of independence, that attracted people from rural areas.

The migration of people from rural areas to urban centers in search of employment and a better life, driven by industrialization and urbanization.

The rapid growth and modernization of cities in the late 19th century, transforming American society. New technologies like electricity, plumbing, and telephones, along with architectural wonders like the Brooklyn Bridge, made city life more appealing. This period witnessed a shift in population from rural areas to urban centers.

The vast department stores of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, like Macy's and Marshall Field's, offered luxurious shopping experiences for the middle class, provided jobs for urban workers, and sparked a new era of consumerism.

The dramatic increase in waste generation caused by the shift to urban living, which introduced disposable packaging, ready-made clothing, and a decline in traditional methods of reuse.

The stark contrast between the gleaming achievements of the modern city and the squalor of its slums, highlighting the disparities and challenges of urban life.

Overcrowded, unhealthy, and unsanitary housing conditions that characterized many urban areas in the late 19th century, primarily affecting the poorest residents.

A type of tenement building prevalent in New York City in the late 19th century, characterized by its dumbbell-shaped floor plan with narrow air shafts that provided inadequate ventilation.

The Brooklyn Bridge, a groundbreaking suspension bridge completed in 1883, represented the ingenuity of engineering and a symbol of urban progress in the late 19th century.

The daughter-in-law of John Augustus Roebling who learned and oversaw the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge after her husband and father-in-law became ill.

Theodore Dreiser's novel, Sister Carrie (1900), follows the story of a young woman who moves from rural life to Chicago and is captivated by the city's glamour and consumerism, highlighting social aspirations.

The shift from traditional rural practices of reusing and repairing goods to the modern urban trend of purchasing disposable products, contributing to rising waste levels.

The expansion of mail-order companies like Sears and Montgomery Ward, which challenged the dominance of rural general stores by offering a wider range of products, creating a more accessible consumer market.

A condition common in urban slums where overcrowding, poor sanitation, and lack of access to clean water led to widespread disease and health problems.

A derogatory term used to describe urban slums, reflecting the perception of these areas as filthy and unhealthy.

The vast social and economic disparities within cities, with the wealthy living in luxurious areas and the poor struggling in overcrowded slums, highlighting the inequalities of urban life.