The Urban Revolution

Museums, theaters, amusement parks, sporting events, zoos, indoor plumbing, electric lighting, and telephones.

Lack of basic health and safety infrastructure, corruption and incompetence among politicians, pollution from industrial activities, crime and gang warfare in slums, and housing shortages.

Immigrants segregated themselves into ethnic enclaves, and more than half of all residents did not speak English.

<p>Factors that contributed to the rapid urbanization of the United States during this time period include industrialization, migration from rural to urban areas, and a large influx of immigrants from Europe, Russia, and Asia.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>As a result of urbanization, cities became America's social, cultural, and economic lifeline. There was a concentration of people in cities, massive amounts of capital poured into new manufacturing plants, new businesses and banks were established, and rail yards served the needs of the growing nation. Additionally, technological advancements in industry made agriculture more efficient, leading to a migration from rural to urban areas.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Immigrants in Northern American cities faced crowded, dangerous, and dirty living conditions. However, they were attracted to the cities because they offered opportunities and the possibility of achieving the 'American Dream'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Residents dumped trash and waste in the ventilation shaft, leading to overcrowding, lack of proper sanitation, and the spread of diseases.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Muckrakers like Jacob Riis increased awareness of the tenement living conditions through their investigative journalism, which led to public outrage and eventually brought about some reform.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Some improvements in urban planning included fixing housing laws to ensure access to running water and indoor toilets, proper egress for fire safety, courtyards instead of inaccessible ventilation shafts, as well as the construction of sewers, water treatment, and paved streets.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The development of public transportation, including horse cars, buses, cable cars, trolleys, elevated train lines, and subways, helped alleviate congestion and pollution, allowed for rapid city expansion away from Manhattan, and enabled residents to freely travel and engage in different parts of the city.</p> Signup and view all the answers