Urbanization and Migration Quiz

Urbanization and Migration

• Urbanization is the movement of people from rural to urban areas.
• The Great Migration was a significant movement of Black Americans from the South.
• Major cities like New York and Chicago experienced substantial population growth between 1860 and 1900. New York's population increased from 1,174,800 in 1860 to 3,437,000 in 1900, and Chicago's grew from 109,300 to 1,698,000 during the same period.
• The growth led to an urban majority in the US by 1915.

Immigration and Ethnic Enclaves

• Ellis Island was a major immigration processing center for immigrants to the US.
• Immigrants often settled in ethnic neighborhoods, like Kleindeutschland (Little Germany) in NYC.
• Entry requirements for immigrants included health and financial stability.
• Urban areas were increasingly dense and featured neighborhoods dominated by specific ethnic groups.

Urban Living Conditions and Reform

• Slums, characterized by overcrowding and poor living conditions, were common in urban areas.
• Tenement housing was used for the poor, but also often overcrowded.
• Jacob Riis was a photojournalist who documented these living conditions through photography.
• Cities were adapting to the growth and changing nature of inhabitants. This impacted the types of structures as well. The need for vertical space created vertical cities.

Identity and Diversity

• The concept of "American by Choice" highlights identity formation through migration and cultural exchange.
• Immigrants created hyphenated identities, a reflection of their diverse backgrounds coexisting within American society.