American Urbanization &New York CityBy: Tommy MarinelliHistory 141Professor Arguello

Episode 5: Cosmopolis• 2nd Industrial Revolution of the 1920’s.• New York City’s emergence of it’s glamorous

and culturally diverse society.• The birth of modern American culture.• “Black Tuesday,” the stock market crash that

took place in 1929; which was quickly spread worldwide.

• Advertising becoming more advanced in New York:▫ Radio advertisements▫ Marketing▫ Public Relations▫ Magazines

• The jazz craze began, and many call this a turning point in the music world.▫ Louis Armstrong▫ Duke Ellington

• Credit became available for cars and stocks.• Harlem, the, “undisputed capital of African-

American experience” emerged.• Increase in consumers, leads to increase in

country’s wealth.

Episode 5: Cosmopolis• For 16 years, the 60-story

Woolworth building was the tallest building in the world.

• Everyone wanted to compete with this building. Elevator companies now ready to reach higher levels.

• Fall 1929, the Manhattan bank building competes with the Chrysler building.

• October 1929, a steel spike is added in the top of the Chrysler building, hidden from view, and at the last minute they push it up to create the crowning feature of the building.

• The 185 ft. spike emerged from within the top of the building on October . 1048 ft, 121 ft. taller than it’s rival, the

• 77-story Chrysler tower was now the tallest structure in the world.

Episode 5: Cosmopolis• Only weeks later, the stock

market crashed, known as “Black Tuesday.”

• Hour after hour the stock market continued to crash on this day. 16 million shares traded that day.

• The trading record was not vanquished within the New York Stock Exchange until 1969.

• Lost 14 billion dollars in venue. Bringing the week’s lost to more than 30 billion. Ten times than the entire annual budget of the Federal Government.

• Much More than the U.S. had spent during all of World War I.

Episode 2: Order and Disorder• 1825-1865• New York City was peaceful.

Population of 170,000 people.• Erie Canal was constructed

in 1825.• There were no police force or

firefighters of the public.• In 1832, the first newspaper

emerged, created by James Gordon: The New York Herald.

• A huge migration movement had begun.

• The city continued to grow, and by 1842, New York City was the heart of the world.

Episode 2: Order and Disorder• There were 50,000

Germans in New York by 1840, as well as Irish.

• Irish people were hated by many, feeling the wrath of racism.

• Irish were not considered “white” and were discriminated against.

• The Irish had little success finding jobs, and usually were forced to accept low-paying jobs.

• People wanted more rights, starting violence in New York.

Episode 2: Order and Disorder

• Famous books written in this time period:▫ Dangerous Class of New York By: Charles Loring▫ Leaves of Grass By: Walt Whitman

• August 1857, severe economic crisis in NY.• The idea of a public center park was created by Fernando Wood. A place where the rich and

the poor could interact.• Construction lead by Calvin Box and Frederick Law.• The Irish finally revolted in New York in 1863, more than 15,000 people were involved in the

violence.• The revolt lasted 3 days, leaving the city with 5 million dollars worth of property damage.• African-Americans faced the same discrimination and violence.• April 15th, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.

“A Merger That Puts New York on Top”• The world’s leading internet company

and the world’s leading media-entertainment company merged to form: AOL Time Warner.

• AOL company owner: Stephen M. Case. Time Warner’s owner: Jerry Levin

• New York’s success as the country’s commercial center was threatened by Philadelphia and Boston.

• The port location and capital market growth brought New York to the top.

• The Erie Canal gives New York the control of exports between Europe and the U.S.

• The first company to acquire significant properties in New York was Walt Disney.

• The “Capitol of the Next American Century,” can only be declared when rivalries are ended between companies. New York is reaching the top.

“The Great Transatlantic Migration”

• The thought of European migrants coming to the U.S. for financial opportunities clashed with American ways.

• Citizens of the U.S. were often hostile towards new or even returning migrants.

• The native white Americans were afraid that the migrants would import conspiracies that would go against capitalism ideals.

• It was a common fear that migrants would become the vast majority and take over the native white American population.

“The Great Transatlantic Migration”• Between 1870-1914, international

and transatlantic migration became very popular.

• 60% of all migrants went to the U.S.

• More migrants than the rest of the New World.

• Due to their small populations, the other New World countries were also affected by migration.

• Steam-powered transportation increased the scale of migration.

• A demand for migration began during industrialization and potential agricultural growth.

“The Great Transatlantic Migration”

• Economic opportunity was the main reason for migration, followed by religious and political reasons.

• Many migrants came in hopes of finding agricultural work prior to 1880.• Wages in the U.S. were higher, making work in the U.S. more appealing than in

Europe.• The cost of living was oftentimes equal or lower in the U.S.• Urban-industrial jobs grew in demand after 1880.• Many migrants saved their earnings to send back to Europe for their family members.

Map: Immigration to the United States 1880-1920