The Challenges of Urbanization

Unit 6- Immigration and Urbanization

Urban Problems

Directions: After reading about the Urban Problems faced in American cities (p. 470), fill in the names of the specific problems in the circles provided. On the line below the circle, write an example of each problem; write a solution that cities used to solve that problem on the line below.

United States History Name______________________________________

Urban Problems

1. Housing 3. Water

5. Crime

4. Sanitation6. Fire

2. Transportation

Tenements were overcrowded and unsanitary

Laws with standards for ventilation and plumbing

Street cars; electric subways

City populations were expanding

Filtration and chlorination, plumbing

Water from the street often contained disease; inadequate or no plumbing

Garbage and sewage in the streets; air pollution

Sewer lines and sanitation departments createdCrime increased as population increased

City-organized/salaried police forces

Wooden buildings; kerosene heaters

Paid fire departments; building with stone/brick/steel; fire sprinklers

I. Urbanization- the growth of cities in the U.S. due to growing industry and increased immigrationRapid urbanization leads to widening

gap between rich and poor

II. Migration from farms to citiesA. Technology made farming more

efficientFewer workers needed, moved to cities

B. “Great Migration”- 6M blacks moved north to escape violence and discrimination

III. Urban Problems1. Housing

A. Tenements- multifamily urban dwellings. (Often overcrowded and unsanitary)

2. CrimeA. Increased as population went upB. Prohibition groups believed that

alcohol was lowering public moralsC. Purity Crusaders wanted to get rid

of alcohol and prostitution

3. FireA. Skyscrapers made possible by:

1. Steel frameworks2. Elevators

B. Triangle Shirtwaist FactoryNYC, 1911146 female workers dies, mostly immigrants

Jacob Riis Photos of the slums and tenements of NYC:

IV. Social Gospel Movement preached salvation through service to the poor (social reform)A. Social Reformers opened settlement houses to help the poor

- They believed prosperous Americans should lead the reform effort (Jane Adam’s Hull House)