Urbanization in the United States in the late nineteenth century resulted from a number of factors, in particular the rise of commercial activity following the Civil War and the industrialization of the period. During that post-bellum period, cities grew along with a rising population of those residing in the cities. Although those two factors might, at first, appear to be the same, they are, in fact, different. In one early study from immediately after the period (Jefferson, 1915), scholars observed that American cities grew by about 15 million people in the two decades before 1900. Immigration from other countries certainly featured significantly in that growth, but the industrial revolution also played a significant role (Schultz, 2013,
With the growth of industry in the United States, the population of cities began to grow substantially (Tovanche Lecture). They started providing job opportunities in factories, offices, and other places as well. The cities became the main center of wealth and also poverty. A huge class of the impoverished lived in slums. Some even lived underground in the sewers, and a huge percentage of the poor came from newly arrived immigrants who were coming to America in large numbers from poor
The relationship between immigration, urbanization, and industrialization became dominantly significant by the launch of the Progressive Era between the years 1890 and 1920. Immigration increased at a staggering rate in which millions of immigrants from Western Europe, Southern Europe, and Eastern Asia sough economic opportunities. The United States, in the era, experienced large portions of its lands altered into massive cities with expanding industrial infrastructures. Despite these factors having greatly transformed American life, the nation’s inhabitants have only begun to realize the consequences for such an inevitable step of progress.
During this time America saw some of its most rapid increase of immigration and population, not to mention westward expansion. Between 1880 and 1900 many cities grew in the hundreds of thousands, making work, shelter, and life a little more competitive. Much of this was
The United States grew at a dramatic rate between the years 1880 and 1900, within the cities. U.S. cities grew by approximately 15 million people in the two decades before 1900. Many historians claim that most of the population growth was due to the expansion of industry. It is also believed that the majority of the population explosion was immigrants that were arriving from all over the world. A good amount of people from the rural areas of America also moved to the cities during this period in the search of work. Between 1880 and 1890, it is suggested that almost 40 percent of the townships in the United States lost population because of migration.
As a larger number of immigrants began to move to the United States from eastern and southern Europe, cities began to increase. Due to these patterns of global migration, between 1870 and 1900, cities increased by at least eleven million people from these immigrants (p.507). While the idea of a growing city benefits big businesses in hiring low-waged workers, this opportunity for work in large industries opened the flood-gates for multiple waves of immigrants. The first wave, those known as the skilled workers “…criticized the newcomers. One Irish worker complained, ‘There should be a law…to keep all the Italians from comin’ in and takin’ the bread out of the mouth of honest people’” (American
1. The American city was changed drastically in the first half of the 20th century with the beginnings of the industrial revolution and the ongoing flow of foreigners into an already crowded United States.
Through a multitude of significant changes physically, conceptually, economically, and more, the societal reformation of cities in the Progressive Era had set themselves as the foundations of American civilization. The juxtaposition between the rich and poor statuses in these urban areas show the drastic separation within developing cities. Through this division caused a wide variety of living conditions, the majority of which held the overcrowded sections of cities where the population mostly stayed while the higher end communities had more luxurious lives. Through this success of entrepreneurship and economic growth from all aspects in cities, the entire landscape, both physically through innovative architecture and the perspectives outside rural and suburban areas had on them, had transformed for the better in these areas.
Between the periods of the Civil War and the Great War, economy and culture development led to the urbanization and industrialization in America. The most remarkable development of American history was the immigration of foreigners from outside countries to the United States, causing quick growth in urban populations and a transformation of American union. In the early 19th century, thirteen million immigrants came from the United States, most from Italy and Russia, and the Progressive Era immigration forming the process of migration set by the expansion and the industrial revolution. Immigrants coming to the United States came for the American dream of freedom, and the desire to escape poverty and seek for jobs. The urbanization and growth
An outburst in growth of America’s big city population, places of 100,000 people or more jumped from about 6 million to 14 million between 1880 and 1900, cities had become a world of newcomers (551). America evolved into a land of factories, corporate enterprise, and industrial worker and, the surge in immigration supplied their workers. In the latter half of the 19th century, continued industrialization and urbanization sparked an increasing demand for a larger and cheaper labor force. The country's transformation from a rural agricultural society into an urban industrial nation attracted immigrants worldwide. As free land and free labor disappeared and as capitalists dominated the economy, dramatic social, political, and economic
Urbanizing and making the United States more modernized descries the goal circulating the Gilded Age. This goal was accomplished but had consequences that came along with it. The Gilded Age was a time of up and coming innovations and corruption following. When it comes to there are, “winners” and losers” of the economy, American society, and politics.
The 19th century formed an era of industrialization and political change in the United States. New possibilities formed and new ideas inhibited the once agrarian country. New people came to America too as an effect of immigration. Immigrants from all over Europe and East and South Asia knew of the new opportunities available. Once they came to the United States, these people started congregating in cities. Here, they were close to the jobs and resources they needed, not to mention that it was a more efficient use of space compared to expanding outward. In the country, the demand for labor was increasing, and luckily there was a complementary increase in supply of it. The influx of immigrants was an influx of new ideas--ones that differed from pre-existing views in the United States. Good ideas came from good people, and their impressions and motivations were powerful, casting an image of wealth and awe-inspiring personality.
Most eighteenth century Americans lived in self-maintaining rural areas. The Industrial Revolution saw the advancement of large urban hubs, such as Boston and New York City, and impelled an enormous migration of workers. “From the beginning, cities formed part of the western frontier. Western cities like Cincinnati and St. Louis that stood at the crossroads of inter-regional trade experienced
From 1890 to 1920, cities in the United States experienced a rapid growth that was unprecedented in years previous. This growth was caused by a number of factors and resulted in both positive and negative consequences. Such factors included, industrialization, technological advances, migration and immigration. Although American cities greatly improved by the expeditious urbanization, these factors also developed numerous challenges including pollution, sanitation problems, a need for environmental reform, political corruption, overcrowding, high crime rates and segregation.
The story “Animal Farm,” by George Orwell has many themes. Major themes include theme of oppression, suffering, injustice, corruption, and class distinction. The theme of corruption is shown with how the pigs act after they take power. The basis of the animals rebellion was founded on 7 commandments. The pigs either altered or removed all of them during their reign.
Julia awoke, stretched out on a bed. She was not confined, but she felt no desire to move, torpidness had taken over her body hours before. While she did not know how long it had been since she had last eaten, the feeling of emaciation weighed her down. Her throat ached and there was a bright light that forced her to close her eyes. Julia felt the urge to scream, but knew that to do so would admit defeat and to surrender the small amount of power she still had.