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Transformation of Urban America

Transformation of Urban America. I. Urban Expansion. Sources of Urbanization Industries concentrated geographically, promised jobs and opportunity Gateways for immigrants provide cheap labor and settle near people from their homeland

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Transformation of Urban America

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  1. Transformation of Urban America

  2. I. Urban Expansion • Sources of Urbanization • Industries concentrated geographically, promised jobs and opportunity • Gateways for immigrants provide cheap labor and settle near people from their homeland • Cities offered excitement and activity in contrast to the isolation of rural life • Greatest contribution to urban population was in-migration from the countryside and immigration abroad

  3. II. Peopling the Cities • The “old” Immigration (1830’s-1880’s) • From western and northern Europe • Irish – escaping the potato famine • Germans – escape political revolution and crop failure • Chinese – settled in West in the wake of Gold Rush • The “new” Immigration (1880’s-1900’s) • From eastern and southern europe • Italy, Russia, Poland, and Austro-Hungary • Flocked to cities; created churches, synagogues and clubs like their homeland

  4. Immigrant Discrimination • Blamed for taking jobs for lower pay • Held onto their customs caused lack of assimilation to America • Laws were passed to prohibit immigrants from certain jobs • 1882, Congress suspended Chinese immigration for 10 years

  5. III. Problems of City Life • Housing • Inadequate housing available for workers • Dumbbell tenements • Landlords split buildings to house more people • Sanitation • Overcrowding made ideal breeding ground for disease • Lack of indoor plumbing • Lack of adequate ventilation

  6. IV. Social Reforms • Driving by an urge to improve as well as manage society. • Social Reformers were mostly young middle class who campaigned to identify and solve urban problems • Poverty was countered by moral uplift • YMCA’s and YWCA’s provided housing • Salvation Army (William Booth) provided food, shelter, and temporary employment • The Social Gospel • Sought to apply teachings of Jesus • Wealthy were partly to blame and thus needed to help • The Settlement House • Jane Addams formed Hull House – offered literacy classes, job training, and sense of dignity to urban dwellers particularly immigrants

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