Urbanization of America
Urbanization of America
The urbanization of the cities in America that occurred during the first fifty years
after the civil war was a unique situation that had not been seen before in this country.
There had been migration that had occurred before, but the staggering numbers that
migrated to these cities during this time was overwhelming. According to Brinkley “The
urban population increased sevenfold during this time period" (Unfinished Nation,
p.418). The census report at the end of the 1920s indicated that for the first time ever the
majority of Americans were living in what was described as an urban area. The
urbanization of America brought many unforeseen problems to these cities along as well
as for the people moving into the areas.
One of the major issues during this time was the issue of adequate housing. Most
of these new immigrants could not afford to buy a house or land and had to resort to
renting a space for his or her family. Unfortunately, landlords would put as many people
as possible in to a tiny space. “In Manhattan, for example, the average population density
in 1894 was 143 people per acre---a rate far higher than that of any other American or
European city then or since” (Unfinished Nation, p.425). Along with not enough housing
was the problem of poorly built housing. The labors were paid cheaply and there were
little building standards or laws in place to make sure these buildings were up to code.
Due to this overcrowding as well as inadequate sewer disposal and water
contamination many people became sick or died. Typhoid fever and cholera were two of
the main illnesses that affected these people. Brinkley stated “An epidemic that started in
a poor neighborhood could (and often did) spread easily into other neighborhoods as
well” (Unfinished Nation, p.427). Medical care was not readily available to these people
so therefore many died from a treatable
The urbanization of the cities in America that occurred during the first fifty years
after the civil war was a unique situation that had not been seen before in this country.
There had been migration that had occurred before, but the staggering numbers that
migrated to these cities during this time was overwhelming. According to Brinkley “The
urban population increased sevenfold during this time period" (Unfinished Nation,
p.418). The census report at the end of the 1920s indicated that for the first time ever the
majority of Americans were living in what was described as an urban area. The
urbanization of America brought many unforeseen problems to these cities along as well
as for the people moving into the areas.
One of the major issues during this time was the issue of adequate housing. Most
of these new immigrants could not afford to buy a house or land and had to resort to
renting a space for his or her family. Unfortunately, landlords would put as many people
as possible in to a tiny space. “In Manhattan, for example, the average population density
in 1894 was 143 people per acre---a rate far higher than that of any other American or
European city then or since” (Unfinished Nation, p.425). Along with not enough housing
was the problem of poorly built housing. The labors were paid cheaply and there were
little building standards or laws in place to make sure these buildings were up to code.
Due to this overcrowding as well as inadequate sewer disposal and water
contamination many people became sick or died. Typhoid fever and cholera were two of
the main illnesses that affected these people. Brinkley stated “An epidemic that started in
a poor neighborhood could (and often did) spread easily into other neighborhoods as
well” (Unfinished Nation, p.427). Medical care was not readily available to these people
so therefore many died from a treatable