Chapter 19 The Growing Pains of Urbanization, 1870-1900

Urbanization and its Challenges

• Rapid Urbanization (1870-1900): Urbanization surged in the mid-nineteenth century driven by various factors, particularly technological advancements.

  • Technological Innovations: The introduction of electricity and steam engines revolutionized factory operations, allowing them to relocate closer to urban areas, moving away from reliance on rivers that previously provided water-power and transportation.

Innovations in Factories

• Electric Lighting: Factories adopted electric lighting, facilitating round-the-clock operations.

  • This led to a significant influx of workers from rural areas and southern and eastern Europe searching for employment opportunities.

Living Conditions During Urbanization

• Challenges in Urban Growth: Rapidly expanding cities struggled to accommodate the influx of workers, resulting in abysmal living conditions for the working class.

  • Poor Living Conditions: Workers faced overcrowded and unsanitary housing with inadequate plumbing, contributing to widespread health issues.

  • Relief Efforts: Various organizations, including churches and settlement houses, emerged to offer support, but conditions remained harsh for many.

The Great Migration and Immigration Patterns

• African American Great Migration: African Americans fled the postwar South to escape racial violence and seek better opportunities.

  • They aimed for economic stability and sought a safe place to exercise their civil rights, only to find that discrimination persisted in urban centers.

• New European Immigration: European immigrants, fleeing famine and persecution, entered the United States hoping for better prospects.

  • Many were disappointed, facing resentment and difficulties adjusting to life in new urban settings, causing them to cluster in ethnic enclaves to preserve cultural aspects.

Urban Tensions and Scapegoating

• Urban Problems Linked to Immigrants: Immigrants were often blamed for urban issues such as crime and overcrowding, fueling anti-immigration sentiment.

  • Activist groups called for legislation to limit immigration as a response to the perceived strain on urban resources.

The Mixed Fabric of City Life

• Diverse Urban Experiences: Cities functioned as melting pots where rich and poor, working class and upper class coexisted but with vastly different experiences based on socio-economic status.

  • Disparity in Leisure Activities: Access to entertainment differed sharply; the working poor engaged in inexpensive leisure activities, while wealthier citizens often sought opulence and exclusivity in entertainment.

• Social Exclusivity for the Wealthy: Wealth afforded a life of privilege and cultural indulgence, enabling wealthy individuals to enjoy exclusive events and facilities.

  • Their status was often validated by membership in social clubs, particularly represented by the Social Register.

Urban Planning and Public Spaces

• The City Beautiful Movement: This movement sought to improve urban living conditions through the integration of parks and wide boulevards, advocated by urban planners like Daniel Burnham and Frederick Law Olmsted.

  • The goal was to enhance the aesthetic and functional aspects of cities, benefiting all residents and providing spaces for leisure and social activity.

Reflections on Change in Thought and Writing

• Realism in Literature: As Americans grappled with rapid societal changes, writers turned to realism to depict contemporary life accurately.

  • They often used their work to critique social inequities and government failures.

• Social Darwinism's Influence: Some embraced Social Darwinism to justify socio-economic disparities, while others criticized the injustices within industrial capitalism.

• Muckraking Journalism: Activists and reformers, known as muckrakers, highlighted societal issues, uncovering corruption and poor living conditions in urban settings.

  • Upton Sinclair's novel, "The Jungle," became notable for revealing the atrocities in the meatpacking industry, prompting calls for reform.

The Impact of "The Jungle"

• Expressive Exposition of Worker Conditions: Sinclair's rigorous investigation exposed the grim realities faced by workers, igniting public outrage and ultimately leading to significant legislative reforms like the Meat Inspection Act.

• The novel elucidated the plight of immigrants and low-wage workers, illustrating their exploitation and the manipulation of public perception by those in power, which remains relevant in discussions of social justice today.