This document summarizes urbanization and urban problems in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Rapid urbanization led to overcrowded housing, increased crime, and problems with infrastructure like sanitation, water, and fire safety. New technologies allowed for mass migration from farms to cities. Social reformers worked to address these issues through policies, organizations like settlement houses, and drawing attention to problems through photographs of urban poverty.

1. Unit 6- Immigration and Urbanization

2. 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______________________________________

3. 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

4.  I. Urbanization- the growth of cities in the U.S.
due to growing industry and increased
immigration
 Rapid urbanization leads to widening gap
between rich and poor

5.  II. Migration from farms to cities
 A. Technology made farming more efficient
 Fewer workers needed, moved to cities
 B. “Great Migration”- 6M blacks moved north
to escape violence and discrimination

6.  III. Urban Problems
 1. Housing
 A. Tenements- multifamily urban dwellings.
(Often overcrowded and unsanitary)

7.  2. Crime
 A. Increased as population went up
 B. Prohibition groups believed that alcohol
was lowering public morals
 C. Purity Crusaders wanted to get rid of
alcohol and prostitution

8.  3. Fire
 A. Skyscrapers made possible by:
 1. Steel frameworks
 2. Elevators

9.  B. Triangle Shirtwaist Factory
 NYC, 1911
 146 female workers dies, mostly immigrants

10.  Jacob Riis Photos of the slums and tenements of
NYC:

17.  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)