1. Urbanization
Turn of the Century

2. Overcrowding and Slums
• As workers came to the cities, the middle-class moved to suburbs.
• Previously middle-class homes were converted into tenements: low-
cost rental housing that often barely met minimal living requirements.
• Whole families would share single-room apartments.
• Often there was no heat or lighting.

3. Lack of Sanitation and Pollution
• No sewage systems.
• Contaminated water caused
outbreaks of cholera and typhoid.
• Lack of ventilation in tenements
contributed to the spread of disease.
• Garbage-collection and street-
cleaning services were inadequate.
• Factories and railroads polluted the
air, water, and ground with smoke,
ash, and chemicals.

4. Lack of Sanitation and Pollution

5. Traffic Congestion
• Until the turn of the century, horse-
drawn cars crowded the streets of
cities.
• This made movement difficult.
• Most streets were too small to
accommodate the increased traffic.
• Cable car, electric trollies, and electric
subway all helped the flow of traffic.

6. Vast Differences in Wealth
• The rich and the poor lived very close
together.
• The rich were famous for throwing
lavish parties, just to display their
wealth.
• There was tension between the classes
because they were so close together.

7. Political Corruption
• Many American cities were run by
political machines: organizations
usually controlled by a leader
(boss) that gets citizens to vote for
candidates on election day.
• People worked for the “machine”
in exchange for political favors.
• Political bosses provided jobs and
services to immigrants and other
poor residents in return for their
votes.

8. Political Corruption
• Political machines used their control of
city governments to make money by
overcharging on city contracts
(construction, etc.)
• Tammany Hall: one of the most famous
political machines, located in NYC.
• Named and elected mayors and government
officials.
• “Ward Bosses” were assigned to each section
of the city, to gather votes.
• Boss Tweed was one of the most corrupted
politicians during this time period.

9. Political Corruption
• Political machines and their bosses
did provide important social
services to those in need at a time
when government did very little.
• They would lend money, provide
jobs, give emergency assistance
(food, coal, rent).
• Encouraged and helped immigrants
to assimilate and become citizens.

10. Rise of the Skyscraper
• Skyscrapers began to develop as
a result of urban overcrowding.
• Used for residential, business,
and industrial purposes.