City Life in the Late 19th Century  | Rise of Industrial America, 1876-1900  | U.S. History Primary Source Timeline  | Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress  | Library of Congress (2023)

City Life in the Late 19th Century |Rise of Industrial America, 1876-1900 |U.S. History Primary Source Timeline |Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress |Library of Congress (1)

Between 1880 and 1900, cities in the United States grew at a dramatic rate. Owing most of their population growth to the expansion of industry, U.S. cities grew by about 15 million people in the two decades before 1900. Many of those who helped account for the population growth of cities were immigrants arriving from around the world. A steady stream of people from rural America also migrated to the cities during this period. Between 1880 and 1890, almost 40 percent of the townships in the United States lost population because of migration.

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Industrial expansion and population growth radically changed the face of the nation's cities. Noise, traffic jams, slums, air pollution, and sanitation and health problems became commonplace. Mass transit, in the form of trolleys, cable cars, and subways, was built, and skyscrapers began to dominate city skylines. New communities, known as suburbs, began to be built just beyond the city. Commuters, those who lived in the suburbs and traveled in and out of the city for work, began to increase in number.

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Many of those who resided in the city lived in rental apartments or tenement housing. Neighborhoods, especially for immigrant populations, were often the center of community life. In the enclave neighborhoods, many immigrant groups attempted to hold onto and practice precious customs and traditions. Even today, many neighborhoods or sections of some of the great cities in the United States reflect those ethnic heritages.

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During the final years of the 1800s, industrial cities, with all the problems brought on by rapid population growth and lack of infrastructure to support the growth, occupied a special place in U.S. history. For all the problems, and there were many, the cities promoted a special bond between people and laid the foundation for the multiethnic, multicultural society that we cherish today.

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To find additional sources inLoc.govon this general topic, use such keywords ascity,neighborhood,immigration,industry,urbanization,transportation,suburbs,slums,tenements, andskyscrapers.

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FAQs

What was life like in the industrial cities of late nineteenth century America? ›

Industrial expansion and population growth radically changed the face of the nation's cities. Noise, traffic jams, slums, air pollution, and sanitation and health problems became commonplace. Mass transit, in the form of trolleys, cable cars, and subways, was built, and skyscrapers began to dominate city skylines.

How did cities grow as industrial centers in late nineteenth century America? ›

“Cities grew because industrial factories required large workforces and workers and their families needed places to live near their jobs. Factories and cities attracted millions of immigrants looking for work and a better life in the United States.”

What was life like in cities during the Industrial Revolution? ›

The living conditions in the cities and towns were miserable and characterized by: overcrowding, poor sanitation, spread of diseases, and pollution. As well, workers were paid low wages that barely allowed them to afford the cost of living associated with their rent and food.

What role did industrialization have in the development of cities in the late 19th century? ›

Factories and Urbanization

Industrialization led to the creation of the factory and the factory system contributed to the growth of urban areas as large numbers of workers migrated into the cities in search of work in the factories.

What were the biggest impacts of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century? ›

The Industrial Revolution shifted from an agrarian economy to a manufacturing economy where products were no longer made solely by hand but by machines. This led to increased production and efficiency, lower prices, more goods, improved wages, and migration from rural areas to urban areas.

How did cities affect the Industrial Revolution? ›

Cities were where most of the new factories got built. Waves of immigrants settled in cities because that's where the job openings in industrial factories were. Cities were also places where the effects of industrialization, especially the increased inequality of wealth, were most visible.

What major cities grew as a result of industrial growth? ›

The cities that grew the most during industrialization were New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia. New York grew to 3.5 million. Chicago grew to 1.7 million. And Philadelphia grew to 1.3 million.

What were the major reasons for the growth of towns and cities? ›

Various Causes of Urban Growth
  • The natural increase in population. ...
  • Migration. ...
  • Industrialization. ...
  • Commercialization. ...
  • Advancement of transport and communication. ...
  • Availability of educational and recreational facilities. ...
  • Urban planning policies. ...
  • Topographical factors.

How did the Industrial Revolution affect cities and urbanization? ›

The Industrial Revolution brought rapid urbanization or the movement of people to cities. Changes in farming, soaring population growth, and an ever-increasing demand for workers led masses of people to migrate from farms to cities. Almost overnight, small towns around coal or iron mines mushroomed into cities.

What was the most important city in the Industrial Revolution? ›

Manchester was the world's first industrial city. From its towering mills, bustling warehouses and crowded streets came new ways to live, work and think, which transformed lives in Manchester and across the world.

What are the three impact of industrial development on cities? ›

Development of banking, health and education facilities. Pollution. Land and water degradation. Influx of migrants into the cities leading to overpopulation and developing of slums.

What are the benefits of living in a city during the Industrial Revolution? ›

Labor Strikes 1870-1890

The Industrial Revolution had many positive effects. Among those was an increase in wealth, the production of goods, and the standard of living. People had access to healthier diets, better housing, and cheaper goods. In addition, education increased during the Industrial Revolution.

How does industrialization cause cities to develop? ›

Industrialisation creates job opportunities. People migrate to industrial hubs to get these jobs. When more people start living in an area, there arises need to develop better facilities. Together, this process leads to urbanisation.

How do cities contribute to Industrialisation? ›

In industrialisation, the cities establish multiple factories creating job opportunities that attract the rural population. The factories demand high labour and capital for the establishment and proper functioning. Industrialisation offers excellent economic opportunities for small and large-scale industries.

What was industrialization like in the 19th century? ›

In the factories, coal mines, and other workplaces, the hours were very long, and the conditions, generally, dismal and dangerous. The size and scope of manufacturing enterprises continued to increase throughout the 19th century as Europe, the United States, and other parts of the world industrialized.

What were some of the effects of the late 19th century industrialization? ›

It produced a new class of wealthy industrialists and a prosperous middle class. It also produced a vastly expanded blue collar working class. The labor force that made industrialization possible was made up of millions of newly arrived immigrants and even larger numbers of migrants from rural areas.

What was the biggest impact of industrialization? ›

The Industrial Revolution brought about sweeping changes in economic and social organization. These changes included a wider distribution of wealth and increased international trade. Managerial hierarchies also developed to oversee the division of labor.

What are 5 causes of the Industrial Revolution? ›

Historians believe there are around six factors that caused the Industrial Revolution. These six factors were population, empire, agriculture, factories, power and transport.

What are three ways that city life changed in the 1800s? ›

What are 3 ways that city life changed in the 1800s? urban renewal took place; electric streetlights illuminated the night and increased safety; massive new seward systems provided cleaner water and better sanitation, sharply cutting death rates from disease.

What was a cause of the urbanization that took place in the 1800s? ›

The Rise of the City

The industrialization of the late 19th century brought on rapid urbanization. The increasing factory businesses created many more job opportunities in cities and people began to flock from rural areas to large urban locations.

How did the Industrial Revolution affect cities quizlet? ›

How did the Industrial Revolution affect cities and population distribution? Answer: As a result of changes in farming, population growth, and a high demand for workers, cities began to over populatie with imigrants looking for jobs in factories.

Which city is well known an industrial city? ›

Jamshedpur or Tatanagar was India's first planned industrial city and continues to be an industrial hub.

What is the biggest industrial city in the US? ›

Top 50 Cities With Strong Manufacturing Economies
RankCityTotal Score
1Elkhart, IN68.9
2Columbus, IN62.2
3Reno, NV55.7
4Sheboygan, WI51.1
46 more rows

What caused the growth of cities during the Industrial Revolution quizlet? ›

Industrialization contributes to city growth because there were so many jobs that opened up lots of people came into the cities, making the population of them grow rapidly. The new factories that offered jobs were one of the reasons why during the industrialization that cities grew.

What are three three reasons why cities grew and developed? ›

Reasons why cities grew and developed

Immigration to America from other countries • Movement of Americans from rural to urban areas for job opportunities • Rapid industrialization and urbanization led to overcrowded immigrant neighborhoods and tenements.

What are 3 effects in the city caused by urbanization? ›

Poor air and water quality, insufficient water availability, waste-disposal problems, and high energy consumption are exacerbated by the increasing population density and demands of urban environments.

What is the main reason for the growth of urban population? ›

High growth rate of urban population may be due to natural growth, migration, designation of additional municipal towns, and expansion of municipal towns amalgamating rural areas. Recently, migration of population is said to be one of the important factors for rapid growth of large urban areas.

Why did towns grow during the Industrial Revolution? ›

Improvements in mining technology ensured that more coal could be extracted to power the factories and run railway trains and steamships. Industrialization resulted in an increase in population and the occurrence of urbanization, as a growing number of people moved to urban centres in search of employment.

What has helped the rise of cities? ›

One of the main reasons for the growth of cities was the Industrial Revolution, which began in England toward the middle of the eighteenth century and then spread to the United States and other parts of Europe. The Industrial Revolution contributed to the rise of factories, creating a demand for workers in urban areas.

What were the first cities in history? ›

The city, Harappa, and another ancient city, Mohenjo-daro (shown here), are known as “the twin capitals” of the Indus Valley civilization. Both cities were planned, unlike cities in other ancient civilizations, which had grown from villages to towns to cities.

What were the most significant features of the industrial city? ›

A large sprawling open city housing a large percent of the population of the society. Relatively low segregation; few outward symbols, segregation based on race. Good transportation and communication. A manufacturing, finance and coordinating centre of an industrial society.

What are examples of industrial city? ›

It is a capitalistic and typically unplanned expansion. Examples are Scranton, Pennsylvania, and the mill towns of New England.

What was one of the first major industrial cities in the US? ›

In 1790, Samuel Slater built the first factory in America, based on the secrets of textile manufacturing he brought from England. He built a cotton-spinning mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, soon run by water-power.

Why is industrial city important? ›

Industrial cities offer integrated infrastructure for the various plants in one location, which would regulate the operation of all existing processes. Specifying the locations of all processing plants, and their respective water consuming and producing operations is essential when defining the area/zone.

What are the three 3 developments that paved the way for the Industrial Revolution? ›

With each of these three advancements—the steam engine, the age of science and mass production, and the rise of digital technology—the world around us fundamentally changed.

What are the 3 main factors in the Industrial Revolution? ›

29.390) The most important of the changes that brought about the Industrial Revolution were (1) the invention of machines to do the work of hand tools, (2) the use of steam and later of other kinds of power, and (3) the adoption of the factory system.

How did industrialization impact working and living conditions in cities? ›

Poor workers were often housed in cramped, grossly inadequate quarters. Working conditions were difficult and exposed employees to many risks and dangers, including cramped work areas with poor ventilation, trauma from machinery, toxic exposures to heavy metals, dust, and solvents.

What are the benefits of cities in industries? ›

Cities provide markets and also provide services like banking, insurance, transport, labour, consultants, etc. Many industries tend to come together to make use of the advantages of an urban centre. Such centre is then called as agglomeration economy. Was this answer helpful?

How did the Industrial Revolution make cities less healthy? ›

This rapid expansion created major problems for public health. There was much overcrowding in low quality housing and insanitary conditions, making the town a breeding ground for diseases like cholera, typhus and TB.

How does industrialization lead to development and growth of towns and cities? ›

This increases the number of jobs available to people. - To take up these jobs, people from rural areas start moving into these towns where the industries are set up. Hence it leads to formation of towns and cities or it increases the size of the already existent ones. This is how industrialization causes urbanization.

Why did the United States transform from a rural to an urban country between 1865 and 1932? ›

Answer and Explanation: The United States became urban largely as a result of industrialization. As many advances made the economy more efficient, it became far more productive to work in factories or other employment in cities, instead of on a farm. This drove many people to urban areas.

What was the main reason towns and cities began to develop out west? ›

Industrialization and emergence of the factory system triggered rural-to-urban migration and thus led to a rapid growth of cities, where during the Industrial Revolution workers faced the challenge of dire conditions and developed new ways of living.

What effect did industrialization have on cities in the late 1800s and early 1900s? ›

Industrial expansion and population growth radically changed the face of the nation's cities. Noise, traffic jams, slums, air pollution, and sanitation and health problems became commonplace. Mass transit, in the form of trolleys, cable cars, and subways, was built, and skyscrapers began to dominate city skylines.

What were the major causes of industrialization in the late 19th century? ›

Historians have identified several causes for the Industrial Revolution, including: the emergence of capitalism, European imperialism, efforts to mine coal, and the effects of the Agricultural Revolution.

Why were living conditions so bad in industrial towns in the 19th century? ›

These cities were not very good places to live. They were extremely crowded, as they were not built for all of this huge influx of people caused by industrialization. In addition, urban development was not high quality during this time, meaning that housing was being put up very quickly, and much of it was made poorly.

What was life like in the 19th century America? ›

In the United States, the nineteenth century was a time of tremendous growth and change. The new nation experienced a shift from a farming economy to an industrial one, major westward expansion, displacement of native peoples, rapid advances in technology and transportation, and a civil war.

What were some problems with industrialization in the late 19th century? ›

Although there are several positives to the Industrial Revolution there were also many negative elements, including: poor working conditions, poor living conditions, low wages, child labor, and pollution.

What was the biggest problem facing cities in the Industrial Revolution? ›

A rising problem that came from the Industrial Revolution was pollution. With all of the machinery improvements and the building of large factories, two different types of pollution (air and water pollution) arose. Many factories were meshed together and located on the edge of the rivers.

Why did the cities and towns decline in the 19th century? ›

Many towns which were important manufacturing centres declined in importance because of a drop in the demand for what they produced. When the flow of trade moved to new centre, old trading centres and ports could not survive.

Why were towns and cities in the 19th century so unhealthy? ›

There was much overcrowding in low quality housing and insanitary conditions, making the town a breeding ground for diseases like cholera, typhus and TB.

What are 3 major characteristics of the era of industrialization? ›

The positive characteristics of industrialization include economic growth, a more efficient division of labor, and a growth spurt in technological innovation.

What was one major advantage that helped the United States industrialize rapidly in the early 19th century? ›

The availability of capital, development by the free market of navigable rivers and coastal waterways, as well as the abundance of natural resources facilitated the cheap extraction of energy all contributed to America's rapid industrialization.

What were the five major causes of industrialism in the 19th century? ›

List five major causes of industrialism in the nineteenth century. Spiritual revival, rise of modern science, advances in agriculture, technological developments, and the rise of international trade were the five major causes of industrialism.

What did the US develop in the late 19th century? ›

The late 19th-century United States is probably best known for the vast expansion of its industrial plant and output. At the heart of these huge increases was the mass production of goods by machines. This process was first introduced and perfected by British textile manufacturers.

What was 19th century timeline? ›

Historians sometimes define a "Nineteenth Century" historical era stretching from 1815 (The Congress of Vienna) to 1914 (The outbreak of the First World War); alternatively, Eric Hobsbawm defined the "Long Nineteenth Century" as spanning the years 1789 to 1914.

What were the major important changes happened during the 19th century? ›

The 19th century was a revolutionary period for European history and a time of great transformation in all spheres of life. Human and civil rights, democracy and nationalism, industrialisation and free market systems, all ushered in a period of change and chance.

What are 3 positive things that resulted from the Industrial Revolution? ›

The Industrial Revolution had many positive effects. Among those was an increase in wealth, the production of goods, and the standard of living. People had access to healthier diets, better housing, and cheaper goods. In addition, education increased during the Industrial Revolution.

What was the main effect of the Industrial Revolution on the social structure of 19th century Europe? ›

The Industrial Revolution created a new middle class along with the working class. Those in the middle class owned and operated the new factories, mines, and railroads, among other industries. Their lifestyle was much more comfortable than that of the industrial working class.

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