Gilded Age
Urbanization
“Sunshine
&
Shadow”
How and why did INDUSTRIALIZATION lead to URBANIZATION?
San Francisco 1855
Positive Aspects of Urbanization
Cities were centers of invention & transportation
Cities had more jobs
Cities were centers
of culture & education
Cities fostered cultural diversity: “ethnic enclaves”
Problems of Gilded Age CitiesMainly “Laissez Faire” City Governments
were often overwhelmed by:
Housing needsEducation needsClean Water needsGarbage & Sewage RemovalTransportation needsCrime Fire
Tenement Living Conditions
Private Effortshad some success
Ex: Jane Addams
Founder ofHull House
First USSettlement
House
Settlement House Nursery School
City Political Leaders of the Gilded Age
Had great difficultyMeeting urban challenges
Much of the problem stemmed from various
forms of corruption
EXAMPLES:Graft
Patronage
Kickbacks
Example: NYC’s “Boss Tweed”