Urbanization refers to the massive growth of cities during the late 19th century, due to the huge amounts of country workers and immigrants who fled to the cities in hopes of finding work.
2. For what reasons did a number of Americans move from the country to the cities?
American poured into the cities from the country for a variety of reasons. Cities offered cheap living arrangements and a multitude of business opportunities. Also, as more and more technology was being used on country farms, more and more workers were put out of their jobs. These workers flocked to the cities in hopes of finding a job.
3. What were the housing problems that many poor city dwellers faced?
Housing conditions for the poor in cities were absolutely terrible. If they were lucky, one family could live in a single-family house, packed in tightly next door to another family. As the rate of immigrants raised, and the overall city population increased, it became increasingly common for two or even three families to share what had once been single-family homes. These buildings, called tenements, were quickly packed to the gills with people. Sanitation in them was awful, and disease and stench spread quickly. Air shaft and window regulations helped a little bit, but these were often simply used as another way to dispose of garbage. In order to fend off the smell, many families would board their windows shut. Although the tenements had been built to offer help to the poor, they ended up being a horrific place for anyone to live.
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