Topic 3: The Transformation of Urban Life in the Gilded Age and the Development of Suburbs for the American Middle Classes
This historical study will define the increased economy prosperity of the Gilded Age and the development of suburban planning in the American middle classes. During the late 19th century, the massive growth of the American economy was dominantly formed in urban industrial centers, yet the wealth generated from the upper and middle classes allowed them to move out into rural areas near major cities. More so, the development of public transportation, such a trolleys and trains, helped the middle classes to plan suburban housing to escape the overpopulation and poverty of urban areas. Economic growth inspired the idea of the “suburbs” as a convenient residential area for the middle classes that sought greater individualism, which separated them from the masses of working-class urbanites. The expansion of American suburbs defines the growth of the administrative/managerial classes that was able to utilize public transportation to shift urban residential quarters to semi-rural neighborhoods at the fringes of American cities. Also, the issue of urban pollution was major incentive for the middle classes to seek out semi-rural residencies to escape the city. In essence, a historical analysis of the increased economic prosperity of the Gilded Age and the development of suburbs for the American middle classes will be defined in this study. At the end of the
Despite the nation’s increase in wealth through urbanization and the façade of a prospering people, the fraudulency of the Gilded Age crippled the masses in their rise to security. The competiveness amongst laborers, a battle for control of
The most significant historic development of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era was the urbanization of the U.S. population. In the first half of this period, the United States experienced a dramatic rise in European immigration, rapid industrialization, and significant movement away from rural areas. Each of these developments was responsible, in part, for the speedy urbanization of American society. The Progressive Era, another period of sustained urban growth, produced a humanitarian response to the problems and excesses that were created during the Gilded Age. The Gilded Age was aptly named because things appeared better on the outside than they really were. With this mass movement of people from rural to urban areas, it is easy to think that some people of the day thought the city was truly a place of opportunity. While new immigrants, the working class, and some middle class citizens believed the city was a place of opportunity, some of the wealthy looked to move away from the evils of the city.
For the first time in forever, most of the Americans lived in the city and not on farms. “The national wealth almost doubled between 1920
In the first two decades of the twentieth century, the United States experienced a large increase in political, economic, and social reforms. During this time, there had been an increase in urbanization, and industrial factories within the larger cities throughout the United States, particularly in the northeastern cities. With the addition of the industries and factories too populated also came a growing number of immigrants, and seekers of wealth and employment. As a result, the population increase would result in major issues which would overshadow the economic gains that came from industrialization. In addition, the rise of industrialization also brought about major issues within the populations of the city. After seeing
The late 1800’s is called The Second Industrial Revolution or “Gilded Age.” Along with railroads, automobiles, telephones, telegraphs and phonographs became part of daily life in cities to the middle-class american. There was more work opportunities outside of that of farming. The gilded Age was characterized by the rapid industrialization that transfigured the country from a central rural and agriculturally-based republic, into a urbanized and industrial
The Gilded Age and the Progressive Era, spanning roughly from the 1890s to the 1940s, were transformative periods in American history characterized by significant economic, social, and political changes. Various factors contributed to the regional variations during these eras, and understanding the distinctions between the Gilded Age and the Progressive Era is crucial to comprehending their interconnectedness. The Gilded Age was marked by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and the rise of big businesses. Different regions experienced economic growth at varying rates, with the industrialized North and Midwest seeing significant prosperity, while the agrarian South struggled with the remnants of Reconstruction. The era was characterized by
Richard in his publication offers a clear and concise on the urban reforms in the society of America. He depicts the numerous social, political transformation that takes place in the society. The urban set up takes a different shape during the era. Richard brings to light that challenges that come with urbanization, and industrialization. He makes an effort in his text to make clear of how some cities came to place during the era. New building emerges during the period. The cities were a focal point for the growth of the America population. Rivalry among cities such as Baltimore and Philadelphia, Chicago and St. Louis is clearly in his text. In his text, the growth of the railway and major highways connecting different cities is
The Gilded Age was a very special time for our nation that took place from the 1870s to around 1900. During this time, economic growth was at a rapid increase, politics were corrupted yet had high turnouts, and urbanization flourished. Every aspect of the life of an American changed drastically throughout this time of the Gilded Age. The entire era was focused on the enormous changes that each aspect of America was going through. As this is brought to attention, if we are to look into the way that America is in our time of today, we can find that there are many similarities to that of the original Gilded Age. The United States of America have currently found themselves to be experiencing the second era of the Gilded Age throughout the areas of economic, politic and social transformation.
After the Gilded Age people soon realized that the poor were not only in the western farm land. The poor were closer to home then they had previously thought. They had focused so much on the poor farmers that they did not realize that the lower middle class in the inner cities were struggling as well. Thousands of families were living in filthy condensed “homes” in the inner cities. Children were not being educated, looked after or being fed properly. They were running about the cities and sometimes they never came back to their “home.”
New York City during the Gilded Age experienced a transformation on society that would leave a lasting effect on all aspects of the city. During this era in New York City, the idea of politics and its characters developed into some of the modern definitions that citizens still see in government today. The political corruption that consumed politics during this time period became a staple in New York City society. The word corruption gives the tactics of politicians in the Gilded Age a reputation that is filled with destructive and harmful methods that were unbeneficial to society. In reality, not all of the strategies of these politicians resulted in poor outcomes. Through questionable political tactics, officials used their power to negatively and positively push New York City into the 1900s, which would lead to political activism by the city’s people looking for change. Tammany Hall was one of the most influential political machines that directly impacted the people and society of New York City at this time, and exemplified what it meant to be a corrupt institution that helped positive change happen.
“The new technology of the motor car became central to the development of twentieth century cities in the US” (Roberts 2009 p53) and by 1914 the US production had exceeded that of the whole of Europe. What started out as a transportation toy for the very rich in 1900 became available to ordinary working class citizens by 1920 (Roberts 2009 p55). The technologies born of the Industrial Revolution changed forever the way people in the West lived and worked and economies strengthened as a new era dawned of mass production and consumerism. But in the 1920s, it was the availability of a mix of technologies and policies which facilitated the pace and scale of suburbanization and decentralization of the cities in both the US and Germany
In the vicinity between 1880 and 1900, urban communities in the United States developed at an exponential rate. Owing a large portion of their populace development to the extension of industry, U.S. urban communities developed by millions of individuals in the two decades prior to 1900. A large number of the individuals who helped represent the populace development of urban communities were migrants swarming in from around the globe. A constant flow of people from provincial America likewise moved to the urban areas amid this period. Within this time, just about 40 percent of the townships in the United States lost populace in light of relocation.
Cities, more often than not, tend to represent the prosperity and culture of the surrounding landscape. Cultures and subcultures that exist in a given region tend to mold and frame the development of its cities and towns. Atlanta however, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, had the unique opportunity to mold and shape not only its own identity, but also the landscape that surrounded. Two scholarly works, In the Mind’s Eye: The Downtown as Visual Metaphor for the Metropolis by Karen Luehrs and Timothy Crimmins, and The Sons of Henry Grady: Atlanta Boosters in the 1920s by Charles Garofalo, characterizes the evolution of Atlanta during the turn of the century into becoming the city that would continue to grow until the 1970s.
One of the most notable times during the late 19th century was the Gilded Age. This is a term often used to describe this time period since from the outside looking in urban life in America seemed perfect, but in reality, many citizens did not like the changes that were occurring. Since the verb gild means to cover with or as if with a thin coating of gold[1], historians often refer to this time period as “the Gilded Age”. New ideals about poverty, social reforms, different political approaches, and a new women’s culture brought forth political, economic, social, and cultural changes in urban growth during the
The development of the suburbs has been appointed to be the result of the “white flight” from the inner cities. In the 1950’s black Americans moved northward to cities to find industrial jobs that were within walking distance. Discrimination in cities worsened, crime rates increased and educational facilities’ credentials weakened or gained bad reputations. The upper-class families left the cities and mass migrated to the suburbs to escape the increasing crime rates and worsening conditions. This movement was later termed the “white flight”. Every American wanted to begin building the “ideal family”: two parents, two children and maybe a pet or two. This newly invented middle-class prospered as