Exam 1 Flashcards
(97 cards)
What was a key factor in the social and economic development of the U.S. after the Constitution was ratified in 1789?
The growth of cities and the expansion into the continental interior
By the late 19th century, 40% of Americans lived in urban areas, and the economy shifted from agriculture to industry.
What antiurban attitudes developed among Americans in the late 19th century?
Fear and distrust of cities and urban residents
These attitudes became a defining feature of American culture.
What demographic shift occurred after World War II regarding urban and suburban populations?
Millions of southern Blacks moved to northern cities while many white families fled to the suburbs
This created perceptions of cities as ‘dangerous’ and ‘scary.’
During which decades did the urban population grow more than twice as fast as the overall U.S. population?
From 1790 to 1920
The Census Bureau defined urban populations as those living in cities and towns of 2,500 or more.
What significant infrastructure project completed in 1825 helped secure New York’s status as a premier city?
The Erie Canal
This canal connected the Hudson River to Lake Erie, facilitating trade.
What was the percentage of the U.S. urban population living in New York City in 1800 compared to 1900?
18% in 1800 and 7% in 1900
New York remained the largest city but its proportion of the urban population declined.
What modes of transportation was crucial for the development of cities in the U.S.?
Canals, turnpikes, and railroads
These links expanded cities’ reach and connected them to trade networks.
What impact did the completion of the Erie Canal have on trade routes to New Orleans?
Many producers abandoned the long journey down the Ohio, Missouri, and Mississippi rivers
New York’s direct connection to the heartland significantly increased its trade volume.
How many foreign immigrants came to America in the 1970s?
2.7 million
This number was doubled back in 5.2 million in the 1880s.
Which group faced the most hostility upon arriving in America during the 19th century?
The Irish
They were perceived as poor and Catholic, leading to widespread discrimination.
What was a common home for the American urban working-class neighborhood by the 20th century?
The tenement
Low-cost multiple-family rental buildings became prevalent in urban areas.
What was the design flaw of the dumbbell tenement?
Poor ventilation and sanitation
It maximized economic return at the expense of living conditions.
What percentage of New York City’s population lived in tenements by 1893?
70%
Most of these were dumbbell tenements.
How many African Americans migrated from the rural South to Northern cities between 1910 and 1970?
Approximately 6 million
This migration influenced urban demographics and politics.
What was a significant socio-economic advantage of Black Southern migrants compared to Northern-born peers?
Higher socio-economic status
They often fared better due to conditions in the North, such as residential segregation.
What was a common municipal issue faced by urban residents in the 19th century?
Inadequate water systems
This led to outbreaks of contagious diseases.
What was the outcome of rural legislators’ actions towards urban representation?
Cities were underrepresented in state and national politics
This allowed leaders to ignore urban issues like poverty and disease.
Fill in the blank: The __________ was a notorious tenement structure that maximized economic return at the expense of living conditions.
dumbbell
Named for its shape, it had narrow air shafts for light and ventilation.
True or False: By the turn of the 20th century, American cities provided fewer services than their European counterparts.
False
American cities generally offered more and better municipal services.
What year was the U.S. Constitution made?
1789
What was a significant driver of urbanization in the U.S. from the 1840s to the 1920s?
Immigration
What percentage of the U.S. population was urban in the 1790s compared to 1920?
5% in 1790s; 51.1% in 1920
