Urbanization During The United States - 1247 Words

Every settled nation will at some point go through urbanization – the mass movement to urban areas. In the United States, one of the largest examples of urbanization was in the time period 1865 to 1910. By 1900, almost forty percent of all Americans lived in urban towns and cities. This rapid movement brought about substantial change in all aspects of the country. Some aspects were altered more than others, for example society as a whole, the economy, and city government. Urbanization has had a substantial impact on city government, the economy, and society in the time period 1865 to 1910 through various contributing factors in each area. However, this impact was not always beneficial, and many times contributed to the detriment of the†¦show more content†¦This increase in immigration has had a profound impact on society, as American to this day is still considered a cultural mixing-pot and does not have a set race, religion, or language. Another important societal im pact that urbanization had was the expansion of the middle class. The mass move to cities created the need for accountants, doctors, lawyers, and storekeepers. These professions all fell in the middle class of America, and thus the need for these occupations greatly increased the size of the middle class. In addition to this, these businesses were profitable and allowed for the citizens to make a living. This expansion of the middle class has had a substantial impact on society, as most of the population falls under this label. Lastly, another impact of urbanization on American society was the development of the social gospel. The social gospel was an idea preached by Protestants that emphasized the social justice for the urban poor. Even though there was no official religion of the United States, the social gospel idea ran rampant throughout cities in an attempt to help the poor. It encouraged many wealthy and middle-class Americans to take action against urban problems, for the be nefit of their fellows. Ultimately, the movement did not have a lasting effect, as humans tend to be selfish, but it did usher in a new era of urban reforms and women’s suffrage movements. All of these are ways that urbanization from 1865 to 1910 impacted