Urbanization


US History (11th) Progressive Era Urbanization
Students learn about the rise of urbanization in the early 1900s, and the problems arising from growth and redistribution of population. They focus on the problems of poor immigrants and workers, including internal migrants. Finally, they examine the groundbreaking photos of Jacob Riis, whose iconic book How the Other Half Lives alerted the public to the problems wrought by immigration and urbanization.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

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Here are the teacher pack items for Urbanization:

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Overview

In this experience, students learn about the rise of urbanization in the early 1900s, and the problems arising from growth and redistribution of population. They focus on the problems of poor immigrants and workers, including internal migrants. Finally, they examine the groundbreaking photos of Jacob Riis, whose iconic book How the Other Half Lives alerted the public to the problems wrought by immigration and urbanization.

Objectives

  • Describe the growing urban population of the United States during the Progressive Era.
  • Explain the impact of urbanization on the work force.
  • Analyze the living conditions of immigrant groups.


The early 1900s were a period of increasingly rapid growth in the United States, not only because of immigration, but also because of inventions and innovations such as the automobile and the assembly line. There was massive movement of population from the countryside to the cities. You’ll learn about this major social and environmental change in this experience.

Objectives

  • Describe the growing urban population of the United States during the Progressive Era.
  • Explain the impact of urbanization on the work force.
  • Analyze the living conditions of immigrant groups.


small two-story buildings surrounded by trash and hanging laundry

Tenement houses in West Virginia, 1935


If you had a choice, in what type of area would you rather live?

A) Large city
B) Small town
C) Rural countryside

Explain your poll choice. What does the area you chose offer you?

Post your answer

Similar questions faced Americans in the early 1900s. Many of them chose to move to the growing cities.


You can gain a fuller view of the causes and effects of urbanization from the article Industrialization and Urbanization in the United States,1880–1929, included in the Teacher Pack.


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