1.5 A Nation of Cities

Between 1860 and 1900, a primary cause of migration from rural to urban areas was

• inflationary pressure on crop prices.

• lack of rural housing as building slowed.

• increasing economic opportunity in cities.

• government resettlement policies.

Based on this quote by Jacob Riis and the title of his book How the Other Half Lives, why do you think Riis wrote what he did?

• to pressure public officials to tear down tenements in cities

• to encourage public discussion of poverty in cities

• to call attention to increasing criminal activity in cities

• to dissuade further migration to cities from rural areas

Similar types of work in a particular place were often done by people who

• moved to America from the same coutnry.

• had learned to do that work in their native land.

• had no alternative employment possibility.

• wanted to find other work elsewhere.

Which of the following innovations had the greatest impact on standards of living in urban areas?

• skyscrapers

• electric streetlights

• electric cable cars

• steam engines

Why did many working class people remain in cities even though suburbs with better living conditions were available?

• it was difficult to get from the suburbs to the city in time for work.

• They preferred to continue living in the same place.

• Their employers required that they live close to where they worked.

• Transportation into and out of the city cost more than they could afford.