Chapter 25: America Moves to the City 1865-1900

Question 1

1. Did the development of American cities justify Jefferson’s claim that when we get piled up in great 
cities we will become as corrupt as Europe? 


Answer 1

The development of American cities did not necessarily justify Jefferson’s claim that they create corruption, although Jefferson most likely would say that it did. With the development of cities came a lowered birth rate, a higher divorce rate, and the arrival of immigrants that led to segregation based on race. All of these are signs of corruption, but there are positive aspects of city life that can outweigh the bad. For example, with the growth of cities came the growth of the American economy. Culture thrived and women were given more opportunities for jobs. Women were even offered the vote. Immigrants brought variety and a wealth of culture that made America unique. Without cities, America would be stuck behind the rest of the world, because with the growth of cities also came the growth of schools.

Question 2

2. Did urban life cause a decline in American religion or just an adjustment to new forms?

Answer 2

Urban life caused an adjustment to new forms of American religion. Unfortunately the Protestant Church suffered from lowered attendance rates with the growth of cities, but other denominations thrived and grew. Denominations such as the Church of Christ, Scientist grew with the spread of ideas such as evolution and Lamarck’s belief in mutation over single lifetimes. If nothing else, urban life caused a healthy dosage of critical thinking in both sides of the religious conflict, forcing people to think logically in order to choose what they believed.

Question 3

1. Why did urban life alter the condition of women and bring changes like birth control and rising divorce rates to the family? 


Answer 3

With Urban life came changes such as new working opportunities for women. Many were not able to marry after getting jobs, however, because no men would have them. Urban families suffered because they were not offered the same kind of outside support provided in small towns and villages. Many families fell apart from divorces simply because they did not have the wise counseling of outside family members. Birth control also increased because of the sheer cost of children. Providing for many children was expensive in the city, so couples would often learn how to use birth control.