10 Comments
Arjana Begzati
1/29/2014 12:10:04 pm
The strains of the new urban life included the lack of public services for the big population found within a small area. This change came quite quickly, which meant that the government was not ready to respond to the crimes, health issues, fires, poverty, lack of transportation and many more problems that were brought up. To the fires, for example, the government responded by helping the development of fire departments to get hazards like that under control. Also, buildings were requested to be more fireproof as a respond to the many fires. Regarding health issues, the sewer system and toilets were advanced and the Public Health Service was created by the government. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration that was created due to the Public Health Service helped create safer and healthier environments for workers. Environmental problems were also tackled by reformers. The matter of poverty that had increased drastically, was tried to be helped by public agencies, but in the end charitable organizations, like the Salvation Army, and the middle-class people stepped in to attract attention and bring help. The urban strain of crimes and violence was also a place where the government was not very effective, since the police was often corrupted and not very helpful. For that reason, national guard groups prepared for possible outbreaks of violence.
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Keeya Marquez
2/4/2014 01:59:05 am
Great answer! Do you think that more could've been done to help ease the strain in urban life even more? Or do you think what the governement and cities had already done was enough?
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Anthony Brandt
2/4/2014 02:23:58 am
I agree with you, the descriptions you used were all informative.
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Elayna Muller
2/3/2014 10:46:32 am
City governments responded by producing political machines that were ruled by party bosses. The government wasn't prepared to face the growing crime rate, so they reacted by bringing in national guard groups to stop uprisings which ended up not even occurring. When facing environmental degradation, new sewage and draining systems were invented to protect drinking water. The Public Health Service prevented more casualties from anemia and carbon dioxide poisoning in 1912, yet only in 1970 was the government allowed to enforce the rule that employees must have safe and healthy environments. After poverty was recognized as a gigantic issue, only public agencies and private philanthropic organizations provided charity. Even middle-class people believed in aiding the "deserving poor" or those who really couldn't change their situations which was usually poorly funded. The Salvation Army society was more religious and provided more money than other societies. Not many groups stepped in, but those that did made a difference. Small perhaps, but a difference nonetheless.
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Emily Muller
2/4/2014 01:55:44 am
Good answer, but do you think more socities should have helped out, or do you understand why they didn't?
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Maddy Vogel
2/3/2014 12:58:37 pm
Urban life was growing and changing at a rate the American government could not have predicted. With this rapid growth came great strains. Public services were not advanced or widespread enough to prevent the numerous hazards to come from large, expanding cities. The government reacted to these strains slowly and without extreme concern, and often times citizen-led groups had to step in to prevent further dangers.
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Ashton Reinhardt
2/4/2014 09:13:32 am
I like your answer Maddy. I agree with your last statement. American government tried to lesson the effect. And thank god they did.
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Mr. C
2/6/2014 06:52:23 am
I like this answer. Good job bringing up the rise of charitable organizations.
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Anthony Brandt
2/4/2014 02:19:51 am
As the populations of big cities increased exponentially so did the dangers and strains of life. The cities where so crowded it made it next to impossible for the necessary needs to be met. Crime, fire, disease, and indigence were the main contributors to the strains of city life. Fire posed an extremely dangerous threat, with new technologies and electricity commonly being used fires became more common. These fires may have been a bad thing but they lead to innovation such as the development of professional fire departments. Disease also posed an equally dangerous threat. Sanitation was terrible, sewage disposal and water contamination caused wide spread sickness like typhoid fever. This problem was not solved until well into the 20th century when sewage was no longer disposed in ditches or streams. Pollution was also becoming a problem of cities. Air quality decreased and sickness was easily spread, the Public Health Service was created to help prevent occupational disease. The PHS attempted to create a common standard of health. The rise of crime, poverty, and violence was an incredible strain on the government, the establishment of charities helped fight against poverty. Crime was drastically increase due to overpopulation like the nonurban areas saw an increase in lynching and homicide. Police departments saw a rise of corruption and brutality.
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Ashton Reinhardt
2/4/2014 09:08:06 am
The strains included lack of public services for the big population within in a small area. The government was not ready to respond to health issues, poverty, crimes, and lack a transportation. To improve on health issues a sewer system was developed. Government created public health services. The Occupational Health and Safety administration was created for health public services to make a safer environment for workers. National Guard prepared for possible outbreaks of violence, because the government wasn't very strong with the crimes of violence. The Salvation Army and middle class stepped up to help the property. Many buildings were requested to be more fireproof to help prevent the fires. They also invented the fire station. This all improved the way of life. This helped us become more efficient.
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