19th Century Urbanization

The second half of the nineteenth century was the most significant period for modernization and urban revolution of the United States. Parallel with the growth of the factories, mines and fields, grew also the cities, attributed as ''great'' ones. In a single period of 50 years, between 1860 and 1910, the population multiplied more than 7 times, expanding itself from 6 to 44 million. The rural influence and importance began to fade, comfirmed by the fact that by 1920, the majority of Americans would be living in urban areas. A response to the expansion of major cities was development of the urban type of culture, led by mixtures of ethnic and religious groups who moved into high buildings of every bigger city, searching for new life, jobs,
However, the Northern victory in the Civil War set grounds for national economic system. Abolition of slavery enabled the development of the Northern industry which began to take part in politic and social affairs. The inventions after 1865 caused the 'second industrial revolution' marked by the discovery of oil, invention of typewriter, telephone and electric light. Parallel to these achievements was the development of the nation's industrial infrastructure. Coal was found in the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania south to Kentucky. Large copper and silver mines opened, followed by lead mines and cement factories. This new massive type of economy required mass-production methods. The true inventor of mass production was Henry Ford, who in 1913 adopted the moving assembly line, with each worker doing one simple task in the production of
Soon after, Congress founded a new reception center on Ellis Island, 1300 feet from the Statue of Liberty, a centennial gift from France which became a symbol of hope for all newcomers passing under ''Lady Liberty''. In 1892, Ellis Island opened the doors of America to all the foreigns from around the globe. It was not not a welcoming, but a processing bureau, examining and documenting the newcomers, only 2% of which were denied their entrance mostly due to their criminal past or dangerous contagious diseases. By 1954, 70% of European immigrants passed through Ellis Island, some of them later even became famous (songwriter Irving Berlin, footballer Knute Rockne, comedian Bob Hope, ...). Most of the immigrants settled in the cities, trying to stay in neighbourhoods as close as possible to their own people, which resulted in areas called Little Italy, Little Hungary, Chinatown and others serving as a transitional bridge between the Old and New