Answer: The cities in the second half of the nineteenth century represented both best and worst of American life in such a way that: The cities were more established as citizens could enjoy cheaper and better products. The introduction of factories and industries overtook the small farmers.
The industries were more along the city as compared to the urban land which lead to migration of people from urban land to the cities.
There were skyscrapers, light bulbs and other technologies available to the people.
The worst part was small farmers now had no source of income. The people lived so closed in the city that the disease could not easily spread because of overcrowding.
Pollution started increasing, corruption, disease and crime were some of the problems which was faced by America in the second half of the nineteenth century.