Final answer:
During the late 1800s and early 1900s, urban Americans faced difficult living conditions in overcrowded tenements and grueling working conditions in factories. Many workers, including women and children, were exploited due to the lack of labor protections.
Step-by-step explanation:
Working and Living Conditions during the Urban Boom
The period between the late 1800s to the early 1900s was marked by a significant shift in American demographics and societal structure, largely influenced by urbanization, industrialization, and immigration. This era saw a drastic change from a predominately rural society to an urban one, with more Americans moving into cities, and as a result, the nature of work and living conditions also changed.
Living Conditions
As cities grew rapidly during the Industrial Era, housing struggled to keep up with the inflow of workers. Many urban Americans lived in overcrowded tenements, which were often unsanitary and dangerous. Due to the high levels of poverty, crime, and disease were rampant in these areas, creating a harsh environment for the inhabitants.
Working Conditions
Factory jobs were plentiful but came at a cost; workers faced grueling work schedules, sometimes up to twelve-hour shifts, in hazardous conditions with little regard to safety or worker's rights. Women and children often worked for even lower wages, and the absence of legal labor protections led to widespread exploitation. Despite these hardships, many Americans and immigrants chose industrial labor in hopes of better wages compared to the declining opportunities in agriculture.