Final answer:
The rapid growth of cities led to poor urban planning, resulting in inadequate housing, sanitation, and transportation, as well as environmental issues and psychological stress. Overcrowded living conditions facilitated the spread of diseases, and increased consumerism resulted in significant waste disposal challenges. Additionally, cities experienced traffic congestion, racial tensions, and widening economic gaps.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rapid growth of cities presented several critical challenges for urban areas. One main problem that resulted from the larger growth of cities was poor urban planning, which led to inadequate housing, sanitation, and transportation. These conditions contributed to environmental degradation and psychological stress for individuals who once lived on farms and were not accustomed to the polluted, plant-less city landscape.
Living conditions in cities during periods of rapid expansion were dire, particularly for the working class. People were crammed into tenement houses and cramped apartments with poor ventilation and substandard plumbing, leading to rampant diseases such as typhoid and cholera.
Furthermore, the increase in urban population resulted in issues like traffic congestion, racial tensions, and economic disparities. Cities also faced new problems like handling massive amounts of waste due to increased consumerism and lack of proper disposal systems, highlighting the necessity of urban problem-solving.