Introducing KNOVA — A free reading app with curriculum-aligned passages on History & Science for Grades 3-8Learn More →

Industrial Revolution Cities — Reading Comprehension

No ratings yet

Premium Resource

Grades

Standards

D2.HIS.2.3-5
D2.HIS.3.3-5
RI.4.3
RI.4.4
W.4.2

Rate this resource

Send Feedback / Report an Issue

About This Reader

This engaging U.S. history passage explores the growth and transformation of American cities during the Industrial Revolution, a key part of the Progressive Era. Students will learn how new machines and factories changed the way people lived and worked, drawing millions to cities in search of jobs. The passage discusses the challenges families faced, including crowded housing and child labor, as well as the efforts of reformers to improve city life. The content also explains how these changes shaped modern America, highlighting important vocabulary and cause-and-effect relationships. Activities include a multiple-choice quiz, writing prompts, a timeline, and a graphic organizer, all designed to meet C3 Framework and Common Core standards. A Spanish translation and read aloud audio are provided to support diverse learners. This resource is perfect for building foundational literacy and history skills while learning about an important era in U.S. history.

CONTENT PREVIEW

Industrial-Revolution-Cities — The Industrial Revolution changed many cities in the United States.

The Industrial Revolution changed American cities in many ways. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, people moved from farms and small towns to cities. They came looking for jobs in new factories that were being built.

These cities grew very fast. This growth is called urbanization. People wanted steady pay and a better life. Factories needed many workers, so families moved into city neighborhoods. The city population increased quickly, sometimes faster than the cities could handle.

As more people arrived, cities became crowded. Many families lived in small apartments called tenements. These buildings were often old and not well cared for. Sometimes, several families had to share one bathroom. Streets were packed with people, horses, and carts. There was little space or privacy. This overcrowding caused many problems.

With so many people, cities found it hard to provide enough homes. There were not enough services like clean water, garbage collection, or police. Streets were often dirty, and disease spread easily. Getting clean water was difficult because water pipes and sewers could not keep up with the city’s growth. Children often had to help their families by working in factories instead of going to school.

Some people saw these problems and wanted to help. Reformers worked to improve city life. They started organizations to help families find better housing and jobs. City leaders built new water systems and cleaned up the streets. Over time, laws were made to protect workers and children.

Even though life in Industrial Revolution cities was hard, people found ways to solve problems and help each other. The growth of cities also brought new ideas, inventions, and cultures together. These changes shaped the modern cities we know today.

Interesting Fact: New York City’s population grew from about 500,000 in 1850 to over 3 million by 1900!

Why did people move to cities?

To find factory jobsTo buy farmsTo visit familyTo go on vacation

What is urbanization?

City growthFarm workTraveling by trainBuilding roads

What are tenements?

Crowded apartmentsSchoolsStoresFactories

What problem did overcrowding cause?

Spread of diseaseMore parksCleaner waterLess people

How did reformers help cities?

Improved homesBuilt more storesClosed schoolsStopped factories

Why was clean water hard to get?