Prior to progressiveness, one of the most important technological advances was the increasingly expansion of railroads. This transported goods from rural areas to cities. Several transcontinental railroads crisscrossed the United States giving way to the railroad-related industries for instance in the Weinland Park neighborhood. Later on, by late 19th and early 20th centuries, millions of immigrants arrived in the country seeking for better conditions of life as industries underwent an outstanding growth during that era. Thus, industrialization coupled with immigration gave way to the growth of cities, in other words, to urbanization. Moreover, those who lived in rural areas also moved to the cities looking for employment. However, all this resulted in pollution, there were fewer systems or clean water, many roads were unpaved. There were few buildings codes to protect the people living in them, and there were limited polices services.
Church and state were legally separated. A two-party political system was enacted. Jewish men were allowed to serve in the military. Women were granted the right to vote.
