Migration from country to cities
One of the largest effects the Industrial Revolution had on Europe was urbanization. Urbanization, or the transfer of population from rural areas to cities, was very prevalent in 19th century Europe. Urbanization began in England from about 1750-1850, and spread to the continent of Europe after the Napoleonic Wars. In 1801, 17% of Europe's population lived in cities. But by 1891, that number had increased to 54%, over half of the people that lived in Europe. Many of the major cities today developed in this period. These cities include London, Paris, Vienna, Berlin, Rome, Madrid, and New York City.
Causes of population shiftThe Industrial Revolution was the main reason for the population shift in Europe. Due to the mechanization of farming, many people who had depended on agriculture as a livelihood no longer had a sufficient source of income. Therefore, they migrated to urban areas, where the new factories that the Industrial Revolution brought were more than happy to employ them.
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The standard city
With so many cities cropping up, urban planning became commonplace. For example, parks were constructed in and around cities to provide some relief from the congested urban environment. It also involved razing old sections of the city and replacing them with public buildings, broad avenues, monuments, and impressive railroad stations. This pattern was established by the city of Paris in the 1850's under Napoleon III, Other major cities followed suit. Urban improvements continued throughout the 19th century as technology offered new opportunities.