UAP 2014, MIDTERM EXAM Name_________________________________
Part I. Please answer the following questions. You do not have to write
complete sentences; provide detail that is specific and indicates
mastery of material.
1. List three distinct characteristics that distinguish American cities and
suburbs from those in other industrial countries? (Jackson, Hayden,
Place Matters)
a. American cities are spread out while other countries major cities are
incredibly dense. In American cities, nothing is centrally located, unlike
most major foreign cities.
b. In American cities/suburbs, people spend great amounts of time
traveling to and from work. Americans tend to live far away from
where they work, choosing the difference of quality of life vs. amount
of time they can spend with family.
c. American houses/cities are unique in that most houses have a big
yard that surrounds the house. Most houses in the world cannot afford
the yardage because the lots they build on are much denser.
2. List three features of the walking city.
a. A walking city was usually located near a port of water. It was
centrally located around the port too because the port was the
livelihood of the city.
b. In a walking city, they tended to extend no greater than 2 miles
from downtown because people had to be able to walk where ever
they went. Cars were yet to be invented at that time.
c. Because walking cities were built to be very dense, fire was a
constant problem, and because most structures were built of wood,
fires would wreak havoc on cities that were built primarily of wood.
3. List 4 distinct uses of Central Park in the 1870s-90s and identify the
specific social groups that used the park in these ways.
a. Central Park (CP) was originally created as a unique place where city
dwellers could get away from the bustle and get back into contact with
a pure nature. It was seen by the purists as a way to restore order in
the city.
b. Quickly taken over by the bourgeoisies of NYC, CP was turned into
the Champs-Élysées of NYC and it became the show grounds of where
it was the place to be seen, and the place to see people.
c. While being used by the upper class of NYC, CP was also seen as a
place where “evil” happens. Fear was instilled into people and they
were supposed to remain very cautious because they didn’t know what
evil things lurked around.
d. CP was also used as a meeting ground for Sunday Concerts and was
thought of as a nice place where people could gather and have a good
time mingling.
