In the late nineteenth century, following the Civil War, Tennessee entered into a period of industrialization. The railroad connection played a significant role in the growth of the economy and other industries. It facilitated the shipping process and, as a result, the production of flour became one of the most profitable industries in the state because of the shipping rates. The mills in such cities as Nashville or Memphis provided about 20 percent of the state’s products’ total value. The coal mining and wood-product industries have also been expanded with the help of railroads. There was no longer a need to float logs down the river, as they could be transported along the rail lines, which ran deep into the forests. The goods could now be transported internationally, resulting in a boost to the economy. The establishment of cotton mills was widespread as the workforce was cheap and abundant.
East Tennessee became the center of iron and coal production, the main hub of which was located in the Cumberland Plateau and mountains. Nashville was one of the leading manufacturing cities in the state, focusing on the food processing industry. Numerous factories were created in Knoxville after the surge of merchants who flooded the city. As a result, furniture factories, cloth, and iron mills were built. Such cities as Chattanooga attracted many Northerners with business and investing opportunities. People who moved to the South looking for potential gains were called “carpetbaggers.” With the help of “carpetbaggers,” Chattanooga gained the Medicine Company providing pharmaceutical goods. The attempt of industrialization may be called successful. After the implementation of new technologies, the value of the manufactured goods doubled, and many cities began to grow. However, most industries still tended to be labor-intensive, depending on cheap and low-skilled workers.
The rapid growth of the cities created several problems because populations outgrew city services. Many people flocked into cities searching for work and settled in the low-rent districts, which later turned into slums. Different diseases such as typhoid or cholera were the main hazard for citizens. In 1878, Memphis experienced yellow-fever epidemy, leading to the death of most government members. Most health problems originated from poor drainage and sanitation because many diseases were water-borne. The bayous in Memphis provided breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and cattle roamed the city, contaminating the natural water sources. Even if water and sewer lines were provided, poor citizens could not afford to install plumbing. Nevertheless, the problem of clean water was mainly solved by the 1890s when new wells were dug providing clean water.
Another problem was moral pollution as cities were centers for prostitution, alcohol distribution, and gambling. It led to the increase in violence, and Memphis was even called the nation’s “murder capital.” Annie Cook, who established a house of prostitution, turned it into a hospital and contributed to the fight with the yellow-fever epidemic in Memphis. Her sacrifice left a deep impression on Tennesseans, partially changing the public’s perspective on such people. Urban problems were considered to be the delicences of city people. The churchgoers were obsessed with the idea of individual repentance and salvation, limiting the impact of religion upon politics. However, a Methodist minister, Sam Jones, preached an activist religion and promoted philanthropy across the state. His sermons forced Ryman, a local alcohol dealer who served liquor on steamboats, to end with that profession and start a charity wagon. Alcohol also created problems of impoverishment and domestic violence. In 1885, the Tennessee Temperance Alliance was formed to limit alcohol consumption through the amendment that failed to pass. To sum up, cities’ growth was connected with a number of different problems, but people learned to adapt and provide new solutions over time.