The absence of city walls is notable.

Encircling walls had been a feature of urbanization for millennia and, until the modern era, fortified walls protected cities in Europe and Asia from predation by other urban civilizations as well as from the devastating raids of nomads. In contrast, the small, rapidly growing cities of colonial America made due at first with wooden stockades and later with flexible defensive infrastructures; the sheer distance of threatening forces meant that militias, and afterward a standing army, police force, and network of forts and prisons, sufficed as protection.

To this day, the paucity of walls along American streets attests to the nation’s long history of urbanization without walls — and helps explain why gated communities often seem so startling. It was in fact the absence of walls that set American cities apart from most old world development.

Full Answer Section

Instead, American cities relied on militias, and later a standing army, police force, and network of forts and prisons, to protect themselves. This reliance on non-physical defensive measures also reflected the American ideal of individual liberty and freedom of movement.

The absence of walls in American cities has had a number of consequences. It has made American cities more open and accessible, and it has contributed to the development of a more diverse and cosmopolitan culture. It has also made American cities more vulnerable to crime and other social problems.

However, the absence of walls has also been seen as a positive thing. It has made American cities more welcoming and inclusive, and it has helped to create a sense of community. It has also made American cities more dynamic and innovative.

In recent years, there has been a growing trend of gated communities in the United States. These communities are surrounded by walls and fences, and they are often patrolled by security guards. Gated communities are often seen as a way to reduce crime and improve security. However, they have also been criticized for creating a sense of division and exclusivity.

The absence of walls in American cities is a reflection of the nation's long history of urbanization without walls. It is also a reflection of the American ideals of individual liberty and freedom of movement. The absence of walls has had both positive and negative consequences, but it is a defining feature of American cities.

Sample Answer

The absence of walls in American cities is a striking contrast to the walled cities of Europe and Asia. This difference has its roots in the history of urbanization in the two regions.

In Europe and Asia, cities developed over centuries, and their walls were built to protect them from invasion and attack. American cities, on the other hand, are relatively new, and they grew rapidly in the 18th and 19th centuries. The vast distances between American cities and potential threats meant that walls were not necessary for protection.