Cities: Then and Now

In today's reading, Carp talks to great extent about the role and style of colonial cities.  The question that comes to my mind is, "Are American cities like the colonial cities?"  Carp stresses the closeness and the activity of the cities, but one big difference today is urban sprawl.  Without the same sort of population density of colonial cities (and cities outside of America in general), the people aren't as involved with each other, and interest in the community wanes.  That is why the same kind of movement that energized the people of Boston is unlikely today, even for a less arduous cause.  Moving people apart disconnects them.  Of course the colonies didn't have the internet...