Jacob Riis wrote about the terrible living conditions in the slums and tenements of New York City in his book "How the Other Half Lives," published in 1890. Riis used photographs and firsthand accounts to expose the harsh reality faced by many impoverished families living in these areas. His work brought attention to the plight of the urban poor and helped inspire social reform.
Tenements in slums often lacked proper sanitation, ventilation, and lighting, leading to poor living conditions. Overcrowding was common, which increased the spread of diseases, such as cholera and tuberculosis. The lack of adequate maintenance and safety measures in tenements also posed serious health and safety risks to inhabitants.
B. Nicer apartment buildings in the slums. Model tenements were more habitable and improved living conditions for the poor in urban areas.
Living in the slums in the early 1900's was horrible. Immigrants had to live in tenements that were breaking down and collapsing. Tenement owners id not clean up the tenements either, so they were filthy. Rats, mice, you name it. These tenements were expensive too. The people blamed the immigrants of being dirty, and that's why the tenements were so filthy, but that all the immigrants could afford and it wasn't their fault.
Jacob Riis used his photographic and journalistic talents to help the impoverished in New York City. He used his books to show what life was like in the slums and to show the middle and upper classes what bad living conditions were available to the poor people. He tried to have the slums and tenements demolished and replaces with a park. He also tried to improve the condition of New York's water supply.
Slums.
"The slum is the measure of civilization."
The rich lived in villages on the outskirts of the cities, the poor lived in slums or tenements.
Tenements in slums often lacked proper sanitation, ventilation, and lighting, leading to poor living conditions. Overcrowding was common, which increased the spread of diseases, such as cholera and tuberculosis. The lack of adequate maintenance and safety measures in tenements also posed serious health and safety risks to inhabitants.
Riis' goal was to bring to light the conditions of the poor living in the tenements and slums of New York City.
B. Nicer apartment buildings in the slums. Model tenements were more habitable and improved living conditions for the poor in urban areas.
Living in the slums in the early 1900's was horrible. Immigrants had to live in tenements that were breaking down and collapsing. Tenement owners id not clean up the tenements either, so they were filthy. Rats, mice, you name it. These tenements were expensive too. The people blamed the immigrants of being dirty, and that's why the tenements were so filthy, but that all the immigrants could afford and it wasn't their fault.
Jacob Riis used his photographic and journalistic talents to help the impoverished in New York City. He used his books to show what life was like in the slums and to show the middle and upper classes what bad living conditions were available to the poor people. He tried to have the slums and tenements demolished and replaces with a park. He also tried to improve the condition of New York's water supply.
Small crowded immigrant houses.
An attempt to provide better housing in the slums.
Slums.
It showed the terrible conditions of life in the slums.
It showed the terrible conditions of life in the slums.