New York City Tenements

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Tenements were a great help to society, even though they were unsanitary, and vile. The tenements helped contain the population boom during the 19th century. As the immigrants came rushing towards New York, the population doubled every year. Thus, the tenements were made. They are apartment-like buildings intended to hold all of the poor immigrants. They were cramped, poorly lit, with horrible ventilation and plumbing, and this is why I chose this picture. This picture shows the disgusting conditions of the tenements. Although, we might consider this too dirty to live in, people had to stay here because this was their chance of a "new life". In this picture, it shows the outhouses that are lined up which are used and shared a lot of people. Even by looking at the floor you can see some muck that is splattered across the floor. There is also, laundry that is hung in the back, snow covered roofs and most likely unheated buildings. This shows the hard conditions people had to go through by living in the tenements. Later, about two thirds of the population of New York were living in tenements. It is time for a change in living conditions, and a better place to call home.

Updated Post:

As disgusting and dirty the tenements were, they were an invention that benefited society. In this picture, it shows the vile conditions of the tenements. There are outhouses that are shown which show how unsanitary they were, and how they were shared by a community. Even on the floor, there is this muck looking liquid, that seems like it froze. So, I'm guessing when people had to use the bathroom, they had to smell that horrifying odor, and the outhouses that contained the remains of others. Although, as bad as the conditions were, this was a big step for a lot of immigrants. Many immigrants came to the United States to build a "new life." There was a population boom during the 19th century. They sought out jobs, education, wealth, and a new way to start life anew. About two thirds of the population of New York were living in the tenements. Those numbers show how many immigrants were desperate to live in America. They will do whatever it takes even if it means, living in these small, unsanitary, and crowded tenements to work towards their new lives. This is the time for them to get their thoughts together, and strive to do whatever means necessary to reach their goals.

Triangle Factory Fire

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The Triangle Factory Fire was one of "the worst disasters since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution." This incident was very important, because it shows the difficult conditions that people had to work in. That is why I chose this picture. This picture shows many people, mostly women, who are working in long tables just sewing while being watched by a manager. By looking at this picture, it shows that there is no space for people to work in, and how the air seems to be ghastly. Even the floor shows how dirty the environment is. The Triangle Factory Fire, was a fire that killed 146 workers because of these working conditions. This picture best express their conditions, and how sweatshops looked like. Even today, stuff like this happens somewhere in the world, they attract people who are desperate and need a job. It is sad, but it is the reality.