Tenement Life in NYC

. . .

I began to think about Engles’ writings on Manchester that we read earlier in the semester, and how he described probably the most horrid living conditions I can imagine anyone suffering through. e toured would be the home of several families per floor, each with numerous children. Compared to these conditions, the tenements of New York must not seem that bad, if for no other reason than the fact that they were not shunned and hidden away like they were in places like Manchester. They formed a community that, if it exists at all in New York today, is extremely rare. It is fascinating that in this city, it seems to take extreme hardships (think back to September 11, 2001) to bring people together. It seems that what saved many immigrants in the early 20th century was the tight community they formed, both up in their apartments and down on the streets and in the storefronts. Add to that poor ventilation, thin walls, noises and smells coming from outside (and probably other parts of the building, too). It is amazing to me that for the immigrants living in these tenements, these living conditions were a step above what they could afford in their old country.

Common topics in this essay:
Museum Getting, , 20th century, immigrants 20th century, immigrants 20th, living conditions,

Approximate Word count = 283
Approximate Pages = 1 (250 words per page double spaced)

Already a member? Click here