Jacob Riis- Muckraker

During the time of the immigration of people from Europe, it caused a mass segregation of people. Each country people stuck together in New York City and created there own area. Within these areas, there was a very high poverty rate. These people who immigrated came over with nothing, and now that they are a new race of people in the United States, people don't like them. These people are set on their social class, which is the lowest. During this time period of 1850-1900, there was a wide gap of wealth between the rich and the poor. When Jacob Riis came across the poorest of the poor in lower Manhattan, he knew he had to do something. His theory was that the rich didn't quite understand what it felt like to be poor so he started to take pictures. He started this wave known as muckraking. Muckraking is a form of journalism where the intent is to uncover some political corruption, or expose social ills. He started to take pictures to broadcast what these people are going through. He caused social change in that the city governments progressives pushed for housing that was affordable, clean, and safe. He made these peoples are tough reality to the rich, and eventually forced change. 

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