Book Study Questions
Introduction
1. According to Riis, before we even get into the novel, who is to blame for the evils of society?
2. Reference is made to Boss Tweed, who grew up in the neighborhoods mentioned in this novel.
a. What is that reference?
b. What was the answer to Boss Tweed?
c. According to Riis, will the same answer assist those in the tenements?
3. “all the influences [in the tenements] makes for evil…”
What are those influences?
4. What were the findings of the first legislative Committee to address the problems in the tenements?
5. What was the deeper findings?
Chapter 1
1. Riis blames the greed of the landlords for the condition of the tenements. What/who do the landlords blame?
Chapter 2
1. What improvement to the tenements was ordered in 1867, showing signs of government regulation to fix the problems of the lower class?
2. What is the official definition of a tenement?
3. What is the actual definition of a tenement?
Chapter 3
1. Who is the new landlord of these slums?
2. Why does Riis say the "Irishman's revenge is complete"?
3. Find an online referene to the meaning of the word "Teuton" (p.25). How does that play into role of American nativism.
Chapter 4
1. Why the policeman unconcerned about the tenement burning?
2. Who was one of the landlords for Blindman's alley
3. What was the main focus of this chapter?
4. What happend to Old Dan?
Chapter 5
1. Why does the Italian get taken advantage of so often?
2. Where do many Italian immigrants work in the city?
3. What is the district that the Italian immigrant tends to live in?
4. What is the vice that draws police attention to the Italians?
1. According to Riis, before we even get into the novel, who is to blame for the evils of society?
2. Reference is made to Boss Tweed, who grew up in the neighborhoods mentioned in this novel.
a. What is that reference?
b. What was the answer to Boss Tweed?
c. According to Riis, will the same answer assist those in the tenements?
3. “all the influences [in the tenements] makes for evil…”
What are those influences?
4. What were the findings of the first legislative Committee to address the problems in the tenements?
5. What was the deeper findings?
Chapter 1
1. Riis blames the greed of the landlords for the condition of the tenements. What/who do the landlords blame?
Chapter 2
1. What improvement to the tenements was ordered in 1867, showing signs of government regulation to fix the problems of the lower class?
2. What is the official definition of a tenement?
3. What is the actual definition of a tenement?
Chapter 3
1. Who is the new landlord of these slums?
2. Why does Riis say the "Irishman's revenge is complete"?
3. Find an online referene to the meaning of the word "Teuton" (p.25). How does that play into role of American nativism.
Chapter 4
1. Why the policeman unconcerned about the tenement burning?
2. Who was one of the landlords for Blindman's alley
3. What was the main focus of this chapter?
4. What happend to Old Dan?
Chapter 5
1. Why does the Italian get taken advantage of so often?
2. Where do many Italian immigrants work in the city?
3. What is the district that the Italian immigrant tends to live in?
4. What is the vice that draws police attention to the Italians?
Chapter 6
1. Why do you think the tenament owners refuse to repair their tenements for the good of the tenants?
2. Why do you think the land lords in the rag pickers settlement get away with charging high rent for small spaces?
3. How did newer tenements affect the lives of the people in the bend?
1. Why do you think the tenament owners refuse to repair their tenements for the good of the tenants?
2. Why do you think the land lords in the rag pickers settlement get away with charging high rent for small spaces?
3. How did newer tenements affect the lives of the people in the bend?
Chapter 7
1. Why would the police care so much about beer being drank in the tenements?
2. Riis believes that the homeless tramps on the street are lazy. Why does he think this?
2. Riis believes that the homeless tramps on the street are lazy. Why does he think this?
Chapter 8
1. Compare and Contrast the 10 cent, 15 cent, and 25 cent lodging rooms?
2. Where are a majority of the lodging houses located according to Jacob A. Riis?
3. Describing how the political bosses used the lodging homes to their advantage?
4. Describe the conditions of the 10/7 cent lodging rooms
2. Where are a majority of the lodging houses located according to Jacob A. Riis?
3. Describing how the political bosses used the lodging homes to their advantage?
4. Describe the conditions of the 10/7 cent lodging rooms
Chapter 9
1. What is the Chinamen’s drug of choice, and how does that effect their everyday life?
2. What is Riis’s hope for Chinatown as a whole?
3. Why were most of the Chinamen’s wives young white women?
1. What is the Chinamen’s drug of choice, and how does that effect their everyday life?
2. What is Riis’s hope for Chinatown as a whole?
3. Why were most of the Chinamen’s wives young white women?
Chapter 10
1. What disease is Jewtown known for?
2. How does Riis distinguish those of Jewish descent from the ‘average’ New York citizen?
3. What examples of parsimony does Riis give in the 10th ward?
2. How does Riis distinguish those of Jewish descent from the ‘average’ New York citizen?
3. What examples of parsimony does Riis give in the 10th ward?
Chapter 11
1. What is the "sweater" Riis continually refers to?
2. What does Riis's analysis say about the labor laws in place at the time?
1. What is the "sweater" Riis continually refers to?
2. What does Riis's analysis say about the labor laws in place at the time?
Chapter 12:
1. Why is the job of cigarmaking demeening to the bohemian male?
2. Why is the Czech male forced to do this kind of labor?
3. How is the Czech the Irishman of Central Europe?
4. Why does the landlord not turn out his tenents when they revolt?
1. Why is the job of cigarmaking demeening to the bohemian male?
2. Why is the Czech male forced to do this kind of labor?
3. How is the Czech the Irishman of Central Europe?
4. Why does the landlord not turn out his tenents when they revolt?
Chapter 13
1. Describe the difference in treatment between African American tennents and European tennents.
2. What kind of tennements did African American tennents live in? Did they take care of their tennement?
1. Describe the difference in treatment between African American tennents and European tennents.
2. What kind of tennements did African American tennents live in? Did they take care of their tennement?
Chapter 14
1. Describe the role of politics regarding the tenements, specifically how people were able to get away with not paying their rent.
2. What medical practices came as a result of decreases in hygene and safety in the tenements?
3. Why would some people be content with their living conditions they experienced? Why would they refuse assistance if they were in
such a state?
1. Describe the role of politics regarding the tenements, specifically how people were able to get away with not paying their rent.
2. What medical practices came as a result of decreases in hygene and safety in the tenements?
3. Why would some people be content with their living conditions they experienced? Why would they refuse assistance if they were in
such a state?
Chapter 15:
1. What is the key to solving the city problem?
2. Was kids treated less of an importance today or back in the day in this book?
1. What is the key to solving the city problem?
2. Was kids treated less of an importance today or back in the day in this book?
Chapter 16
1. Why was Sister Irene's Asylum forced to take inside the cradle that they previously had outside?
2. In the book it says that if there is no medical student in need of a subject then the dead abandoned babies of New York are buried in Potter's field. What use would a medical student have for a dead baby?
3. According to Riis why do the mothers prefer to abandon their babies without meeting the people who they are abandoning the babies too?
1. Why was Sister Irene's Asylum forced to take inside the cradle that they previously had outside?
2. In the book it says that if there is no medical student in need of a subject then the dead abandoned babies of New York are buried in Potter's field. What use would a medical student have for a dead baby?
3. According to Riis why do the mothers prefer to abandon their babies without meeting the people who they are abandoning the babies too?
Chapter 17
1. Describe the personality and behavior of the average Arab.
2. How does the Children’s Aid Society function?
3. What are the differences between the Children’s Aid Society and programs where assistance is given for free?
4. What responsibilities did the Arab’s have while living in the Children’s Aid Society?
1. Describe the personality and behavior of the average Arab.
2. How does the Children’s Aid Society function?
3. What are the differences between the Children’s Aid Society and programs where assistance is given for free?
4. What responsibilities did the Arab’s have while living in the Children’s Aid Society?
Chapter 18
1. What was the Boodle Board?
2. How difficult was it for a minor to purchase alcohol?
2. How difficult was it for a minor to purchase alcohol?
Chapter 19
1. Riis talks about how gangs are only efficient in groups. Why is this the case?
2. What types of crimes were commonly committed by gangs?
3. How were gang apprentices trained for gang membership?
1. Riis talks about how gangs are only efficient in groups. Why is this the case?
2. What types of crimes were commonly committed by gangs?
3. How were gang apprentices trained for gang membership?
Chapter 20
1. What was a common reason for women to be fired from their jobs?
2. What is the age a women has to be (or say she is) to find work?
3. Why do the prospects for working women appear to be improving?
Chapter 21
1. What was the total percentage of Deaths of the tenement population?
2. How much of the population either asked for or was given charitable aid?
Chapter 22
1. Why does the workhouse look down on the almshouse?
2. What causes the warden to go from being excited to uncivil so quickly?
3. Did the poor people use the houses as sanctuaries?
Chapter 23
1.What caused the man on the corner to snap and stab at the passing people?
2.How does this event show the economic struggle of the time?
3.What does Riis say will happen to New York’s slums when compared to the Old World’s?
Chapter 24
1.How has the tenements changed?
2.What did the Board of Health in 1874 believe would fix the overcrowding problem?
1. What was a common reason for women to be fired from their jobs?
2. What is the age a women has to be (or say she is) to find work?
3. Why do the prospects for working women appear to be improving?
Chapter 21
1. What was the total percentage of Deaths of the tenement population?
2. How much of the population either asked for or was given charitable aid?
Chapter 22
1. Why does the workhouse look down on the almshouse?
2. What causes the warden to go from being excited to uncivil so quickly?
3. Did the poor people use the houses as sanctuaries?
Chapter 23
1.What caused the man on the corner to snap and stab at the passing people?
2.How does this event show the economic struggle of the time?
3.What does Riis say will happen to New York’s slums when compared to the Old World’s?
Chapter 24
1.How has the tenements changed?
2.What did the Board of Health in 1874 believe would fix the overcrowding problem?