A Ten Years' War: An Account of the Battle with the Slum in New York

"A Ten Years' War: An Account of the Battle with the Slum in New York" by Jacob A. Riis is a historical account written in the late 19th century. This work chronicles the struggles and efforts to combat the dire conditions of slum life in New York City during a transformative period of social reform. Focusing on themes of justice, political responsibility, and social improvement, Riis explores the impact of tenement living on families, particularly the impoverished immigrant populations who make up the majority of the tenants. At the start of the book, Riis lays the groundwork for an in-depth examination of the slums, discussing how the battle against such environments is woven into the fabric of civilization itself. He reveals the historical context of slums as both a societal problem and a challenge to political conscience. Riis reflects on the dynamics that perpetuate squalor and hopelessness, calling for immediate action rather than theoretical discussions. He introduces the reader to the term "slum," illustrating the painful realities of its inhabitants and emphasizing the need for civic engagement and reforms to uplift these marginalized communities. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Jacob August Riis was a Danish-American social reformer, "muck-raking" journalist, and social documentary photographer. He contributed significantly to the cause of urban reform in the United States of America at the turn of the twentieth century. He is known for using his photographic and journalistic talents to help the impoverished in New York City; those impoverished New Yorkers were the subject of most of his prolific writings and photography. He endorsed the implementation of "model tenements" in New York with the help of humanitarian Lawrence Veiller. He was an early proponent of the newly practicable casual photography and one of the first to adopt photographic flash. While living in New York, Riis experienced poverty and became a police reporter writing about the quality of life in the slums. He attempted to alleviate the poor living conditions of poor people by exposing these conditions to the middle and upper classes.