Conditions of tenements

Definition

Conditions of tenements refer to the poor living conditions experienced by impoverished urban dwellers in overcrowded apartment buildings known as tenements. These conditions often included inadequate sanitation, limited access to fresh air and sunlight, and unsafe structures.

Related terms

Urbanization: The process of population growth in cities due to rural-to-urban migration, leading to overcrowding and increased social challenges.

Slum: An area characterized by dilapidated housing, poverty, and substandard living conditions.

Jacob Riis: A Danish-American social reformer who used photography to expose the harsh realities faced by immigrant communities living in New York City tenements.