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Jacob Riis: How the Other Half Lives — Reading Comprehension

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HSS 8.12.5
RI.6-8.1
RI.6-8.3

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This passage explores the impact of Jacob Riis, a pioneering photojournalist whose 1890 book 'How the Other Half Lives' exposed the harsh living conditions of the urban poor in New York City. Students will analyze how Riis used photographs and writing as powerful tools to bring national attention to tenement life during the Progressive Era, leading to important housing reforms. The passage integrates disciplinary academic vocabulary, aligns with HSS 8.12.5 and CCSS.RI.6-8.1, and challenges students to interpret evidence and understand historical causation. Included are a glossary, multiple-choice and writing activities, two graphic organizers, a timeline of key events, a differentiated version for accessibility, and Spanish translations of both passage versions. This U.S. history reading passage supports close reading, analysis, and critical thinking, and offers read aloud audio.

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How the Other Half Lives front cover.png
Source: Wikimedia Commons - Wikimedia Commons

In the late 1800s, many families in New York City lived in overcrowded tenement buildings. These structures were often dark, unsanitary, and dangerous. Poverty affected thousands of immigrants and working-class people, who struggled to find safe homes. During the Progressive Era, Americans began to notice the problems of rapid urban growth and social inequality. One person who made a difference was Jacob Riis, a Danish immigrant and journalist.

Jacob Riis used photojournalism to reveal the reality of life in tenements. Photojournalism combines photographs and reporting to tell stories. Riis worked as a police reporter, so he saw firsthand the conditions in New York’s poorest neighborhoods. He believed that showing evidence through images and writing would help the public understand the urgent need for reform. Using a new flash photography method, Riis was able to capture images even in dark, crowded apartments.

In 1890, Jacob Riis published his influential book, How the Other Half Lives. The book included both photographs and written descriptions to provide a detailed exposure of tenement conditions. Riis described rooms packed with families, poor ventilation, and lack of sanitation. Walls were damp and windows were scarce. Disease spread quickly, and children often had to work instead of going to school. By documenting these hardships, Riis challenged the comfortable middle class to see the city’s hidden struggles.

Riis’s work sparked public debate. Many Americans were shocked by the powerful images and direct evidence of suffering. Some city leaders and reformers, such as Theodore Roosevelt, responded by supporting new policies to improve housing. Newspapers and civic groups began to demand better standards for tenement construction and management. The momentum for urban reform grew, leading to laws that required windows, fire escapes, and access to clean water in new buildings. These changes showed how evidence from photojournalism could have a real impact on society.

However, the reform movement was not without challenges. Landlords and business owners often resisted costly changes. Some critics argued that Riis’s focus on shocking images could oversimplify complex social problems. Despite these conflicts, Riis’s work brought lasting attention to the needs of the urban poor. His legacy continues in modern debates about housing, inequality, and the use of media to inspire change.

Interesting Fact: Jacob Riis’s book inspired future reformers and became one of the first examples of using photography for social change in America.

Who was Jacob Riis?

A journalist and immigrantA famous artistA factory ownerA city mayor

What was Riis’s book called?

The JungleHow the Other Half LivesTenement LifeUrban Reformers

When was 'How the Other Half Lives' published?

1890191018801920

Why did Riis use photojournalism?

To make moneyTo expose povertyTo travel the worldTo teach photography

What was one result of Riis’s work?

Nothing changedNew tenement lawsMore factoriesNo more newspapers

How did some critics react to Riis?

They all agreed with himThey ignored his workThey thought he oversimplified problemsThey became reporters