The Children of the Poor
by Jacob A. Riis (1849–1914)
- Free to read
- 6 hours to read
- 17 chapters
- Reading level: 8th & 9th grade
"The Children of the Poor" by Jacob A. Riis is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The book sheds light on the plight of impoverished children living in urban slums, particularly in New York City, during a time of massive immigration and industrialization. Riis uses vivid descriptions and compelling narratives to illustrate the struggles faced by these children, emphasizing both the systemic issues of poverty and the resilience of the young. The opening portion of the book introduces the pressing issue of the "children of the poor," stating it as a problem that reflects on the state itself. Riis discusses the rapid urbanization and the increasing population living in tenements, where the environment often breeds despair and low expectations for the future. He notes how these children's lives are heavily influenced by their surroundings, leading to both good and bad outcomes – with some displaying kindness and shared hope, while others fall into delinquency. The author emphasizes the urgent need for societal intervention and improvement, outlining a grim picture that sets the stage for further exploration into the lives of these children and the community's responsibilities toward them.
- Poor
- Poor · New York (State) · New York
- Child welfare · New York (State) · New York
Read the opening
Chapter I
THE PROBLEM OF THE CHILDREN
The problem of the children is the problem of the State. As we mould the children of the toiling masses in our cities, so we shape the destiny of the State which they will rule in their turn, taking the reins from our hands. In proportion as we neglect or pass them by, the blame for bad government to come rests upon us. The cities long since held the balance of power; their dominion will be absolute soon unless the near future finds some way of scattering the population which the era of steam-power and industrial development has crowded together in the great centres of that energy. At the beginning of the century the urban population of the United States was 3.97 per cent. of the whole, or not quite one in twenty-five. To-day it is 29.12 per cent., or nearly one in three. In the lifetime of those who were babies in arms when the first gun was fired upon Fort Sumter it has all but doubled. A million and a quarter live to-day in the tenements of the American metropolis. Clearly, there is reason for the sharp attention given at last to the life and the doings of the other half, too long unconsidered. Philanthropy we call it sometimes with patronizing airs. Better call it self-defence.
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About this edition
This free edition of The Children of the Poor by Jacob A. Riis comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #32609, released 2010-05-30. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: History - American, Sociology.
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