Books with title Tenement: Immigrant Life on the Lower East Side

Life on the Lower East Side was bustling. Immigrants from many European countries had come to make a better life for themselves and their families in the United States. But the wages they earned were so low that they could afford only the most basic accommodations—tenements. Unfortunately, there were few laws protecting the residents of tenements, and landlords took advantage of this by allowing the buildings to become cramped and squalid. There was little the tenants could do; their only other choice was the street. Though most immigrants struggled in these buildings, many overcame a difficult start and saw generations after them move on to better apartments, homes, and lives. Raymond Bial reveals the first, challenging step in this process as he leads us on a tour of the sights and sounds of the Lower East Side, guiding us through the dark hallways, staircases, and rooms of the tenements.

Life on the Lower East Side was bustling. Immigrants from many European countries had come to make a better life for themselves and their families in the United States. But the wages they earned were so low that they could afford only the most basic accommodations—tenements. Unfortunately, there were few laws protecting the residents of tenements, and landlords took advantage of this by allowing the buildings to become cramped and squalid. There was little the tenants could do; their only other choice was the street. Though most immigrants struggled in these buildings, many overcame a difficult start and saw generations after them move on to better apartments, homes, and lives. Raymond Bial reveals the first, challenging step in this process as he leads us on a tour of the sights and sounds of the Lower East Side, guiding us through the dark hallways, staircases, and rooms of the tenements.

This book tells about life on the Lower East Side of New York City from 1870 to 1913. People had been coming to New York City from other countries since the 1600s. But in the middle of the 1800s, millions of people from Italy and Eastern Europe came to the city to live and set up businesses. Most of them were Jewish. People who came from other countries wanted to be near people like them. On the Lower East Side, they found a place where other people spoke their language, worshiped the same way, and ate familiar foods. We have illustrated the book with photographs of people and places in New York City from this time period. We have also included artists’ ideas of how people lived in in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

This book tells about life on the Lower East Side of New York City from 1870 to 1913. People had been coming to New York City from other countries since the 1600s. But in the middle of the 1800s, millions of people from Italy and Eastern Europe came to the city to live and set up businesses. Most of them were Jewish. People who came from other countries wanted to be near people like them. On the Lower East Side, they found a place where other people spoke their language, worshiped the same way, and ate familiar foods. We have illustrated the book with photographs of people and places in New York City from this time period. We have also included artists’ ideas of how people lived in in the late 1800s and early 1900s.