Case study: The Very Big Apple
With over eight million people, New York City is the most heavily populated city in the U.S. Between 1800 and 1900, the population of New York increased from about 80,000 to over three million people. In the years after the Civil War, the population of New York City tripled. With a large influx of European immigrants New York became known as the "melting pot." New York has always had the highest population density of any U.S. city. According to the 2000 census, New York City has about 26,403 people per square mile—almost twice the number of people per mile as Chicago.
Based on the statistics in the text and your knowledge, which of the following best describes what life might have been like for most immigrants living in New York City in the 1880s?
They created businesses and factories that made them very rich.
They found work easily and were able to provide many things for their families.
They often lived in overcrowded neighborhoods with poor sanitation and disease.
They had many new opportunities for education and attended museums and plays.
1 answer
Based on the statistics and context provided in the text, the best description of life for most immigrants living in New York City in the 1880s is:
They often lived in overcrowded neighborhoods with poor sanitation and disease.
This choice reflects the realities of the time, as the rapid population growth and high population density likely led to overcrowded living conditions, which often resulted in poor sanitation and the spread of diseases.
