Henry George (1839–1897)

Henry George was a self-educated American economist from a poor family. In 1879, his book Progress and Poverty sold millions of copies around the world. In it, he presented his ideas on how to solve the problem of poverty.

It is true that wealth has been greatly increased, and that the average of comfort, leisure, and refinement has been raised; but these gains are not general. In them the lowest class do not share. . . .

This association of poverty with progress is the great enigma of our times. . . .

. . . There is a vague but general feeling of disappointment; an increased bitterness among the working classes; a widespread feeling of unrest and brooding revolution. . . .

. . . The civilized world is trembling on the verge of a great movement. Either it must be a leap upward, which will open the way to advances yet undreamed of, or it must be a plunge downward, which will carry us back toward barbarism.

What is the main idea of this passage?

The accumulation of wealth has helped everyone in society.

Economic inequality is disappointing, but little can be done about it.

Few people are concerned about the inequalities in society.

Poverty is an important issue that must be addressed.

Demographics of US Cities

This chart is a X primary source✔ secondary source.

The city that had the largest growth in population between 1850 and 1990 was ✔ New YorkChicagoPhiladelphiaSan Francisco.

If the trend continued, the expected population of New York in 1950 would be about 4 million✔ about 6 millionabout 8 millionabout 10 million.

Industrialized Cities

The industrial cities were different from those founded in earlier times. The modern downtown was created, and it was connected to outlying areas by streetcars and commuter rails. Middle-class professionals found it easy to get from their homes outside the city to their jobs, and back home at the end of the day.

Not everyone was fortunate enough to live outside the city. Working-class immigrant families lived in the poorest parts of the city in tenement buildings that lacked light and fresh air. As urban areas became more crowded, they grew more unsafe and unsanitary. Epidemics of diseases such as cholera and yellow fever spread quickly. Fires, crime, and poverty were common.

What is the purpose of this source?

to describe the challenges faced by those living outside of the cities

to show similarities in the living conditions of those inside and outside of the cities

to contrast the different living conditions for the middle and working classes

to show the positive effects of urbanization for those who lived in industrialized cities

Industrialized Cities

The industrial cities were different from those founded in earlier times. The modern downtown was created, and it was connected to outlying areas by streetcars and commuter rails. Middle-class professionals found it easy to get from their homes outside the city to their jobs, and back home at the end of the day.

Not everyone was fortunate enough to live outside the city. Working-class immigrant families lived in the poorest parts of the city in tenement buildings that lacked light and fresh air. As urban areas became more crowded, they grew more unsafe and unsanitary. Epidemics of diseases such as cholera and yellow fever spread quickly. Fires, crime, and poverty were common.

This passage is from a textbook. It is a primary✔ secondary source.

Middle-class families often lived outside the city, taking advantage of ✔ improved transportationtenement housing.

Examining Living Conditions

What conclusion can be drawn from the photo?

Infrastructure improvements are needed.

The regulation of tenements is needed.

Infrastructure improvements are unnecessary. 

The regulation of tenements is unnecessary.

Examining Living Conditions

Which effect of urbanization in the 1800s can be supported by evidence in this photo?

the poor working conditions in factories

the way new infrastructure helped city residents

the poor living conditions for those living in poverty

the population growth of cities during the industrial age

Examining Urban Life

Which effect of immigration in the 1800s can be supported by evidence in this photo?

Immigrant children adapted quickly to their new country.

Immigrant communities had a wide range of diversity.

Immigrants’ living conditions were very cramped.

Immigrant children were forced to work in factories.

Examining Urban Life

This is a photo of a ✔ tenement in a cityrural housing complex.

This photo is a ✔ primary sourcesecondary source.

Identifying Sources

Determine whether each type of source is a primary or secondary source.

1. An encyclopedia entry about urbanization: primary source✔ secondary source
2. A letter from a young immigrant to her parents back home: ✔ primary sourcesecondary source
3. A diary by an Italian immigrant living in the United States: ✔ primary sourcesecondary source
4. A documentary film about Ellis Island: primary source✔ secondary source
5. A report from a government agency relating the outbreak of disease in a tenement: ✔ primary sourcesecondary source

–Progress and Poverty,
Henry George, 1879