How did Jacob Riis's How the Other Half Lives differ from other contemporary writings and traditional perspectives on urban poverty?
A) It portrayed the poor as happy with their circumstances.
B) It portrayed the poor as solely responsible for their fate.
C) It portrayed the poor as victims who dealt with factors beyond their control.
D) It portrayed the poor as corrupt and influenced by political machines.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Jacob Riis's "How the Other Half Lives" was groundbreaking in its portrayal of the urban poor not as morally deficient or solely responsible for their circumstances, but as victims of environmental and societal factors beyond their control. This perspective was a departure from many contemporary views that blamed the poor for their own poverty.

How Did Jacob Riis's How the Other Half Lives Differ