Today, in class, we got on the computer and continued our powerpoint presentations today. Dena went first, and she talked about the housing issues they havd in crowded cities, such as NYC. People would put in windows to create more ventilation, only to board them up to keep out the stench. The waste that was on the street was eaten by pigs.
She also talked about the sanitation situation in the 1880's-1900's. As the cities grew, so did the need for sanitation. The limited water supply led to a spread of the Great Chicago Fire. She compared the damages to the San Fran Earthquake. The earthquake left over 200,000 people homeless and 1,000 dead. The property loss from the earthquake was around 500 million dollars!
She also mentioned how the crime rate rose along with the population of the cities. The first full-time police force engaged in 1844 in NYC. Haley talked about the Settlement House Movement, which started because people wanted to help the poor. Nick went, and talked about the politics of the gilded age, which is a topic I'm quite familiar with. I will probably go tomorrow.
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