| . . . Every great town has one or more slum areas into which
the working classes are packed. Sometimes, of course, poverty is to
be found hidden away in alleys close to the stately homes of the
wealthy. Generally, however, the workers are segregated in separate
districts where they struggle through life as best they can out of
sight of the more fortunate classes of society. The slums of the
English towns have much in common-the worst houses in a town being
found in the worst districts. They are generally unplanned
wildernesses of one- or two-storied terrace houses built of brick.
Wherever possible these have cellars which are also used as
dwellings. These little houses of three or four rooms and a kitchen
are called cottages, and throughout England, except for some parts
of London, are where the working classes normally live. The streets
themselves are usually unpaved and full of holes. They are filthy
and strewn with animal and vegetable refuse. Since they have
neither gutters nor drains the refuse accumulates in stagnant,
stinking puddles. Ventilation in the slums is inadequate owing to
the hopelessly unplanned nature of these areas. A great many people
live huddled together in a very small area, and so it is easy to
imagine the nature of the air in these workers' quarters. However,
in fine weather the streets are used for the drying of washing and
clothes lines are stretched across the streets from house to house
and wet garments are hung out on them. . . . Source: Friedrich Engels, The Condition of the Working Class in England in 1844, W. O. Henderson and W. H. Chaloner, eds., Stanford University Press |
In your notes doc...
1. Continue your list of effects of urbanization.