Question

Jacob Riis's principle involvement in the reform movements of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was his effort to ________

a. bar obscene materials from the United States mail system
b. organize the transfer of urban orphans to homes in rural areas
c. publicize poor housing and sanitation in urban tenements
d. establish special homes for juvenile delinquents
e. pass federal laws to end prostitution

Answer 1

Jacob Riis was integral to reform movements for his efforts to expose poor urban housing and tenement conditions through photojournalism and his book 'How the Other Half Lives', leading to legislative changes in housing standards.

Step-by-step explanation:

Jacob Riis's Contribution to Reform Movements

Jacob Riis's principal involvement in the reform movements of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was his effort to publicize poor housing and sanitation in urban tenements. As an influential social reformer and documentary photographer, Riis exposed the dire conditions under which many lower-class Americans lived, especially in New York City slums. Through his pioneering work in photojournalism, which included powerful images depicting the harsh realities of tenement life, Riis's book, How the Other Half Lives, drew public attention to the need for urban social reforms.

Riis's photographs, such as those of overcrowded tenements and children sleeping in the streets, turned a spotlight on the issue, pressuring lawmakers to pass legislation to improve these living conditions. His storytelling effectively combined with his photographs to arouse sympathy and support for change among his middle and upper-class audience. Notably, his work led to important legal changes that laid the groundwork for better housing standards and contributed to the growing momentum of the Progressive Era's social reform initiatives.