This image depicts the slave market on Wall Street in New York City. Dating from the Dutch period in the 1600s and continuing until 1762, African men and women were bought and sold from this location, against their will. Question: Based on prior knowledge, how did people justify the selling of other human beings?

Beginning in the second half of the 19th Century the number of immigrants arriving into the United States increased dramatically. Most of the new immigrants were poor and lived in cramped, unsanitary conditions. In this image from 1890, residents of the tenement building are gathered in the courtyard. Question: Based on this image, how would you describe the living conditions in this tenement? Use evidence from the image to support your answer

This image of J.J. Astor's mansion is dated from 1926, but was built in the 1800s. John Jacob Astor first made his wealth by establishing a monopoly over the American fur trade. Later on, he wisely invested in large pieces of real estate in Manhattan. As New York's population swelled and more people sought a place to live. Question: How is this home different from the tenement viewed in the previous image?

During the Great Depression, economic hardship forced many people out of their homes. With no where to go, these poor Americans established Hoovervilles, or shanty towns in major cities throughout the country. Camp Thomas Paine was comprised of World War One veterans who felt let down by their government. The camp popped up along the Hudson River. In the background you can notice the nice townhouses which likely housed wealthy New Yorkers. Question: What sort of resources do you think were lacking in Camp Thomas Paine, that the people living in the townhouses probably had?

Throughout the 1970s and 80s urban decay caused serious damage to the neighborhoods in the South Bronx. The area quickly became one of the poorest in New York City and this was reflected in the built environment. Burnt down and abandoned buildings, empty lots, and crime became part of the regular scenery of many parts of the city. Question: How might so many abandoned buildings affect the people living in this community?

Beginning in the 1970s, the city government tried to help communities like the South Bronx by constructing affordable housing to replace some of the abandoned buildings. These apartments were constructed with funding that kept the price of a unit affordable to low-income New Yorkers, and still does to this day. Question: Why would the government feel the need to construct this type of housing?