"The Devil in the White City'' by Erik Larson highlights the most impactful problems of life in an urban setting. By focusing on the lives of architects, engineers, and politicians in late 19th-century Chicago, Larson shows the problems that arise in an ever-changing society, such as living conditions, urbanization, and industrialization.
Because of the overcrowding in Chicago, finding homes was difficult. One of the only options for housing was in tenant buildings. Because so many people were forced to live in one common area, the buildings would be inflicted with unsanitary conditions. These included poor plumbing and a lack of running water. Larson referenced the fact that people in the community would dump waste into the city’s water supply, which contributed to the spread of sickness and disease and went untreated because of limited access to healthcare. The city’s insufficient sanitation systems led to diseases like Typhus and Cholera running rampant through the city, infecting many.
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Jobs were scarce and often did not pay enough to live a comfortable lifestyle. The unreliable transportation of carriages and walking made it difficult for people to get to work. Because of these factors, homelessness fluctuated. As stated, housing was unsanitary and unsafe, which made it even more difficult for people to improve their lives and forced them to continue living impoverished. "The Devil in the White City" portrayed the struggle to come to America and live a fulfilling life, but instead being forced into poverty, unable to escape. A solution for the working class was The Hull House, which provided education, healthcare, job training, and childcare. It helped provide aid to struggling families and vastly improved Chicago’s economic conditions. But with the rise of industrialization and new factories and job opportunities, working conditions became