Poverty was widespread in America as well as in Britain. In America, however, the root causes of poverty were perceived less as being a function of breeding or bad character, and more often an issue of immigration. New York in particular was the home of thousands of impoverished immigrants, from many different countries, adding issues of language and culture to the problem of poverty in general. Many of the articles on American poverty focus on the New York tenements. Questions about "deserving" vs. "undeserving" poor still surface in America, but one is more likely to encounter arguments for restrictions on immigration as the key to reducing "pauperism."

Plans for Tenement Houses (Scribner's, 1879B)

New designs for tenements in New York, with the goal of providing more space, light and air.

A Great Charity Reform (Century Magazine, 1882B)

Efforts to deal with pauperism in New York.

Wolf-Reared Children, by Charles Brace (St. Nicholas, 1882B)

This begins as an account of wolf-reared children in India, but then segues into a moral lesson about "wolf-children" in the streets of New York and how they are saved from a life of crime by the Children's Aid Society.

Three Years' Experience in Managing a Tenement House (Century Magazine, 1884B)

Managing a tenement in a poor area of Boston.

The Suppression of Pauperism, by D. Mcg. Means (Century Magazine, 1884A)

Suggestions on how to avoid an influx of impoverished emigrants to the US.

Economic Mistakes of the Poor (Century Magazine, 1885A)

Public Relief (Century Magazine, 1890B)

The Buffalo, NY "Guard of Honor" Charity.

The Bowery, by Julian Ralph (Century Magazine, 1892A)

"The most interesting thoroughfare in America."

Charitable Reform of High Public Value (Century Magazine, 1892A)

A look at the State Charities Aid Assoc. of New York.

The Problem of Poverty (Century Magazine, 1893A)

A series of short essays by a variety of authors on various issues of poverty in America.

Some Tenement-House Evils, by Lillian W. Betts (Century Magazine, 1893A)

Educating poor children in New York.

A Light in Dark Places: A Study of the Better New York, by Jacob A. Riis (Century Magazine, 1897A)

Reforms in New York's slums and tenements.

Places in New York, by M.G. van Rensselaer (Century Magazine, 1897A)

Though it sounds as if this might be an article for tourists, it actually offers an in-depth look at various districts and neighborhoods of New York and the way life is lived therein.

Merry Christmas in the Tenements, by Jacob Riis (Century Magazine, 1898A)

A charming look at how Christmas is celebrated by members of many different ethnic groups (and especially the children) in the New York tenements.