Historian A: Jacob Riis – Social Perspective

'The tenements were hellish dens, overcrowded and unsanitary, trapping the poor in a cycle of suffering and disease. Riis's photographs and writings expose the grim reality faced by immigrant families living in these oppressive conditions.'

Historian B: Charles Beard – Economic Perspective

'Tenements were a necessary economic development, providing affordable housing for the growing urban workforce. Beard argues that these buildings, while crowded, were vital for the expansion of American industry and urban growth, reflecting progress rather than despair.'