City Cleansing

Life in modern American cities after the Civil War was loud, crowded and Dirty [60]. Sullen Hoy, Author of “City Cleansing,” explores this time of Urban Growth as she relates the poor, urban classes of America to, “an immense army camp, crowded into old filthy dwellings without the slightest regulation for cleanliness” [60]. The fear of an epidemic, which Hoy closely relates to the fear of war, left many communities desperate for a preventative escape. Nothing stirred Americans to action more quickly then an epidemic [66].

George E. Waring Jr., a Sanitary engineer, stepped into action, preaching the dangers of sewage gas while constructing sewers of his own. He created the first separate sewage system and highlighted the importance of their sanitary benefits [66]. This new way of controlling the cleanliness of cities kept the American public optimistic and confident in the sanitary actions taking place. Eventually many people came to believe that filth bred chaos and barbarism [70] adding another layer of support to city cleansing. As Waring takes on the filth of the cities, women become more empowered in sanitary actions and take charge in cleaning the cities.

Hoy’s investigation into the cleanliness of America begs the question: what kept people from leaving these horrific conditions and why did they expose themselves to such filth and disease? Opportunity and hope for a better life is all that came to mind, a mindset that continues to corner some people into unthinkable lifestyles. Do standards become lower for the hope of a better life?