image downloaded from Wikipedia
“Five Points” was written by Tyler Anbinder; it described the 19th century New York City neighborhood. The neighborhood did not differ from the rest of the city in the beginning. However, by 1825, when number of immigrants increased more than double of the city’s original population, city soon became deteriorate and suffered a decline in income. Following are sources cited in Anbinder’s writing:
“CORNELIUS” to the Editor, Evening Post, September 21, 1826- this should be considered a primary source. It was a letter to the editor of Evening Post regarding the increasing “falling conditions” of the city’s neighborhood. All resource used by “CORNELIUS” to the Editor were facts from police records and on-site eye witness events. This source contained the truth about the outcome and danger to the respectable residents who lived near by.
Charles Dickens, American Notes (1842;London, 1985),80-82- Charles Dickens was a respectful English novelist who visited Five Points in 1841. He brutally criticized every aspect of the American life. He described in his notes that “Many of the those pigs [previously described wandering the streets foraging for food] live here.” His notes should be used as a secondary resource. He overly exaggerated the condition of the Five Points with his personal view.
Commons, “Poor Inquiry [Ireland], Appendix E,” 32:41- This should be considered as a primary source regarding to the living conditions of the migrant laborers. These were testimonies of residents to the 1836 Poor Inquiry.