Document 18: Crime in America

In the late 19th century the rising rate of crime became a significant concern. Although a number of reasons were advanced for the increase, the most frequently cited ones were the density of population in America’s urban areas, the continued influx of immigrants, and the dislocation and changes that modern industrial and commercial activities had wrought on the nation’s society. The author, citing statistics from four U. S. census [sic] reports, below pines for the idyllic rural life of yesteryear and argues that city life and its new preoccupations had shattered the traditional family and moral underpinning of the country and contributed immeasurably to the increased crime rate in America.

Buckle in the first volume of the ‘‘History of Civilizations,” assumes that crime among men is a fixed quantity, varying only with population. Whatever may be the truth as to the human race, doubts will arise when we consider any particular portion of that race. Our inquiry of census reports leads to the conclusion that in the United States, at least, crime is increasing, as is shown by these figures:

... Statistics gathered by a Chicago newspaper from telegraphic reports of murders for the years 1881, 1882, and 1883 show an increase of more than 200 a year, from 1266 in 1881 to 1696 in 1883. Of this number, only 480 have suffered the death penalty—228 by legal execution, and 252 by lynch law....

The increase of population in the United States is much more rapid than would result from natural growth. Immigration introduces heterogeneous elements that do not readily assimilate. To the natural loss of interest that follows aggregation of even similar elements is superadded, I the case of the United States, the mingling of elements that lack the attractive force of a common origin, a common language, and similar habits and tastes. Many have come to us from the thronged cities where deprecation of the individual has already gone far beyond that which our people have attained, and their indifference adds new

Impetus to our own____ Many find little warrant for the hopes

That inspired their emigration. Embittered by disappointment, they care less for their neighbors, add to the prevailing unrest, and easily enter on careers of crime. The presence of a disappointed element in our population probably has its effect upon the native element with which it mingles but does not affiliate____For example, Iowa has 16.1 per cent, of foreign popula

Tion, according to the census of 1880, with a little less than 16 per cent of foreign-born commitments to her penitentiaries; while Massachusetts, with 24,9 per cent of foreign population, has committed to her penitentiaries 34.9 per cent of foreign-born criminals.... For the United States, the commitments to penitentiaries are 19.2 per cent foreign-born, while 13.3 per cent marks the foreign-born share of the population____

But the statistics of each single state show increase of

Crime in excess of increase of population____The growth of cities

And towns at the expense of the rural population is marked. Thirty years have shown an advance of urban population from one-eighth of the entire population (12.5 per cent) in 1850 to nine-fortieths (22.5 per cent) in 1880. The quiet and simple life of rural districts feels the influence of the city, so that urban and suburban excitements reach the majority of an entire population.... City life lures the young from their homes long before their characters are solidified. Parental restraints are loosened. Parents dismiss their children from their thoughts under the glitter of a business career that opens before them. They have thought more of making them skillful accountants than men of stalwart honesty; their conversation has savored more of cash than of character; their counsels have led more frequently to shrewd bargains than to sterling integrity... the home failing as a source of high moral purpose, parents look with leniency upon their sons’ misdeeds, indirectly encourage vicious practices and condone offenses, until elders become involved in the crimes of their children.... The whirl and excitement of city life keep the flame constantly burning. The false side of social life

Allures the young man who has no abiding memory of a true home—a memory possible only to home who has known such a home not alone as a child in his tutelage, but as a young man participating in its hallowed scenes, himself a contributor to its blessedness____

Agricultural communities have ever been distinguished for good order and stability Their communion is more with Nature than with men. Nature is unselfish, allays rather than irritates. Her friends are subject to few disturbances; the mind retains its equipoise; temptations are rare and seldom overpowering; small

Means satisfy few desires____ Mining, manufactures, commerce,

And transportation will claim attention. Here association begins

With work____ Separation into classes ensues; competition with

The class stirs the blood; feverish excitement takes possession of all the faculties; rivalry provokes to jealousy...

Is this all theory? A study of manufacturing States in comparison with agricultural States will prove the theory founded in fact. For purposes of comparison I have taken the population above ten years of age of certain States, so as to exclude all who can be considered free from criminal acts. Taking first a group of mining States, we find that the criminals committed to prison were in these proportions: Nevada, 1 to 254; California, 1 to 268; Colorado, 1 to 416. A similar group of manufacturing States shows Massachusetts with 1 to 395; Rhode Island, 1 to 689; and Connecticut, 1 to 692. Another group, of partly agricultural and partly mining States, shows in Pennsylvania, 1 to 665; in Illinois, 1 to 687. A group of agricultural States shows Nebraska, 1 to 844; Minnesota, 1 to 1320; and Iowa, 1 to 1457....

.. .In the crowded factory villages, I the overcrowded boarding-houses with no home feeling to soothe the girl wearied by long hours of poorly paid toil, under the nervous excitements that constant indoor life increases, and with little brightness in the future prospect, will not temptation have an almost certain victory? .. .The habit of carrying concealed weapons has doubtless grown out of the distrust of those whom we meet in crowded communities. King John, in addressing his chamberlain, utters a truth good for all time:

‘‘How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds

Makes ill deeds done.’’

.. .Most if not all the causes of increase of crime are allied to the generic causes—increased density of population, with decreased individual responsibility and increased irritations growing out of, and inseparable from, the complexity of manufacturing and commercial activities____

Source: ‘‘Why Crime Is Increasing,’ 140, No. 342, May 1885), 456-463.

The North American Review (Vol.