Final answer:
Jacob Riis opened the eyes of the wealthy to the squalor of urban poverty by exposing the living conditions through his photojournalism in 'How the Other Half Lives', influencing legislative reforms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jacob Riis's Influence on the Wealthy
Jacob Riis, a social reformer and photojournalist, played a crucial role in raising awareness among the affluent about the dire conditions of the urban poor in the late nineteenth century. His seminal work, How the Other Half Lives, uses vivid photography and compelling narrative to depict the harsh realities faced by the residents of New York City's tenements. Through his photographs and writings, Riis exposed the squalid living conditions that were the daily life of many immigrants and poor families during that era. This exposure prompted legislative action and increased public support for housing reform.
Riis's approach to advocacy involved leveraging his skills as a storyteller and his experiences as a police reporter witnessing the poverty and overcrowding in New York's slums firsthand. By documenting these scenes with his camera and pen, he shed light on the corrupt practices of landlords, the inadequacy of existing housing laws, and the general plight of the poor.
His work is particularly noted for its ability to elicit empathy from his audience, often the wealthier classes, and spur them into demanding social change. As such, Riis was a vital figure in the Progressive Era, highlighting the need for urban reform and better living conditions for all.
Answering the given question, Jacob Riis opened the eyes of the wealthy primarily by exposing the living conditions of the poor through his photographs and writings (option a). This exposure was critical in garnering support for the necessary legislative reforms that would eventually come to pass, aimed at bettering the lives of the urban poor.