Final answer:
Specially designed buildings to house large numbers of immigrants in American cities during the late 19th century were called tenements. These buildings were often overcrowded and unsanitary, becoming centers for immigrant communities and sometimes evolving into slums.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the late 19th century, the specially designed buildings called to house large numbers of immigrants in American cities were known as tenements. These buildings were often overcrowded, unsanitary, and prone to the spread of diseases. The conditions in tenements were dire, with entire families sometimes crammed into a single room, and many of these buildings lacked basic amenities such as proper ventilation or indoor plumbing, exacerbating the spread of illnesses such as tuberculosis and pneumonia.
Tenements often became the center of immigrant neighborhoods where people from similar ethnic backgrounds lived in close proximity. They provided a space where immigrants could settle among others who spoke their language and shared their customs. These neighborhoods also sometimes evolved into slums due to the high density and poor living conditions, posing further challenges for their inhabitants.
Despite the hardships, these immigrant communities were essential for providing a sense of belonging and cultural continuity amidst the difficulties of adjusting to life in a new country. The tenements and neighborhoods were not only places to live but also cultural centers that kept immigrants' home country traditions alive.