Riis aimed to:
* Raise awareness: He wanted to shock readers into recognizing the plight of the poor and the inhumane conditions they endured in crowded tenements and slums.
* Promote social reform: He hoped his book would motivate people to support social reforms and improve the lives of the working class.
* Challenge the prevailing social order: Riis criticized the indifference of the wealthy to the suffering of the poor, and he called for a more just and equitable society.
His use of photography and powerful descriptions effectively conveyed the grim conditions and ultimately contributed to the development of the progressive era and its focus on social justice.