The Five Points (New York City, New York)

 slum, historical layer / disappeared object

What is now nothing more than a small intersection in Manhattan, was once one of the most infamous slums in the history of the United States. It got its name "Five Points" from the points created by the three-way intersection of Cross, Orange and Anthony streets.

In the 19th century, this was the site of many homicides, rapes and muggings. The population here ranged from unsavory prostitutes to common street vendors, sprinkled in with a hive of violent and many times mentally-ill gang members.

Being a somewhat substantial area due to its economic and political value, many different groups fought for control of the Five Points, adding to the bloodshed. Shops, vendors and politicians alike were taxed by these gangs in exchange for a protection fee, not unlike modern street gangs of today.

The Five Points was brought back into the light by the movie "Gangs of New York", however the movie contains a few historical errors.

r2.gsa.gov/fivept/fphome.htm
www.teachushistory.org/second-great-awakening-age-refor...
www.cis.yale.edu/amstud/inforev/riis/title.html
news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/03/0320_030320_os...