Keith Mack
From 1867 to 1974, several cities in the United States had unsightly beggar ordinances, which were later called ugly laws. These laws targeted poor and disabled people, making it illegal for any person, who is diseased, maimed, mutilated or deformed in any way, so as to be an unsightly or disgusting object, to expose himself or herself to public view. Ugly laws were created by ministers, charitable organizers, city planners, and city officials as a response to the influx of impoverished people in urban spaces. The laws identified groups of people as disturbing the flow of public life and banned them from public spaces.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time Period | Late nineteenth century (1867 to 1974) |
| Locations | Various cities in the United States, including Chicago, Illinois; Denver, Colorado; Lincoln, Nebraska; Omaha, Nebraska; Columbus, Ohio; Pennsylvania; Reno, Nevada; Portland, Oregon; New Orleans, Louisiana; Los Angeles, California; Manila, Philippines |
| Target Groups | Poor people, disabled people, beggars |
| Supporters | Ministers, charitable organizers, city planners, city officials |
| Punishment | Incarceration, fines up to $50 for each offense |
| Legacy | Influenced attitudes towards disability and sparked activism for civil rights protections, leading to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 |
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What You'll Learn
Ugly laws targeted poor and disabled people
From 1867 to 1974, various cities in the United States implemented ""unsightly beggar ordinances", which were later dubbed "ugly laws". These laws targeted poor and disabled people, making it illegal for "any person, who is diseased, maimed, mutilated or deformed in any way, so as to be an unsightly or disgusting object, to expose himself or herself to public view". The laws were enacted to address the influx of impoverished residents in urban areas, with ministers, charitable organizers, city planners, and officials working together to create them.
The ugly laws identified groups of impoverished people, particularly beggars, as disturbing the flow of public life and sought to remove them from public spaces. The laws also targeted people with visible disabilities, banning them from public spaces under the guise of regulating public behaviour and enforcing social norms. Some supporters of the laws believed that institutionalizing disabled people would provide them with better care. However, this approach led to further marginalization and isolation of disabled individuals.
The first recorded arrest related to an ugly law was in San Francisco, California, in July 1867, when a former Union soldier, Martin Oates, was arrested. Ugly laws quickly spread to other cities, including Chicago, Illinois, in 1881; Denver, Colorado; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Omaha, Nebraska. In 1895, San Francisco's "ugly law" was enforced, as highlighted in a newspaper clipping from "The San Francisco Call".
While the ugly laws themselves are no longer in effect, their legacy continues to influence attitudes towards disability. In the 1970s, disability advocates used the laws as an example of discrimination to demonstrate the need for civil rights protections, leading to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which mandates disability accommodations for businesses and governments.
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The laws were created by ministers, charitable organisers, city planners and officials
The so-called "Ugly Laws" in the United States arose in the late 19th century, a period of rapid urbanisation that saw an influx of new residents—some of them impoverished—into cities. This meant that large numbers of people who were strangers to each other now occupied closer quarters than they had in small towns. In response to this, ministers, charitable organisers, city planners, and officials across the US worked to create Ugly Laws for their communities.
The Ugly Laws were unsightly beggar ordinances that targeted poor and disabled people. They banned "unsightly" people from public places, forbidding them from entering public spaces. The laws were justified as a public health measure, with supporters arguing that seeing someone with a disability could make a healthy person sick. The laws also reflected the view that disabled people would receive better care in institutions than on the streets. However, this approach led to further marginalisation and the stripping of disabled individuals' right to self-determination.
The language of the Ugly Laws pertained to hiding any signs of disability or disease, including movements that would indicate a disability, such as limping. Those who were employed and did not receive public assistance were not understood to be bound by the laws. The laws also did not apply to disabled Civil War veterans, who were generally considered worthy of public aid.
Ugly Laws were enacted in cities including Chicago, Illinois; Denver and Omaha, Nebraska; Columbus, Ohio; Reno, Nevada; Portland, Oregon; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Los Angeles, California. While New York City never officially enacted an Ugly Law, it drafted one similar to those in other cities. The last recorded arrest related to an Ugly Law was in 1974, under an Omaha, Nebraska, ordinance.
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Ugly laws were enforced in several cities and states
Ugly laws, also known as unsightly beggar ordinances, were enforced in several cities and states across the United States from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century. These laws were designed to ban people with visible disabilities and diseases from public spaces, reflecting society's harsh standards of beauty and the impact on those who didn't meet them. The laws were sparked by the Panic of 1893 and the influx of new residents to urban areas, some of whom were impoverished.
Chicago, Illinois, was one of the first cities to enact an ugly law in 1881, created by Chicago alderman James Peevey. The law barred all “diseased, maimed, mutilated” people from the city's public streets. Similar laws were quickly passed in other cities, including Denver and Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1889. In most cities, punishments for violating an ugly law ranged from incarceration to fines of up to $50 for each offence.
Other cities that enacted ugly laws include Columbus, Ohio (in 1894); Pennsylvania (in 1891, which included language applying to cognitive disability); Reno, Nevada (before 1905); and Los Angeles, California (an attempt in 1913). While New York City never officially enacted an ugly law, it drafted one similar to those in other cities. In 1902, a similar law was enacted in the City of Manila in the Philippines, during a time when the city was under American control.
The ugly laws targeted people based on their economic and social status rather than their physical impairments. Those who were employed and didn't receive public assistance were not understood to be bound by the laws. The laws reflected the patterns and context of the time, including dehumanizing reporting on disabled panhandlers and the belief that seeing someone with a disability could make a healthy person sick.
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They banned people with disabilities from public spaces
From 1867 to 1974, various cities in the United States implemented "unsightly beggar ordinances", which were later dubbed "ugly laws". These laws targeted poor and disabled people, making it illegal for "any person, who is diseased, maimed, mutilated or deformed in any way, so as to be an unsightly or disgusting object, to expose himself or herself to public view". The laws were enacted to address the influx of impoverished residents in urban areas, which placed a strain on existing communities.
Ugly laws identified groups of people who disturbed the flow of public life and forbade them from public spaces. Such individuals, deemed "unsightly" or "unseemly", were typically impoverished and often beggars. The laws were a method for lawmakers to attempt to remove the poor from sight. For instance, Chicago's ugly law, passed in 1881, barred all "diseased, maimed, mutilated" people from the city's public streets. Similar laws were enacted in other cities, including Denver and Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1889, and Omaha, Nebraska, between 1881 and 1890.
While the ugly laws themselves are no longer in effect, their legacy continues to influence attitudes. The laws reflected and shaped societal standards of beauty and had a significant impact on those who did not conform to these ideals. They also contributed to the marginalization of disabled individuals, stripping them of their right to self-determination and isolating them from society. Some supporters of the laws believed that placing disabled people in institutions would provide them with better care. However, this approach led to further stigmatization and a loss of autonomy for those affected.
The ugly laws sparked activism among disability advocates in the 1970s, who used these discriminatory laws as a rallying cry for civil rights protections. Their efforts led to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which mandates that businesses and governments provide disability accommodations. Despite the repeal of the ugly laws and the advancements brought about by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the legacy of these discriminatory laws continues to shape attitudes and behaviours towards individuals with disabilities.
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The laws were partly inspired by the Panic of 1893
The so-called Ugly Laws in the United States arose in the late 19th century, a period of rapid urbanisation that saw an influx of new residents into cities. Many of these new arrivals were impoverished, and this placed a strain on existing communities. Ministers, charitable organisers, city planners, and city officials across the United States worked to create Ugly Laws for their communities. These laws were partly inspired by the Panic of 1893, a severe economic depression that began in February of that year and officially ended eight months later.
The Panic of 1893 was the worst economic crisis the United States had experienced up to that point, and it deeply affected every sector of the economy. The unemployment rate reached 25% in Pennsylvania, 35% in New York, and 43% in Michigan. Poverty became widespread, and soup kitchens were opened to help feed the destitute. The economic depression that followed lasted until 1897. The Ugly Laws were a response to the influx of impoverished people into cities, and they targeted people with visible disabilities and diseases by banning them from public spaces. The laws reflected broader efforts to regulate public behaviour and aesthetics and enforce social norms.
The first Ugly Law was passed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1881, barring all "diseased, maimed, mutilated" people from the city's public streets. Similar laws were soon passed in other cities, including Denver and Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1889. In 1894, an Ugly Law was passed in Columbus, Ohio, and in 1891, one was passed for the entire state of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania law was unique in that it applied to cognitive disabilities as well as physical disabilities. Ugly Laws were also enacted in Reno, Nevada; Portland, Oregon; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Los Angeles, California, among other places.
The last recorded arrest related to an Ugly Law was in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1974. In the 1970s, disability advocates used the laws as an example of discrimination to argue for civil rights protections, leading to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which requires businesses and governments to provide disability accommodations.
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Frequently asked questions
Ugly laws in the United States, in place from 1867 to 1974, banned people with visible disabilities and diseases from public spaces. These laws also targeted poor people and often beggars.
Ugly laws were created by ministers, charitable organizers, city planners, and city officials across the United States. In Chicago, the law was passed by alderman James Peevey.
Punishments for violating an ugly law ranged from incarceration to fines of up to $50 for each offence.
