ThatCanadianGuy
November 18th, 2008, 01:28 AM
Hey everybody; as I've mentioned before I'm taking a real university course on American history. We often have to write essays on chapters from the textbook, so I thought I'd post some up here if anyone cares to read them. I'll also post the mark I got for them (if it isn't crappy :D).
So here's one for your reading pleasure: commments welcome!
The rise of industrialization and monopolies was the most important factor in the United States regarding the distribution of wealth. The growth of large syndicated corporations would directly widen the gap between the rich and the poor in America. New social ills would emerge from both the impoverished and those who protested the direction in which American business was growing. The principles of scientific management, socialism, and the evil personification of big business was also caused by the rise of industry, and the effect this had on public opinion would be noticeable for many years to come.
The most common observation in the rise of industry was the injustice towards the common worker in relation to the wealthy and powerful. Many believed that the poverty Americans were experienced was made even more ruthless in the light of the control that the wealthy had on what was seen as the monopolization of opportunities. Justice was perceived as a supreme law of the universe, and equal opportunities for any man was defined as the meaning of justice for the common worker; the monopolization of industry was seen by them as an act to restrict this universal right. (Document 1)
In regards to the growing problem of the impoverished population, the rise of industry was correlated with the rise of slums and criminal activity. Dubbed “street rats”, the poor men and women were seen as lazy drunkards by the rest of society, relying on their children who worked street jobs such as shoe-shining or pick-pocketing. Petty thievery became increasingly more common, where actual honest work was seen as a longer and harder route to making less money. While wealthier classes looked down upon the poor for seemingly creating their problems for themselves, it is evident that their situation was not solely the result of their morality, but of the condition of the honest workplace. (Document 2)
Industrialization can even be credited with the rise of socialism (and even the more extreme anarchism) in the impoverished lower-class as an attempt to answer their financial problems. Some activists such as George Engel went as far as to conspire to bomb police stations as an act of retaliation against the wealthy, who were seen as hoarders of millions (and responsible for the impoverished state of so many others). The greatest outcry was over this fact; that very few could truly become successful in the increasingly industrial United States, and that thousands of Americans would be left as tramps and beggars. It was under these dire living conditions that socialism was wholly supported as a way of providing prosperity for all. (Document 3)
Socialism was certainly the most accepted opponent of the syndication and monopolization of industry and in comparing the economy of the past to industrial evolution showed that corporations were responsible for many of the common man’s problems. Syndicates were shown to be controlling every facet of the industry that they supported (such as Rockefeller owns of railroads for cheaper transportation costs for his company, Standard Oil). The growing tendency towards monopolies over specific industries such as oil and mining were criticized for destroying competitor’s chances for success. Privately owned corporations were an obstacle to socialist ideals, where the belief that a single syndicate which represented the American people equally would support the most Americans fairly. (Document 4)
Yet another issue which arose with the rise of industry was the question of how the management of a growing workforce could benefit both employers and employees. The idea of maximum prosperity or efficiency in the marketplace was championed by efficiency experts such as Frederick Winslow Taylor, whose scientific approach to job management would ensure permanent prosperity and the so-called highest state of excellence. In this ideal business partnership of employers and employees meant an increase in wages for lower-class workers, as well as developing each man to his highest state of job-efficiency, to facilitate the highest quality of work out of every individual. This was believed to be the leading objective of good management, yet in practice throughout the industrial world the mutual interests of each party was not believed to be possible. (Document 5)
While the gap between the rich and the poor widened, the emergent middle-class (whose beginnings were rooted in the earlier market revolution) secured families sufficient income to allow for living in style and comfort, as well as to separate more time between work and the home. By the end of the 19th century, many well-to-do middle class families developed the first suburban retreats from the bothersome noise, filth, and poverty of the cities. The new domestic setting would become a key component along with modern transportation in reducing the time spent working each week, and thus forming the infancy of modern suburban culture. (Document 6)
With an ever-growing lower-class competing for work, racial minorities would face the brunt of discrimination and violence. Due to the cheaper wages paid to the Chinese, many were hired for menial tasks in mines or working on railroad construction. In response to this cheaper Chinese labor, white rioters would raze Chinese neighborhoods. Violence became such a problem that Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, banning immigrants from China for ten years, as well as limiting the civil rights of Chinese residents and forbidding their naturalization. Sympathy to the discrimination of the Chinese is seen in the political artwork of Thomas Nast, where in 1871 his cartoon depicted Columbia protecting a downtrodden immigrant from a racist mob. (Document 7)
Tycoons of American industry earned the term “robber baron” for good reason in the eyes of the public. The term was a reference to these businessmen or bankers who dominated their respective industries while amassing vast personal fortunes by pursuing anti-competitive or utterly unfair business practices. John D. Rockefeller’s company, Standard Oil, was caricatured as an evil octopus in one political cartoon, as a physical representation of his holdings in many of the outlying, smaller businesses he acquired to maintain a monopoly over the oil market. By purchasing most of the other smaller industries to support his own (such as railroads for transportation) many of these robber barons cut operating costs drastically to gain more profit. This was seen as underhanded and tyrannical by many smaller competing companies which could not keep up with the rapid success of the tycoon’s expanding industry empire. (Document 9)
The unprecedented rise in the American industrial complex in the late 19th century is commonly seen in a negative light in terms of the distribution of wealth among all citizen classes. It was continually demonstrated through the actions of tycoons in capitalizing and monopolizing their respective industries, and from the retaliation and arguments arising from socialists, anarchists, and the general lower-classes who opposed them. This time in history can be seen as one of the key factors that increased the gap between the rich and the poor; a trend that would continue in the years to come.
This is a document-based essay, so I wrote each paragraph based on a primary document provided. Sorry if the indents between paragraphs don't show up in the post; just pay attention to where it says (Document) which is at the end of each body paragraph. Thanks for reading guys!
So here's one for your reading pleasure: commments welcome!
The rise of industrialization and monopolies was the most important factor in the United States regarding the distribution of wealth. The growth of large syndicated corporations would directly widen the gap between the rich and the poor in America. New social ills would emerge from both the impoverished and those who protested the direction in which American business was growing. The principles of scientific management, socialism, and the evil personification of big business was also caused by the rise of industry, and the effect this had on public opinion would be noticeable for many years to come.
The most common observation in the rise of industry was the injustice towards the common worker in relation to the wealthy and powerful. Many believed that the poverty Americans were experienced was made even more ruthless in the light of the control that the wealthy had on what was seen as the monopolization of opportunities. Justice was perceived as a supreme law of the universe, and equal opportunities for any man was defined as the meaning of justice for the common worker; the monopolization of industry was seen by them as an act to restrict this universal right. (Document 1)
In regards to the growing problem of the impoverished population, the rise of industry was correlated with the rise of slums and criminal activity. Dubbed “street rats”, the poor men and women were seen as lazy drunkards by the rest of society, relying on their children who worked street jobs such as shoe-shining or pick-pocketing. Petty thievery became increasingly more common, where actual honest work was seen as a longer and harder route to making less money. While wealthier classes looked down upon the poor for seemingly creating their problems for themselves, it is evident that their situation was not solely the result of their morality, but of the condition of the honest workplace. (Document 2)
Industrialization can even be credited with the rise of socialism (and even the more extreme anarchism) in the impoverished lower-class as an attempt to answer their financial problems. Some activists such as George Engel went as far as to conspire to bomb police stations as an act of retaliation against the wealthy, who were seen as hoarders of millions (and responsible for the impoverished state of so many others). The greatest outcry was over this fact; that very few could truly become successful in the increasingly industrial United States, and that thousands of Americans would be left as tramps and beggars. It was under these dire living conditions that socialism was wholly supported as a way of providing prosperity for all. (Document 3)
Socialism was certainly the most accepted opponent of the syndication and monopolization of industry and in comparing the economy of the past to industrial evolution showed that corporations were responsible for many of the common man’s problems. Syndicates were shown to be controlling every facet of the industry that they supported (such as Rockefeller owns of railroads for cheaper transportation costs for his company, Standard Oil). The growing tendency towards monopolies over specific industries such as oil and mining were criticized for destroying competitor’s chances for success. Privately owned corporations were an obstacle to socialist ideals, where the belief that a single syndicate which represented the American people equally would support the most Americans fairly. (Document 4)
Yet another issue which arose with the rise of industry was the question of how the management of a growing workforce could benefit both employers and employees. The idea of maximum prosperity or efficiency in the marketplace was championed by efficiency experts such as Frederick Winslow Taylor, whose scientific approach to job management would ensure permanent prosperity and the so-called highest state of excellence. In this ideal business partnership of employers and employees meant an increase in wages for lower-class workers, as well as developing each man to his highest state of job-efficiency, to facilitate the highest quality of work out of every individual. This was believed to be the leading objective of good management, yet in practice throughout the industrial world the mutual interests of each party was not believed to be possible. (Document 5)
While the gap between the rich and the poor widened, the emergent middle-class (whose beginnings were rooted in the earlier market revolution) secured families sufficient income to allow for living in style and comfort, as well as to separate more time between work and the home. By the end of the 19th century, many well-to-do middle class families developed the first suburban retreats from the bothersome noise, filth, and poverty of the cities. The new domestic setting would become a key component along with modern transportation in reducing the time spent working each week, and thus forming the infancy of modern suburban culture. (Document 6)
With an ever-growing lower-class competing for work, racial minorities would face the brunt of discrimination and violence. Due to the cheaper wages paid to the Chinese, many were hired for menial tasks in mines or working on railroad construction. In response to this cheaper Chinese labor, white rioters would raze Chinese neighborhoods. Violence became such a problem that Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, banning immigrants from China for ten years, as well as limiting the civil rights of Chinese residents and forbidding their naturalization. Sympathy to the discrimination of the Chinese is seen in the political artwork of Thomas Nast, where in 1871 his cartoon depicted Columbia protecting a downtrodden immigrant from a racist mob. (Document 7)
Tycoons of American industry earned the term “robber baron” for good reason in the eyes of the public. The term was a reference to these businessmen or bankers who dominated their respective industries while amassing vast personal fortunes by pursuing anti-competitive or utterly unfair business practices. John D. Rockefeller’s company, Standard Oil, was caricatured as an evil octopus in one political cartoon, as a physical representation of his holdings in many of the outlying, smaller businesses he acquired to maintain a monopoly over the oil market. By purchasing most of the other smaller industries to support his own (such as railroads for transportation) many of these robber barons cut operating costs drastically to gain more profit. This was seen as underhanded and tyrannical by many smaller competing companies which could not keep up with the rapid success of the tycoon’s expanding industry empire. (Document 9)
The unprecedented rise in the American industrial complex in the late 19th century is commonly seen in a negative light in terms of the distribution of wealth among all citizen classes. It was continually demonstrated through the actions of tycoons in capitalizing and monopolizing their respective industries, and from the retaliation and arguments arising from socialists, anarchists, and the general lower-classes who opposed them. This time in history can be seen as one of the key factors that increased the gap between the rich and the poor; a trend that would continue in the years to come.
This is a document-based essay, so I wrote each paragraph based on a primary document provided. Sorry if the indents between paragraphs don't show up in the post; just pay attention to where it says (Document) which is at the end of each body paragraph. Thanks for reading guys!