According to the Outline of American History, Chapter 9, the late 19th century time of industrialization, with workers (including children) working 12 hour days. Unions formed to force improvement of working conditions, leading to riots. The early 20th century, however, was a period of reform. Upton Sinclair’s, novel, The Jungle, revealed unsanitary conditions in the meat-packing industry in Chicago. Journalists such as Ida M. Tarbell, who crusaded against the Standard Oil Company, became known as "muckrakers” because of their exposure of fraud and corruption in America’s large corporations. America’s government, led by presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, responded with laws that improved working conditions and restricted monopolies.
Chapter 13 of The People’s History of the United States, in contrast, focuses upon the turn of the 19th century into the 20th as a time of socialist challenge of the American system of democracy, with unions gaining in popularity and power until they forced changes in the working conditions. Then, at the end of Chapter 13, the United States becomes distracted from a focus on reform by the beginning of World War I.
After you read the chapters in both books, comment briefly about your opinion of these two very different portrayals of a turbulent time in American history.
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American Capitalism represents itself differently in the two books we are reading. Zinn's book brings about the turn of the 19th century as a failure in the American system which couldn't sustain egalitarianism and human rights in the process of great industrialization and development. the result was the necissity in shifting gears, and refusing the capitalist system and entering into the populist change, through the great strikes of labourers who wanted to attain the european social system. On one hand,there have been strong attempts through unionization that sought to take over the centralized economic system. On the other hand, the governmental Progressive reform " was intended to head off socialism... not violently...but should be patient and persuasive and defend three ideas: individual liberty; private property; and inviolability of contract." The first world war put the idea of populism aside and put down a great deal of its fires.
As a continuation to this idea, the Outline includes this era of the American history as time when there is a need for reconsideration, reform and as a result progressiveness. the outcomes of the industrilaztion and all labour issues including working hours, conditions and wages, put in front of the president and government a time to reestablish the former founders' work and set Progressivism against corruption, into a greater democracy on a wider scale through effective regulation and social justice. this would be maintained according to the progressivie people through " expanding the scope of government". this came into practice through the successive presidents who were able to put thoughts into realities. Roosevelt and his initiations for reform through acts and principles that tackled many econmic aspects. Wilson however " secured one of the most notable legislative programs in American history including he tariff revisions" and the Federal Reserve Act. In a way, the issue of populism was undertaken in a sophisticated manner, leading to dissolve the idea of Capitalism.
ps, Class, im in Lexington, KY. USA. so my inspirations for this class are high!! i'll be back on saturday and will see you Sunday... Enjoy the Eid!!
The late 19th century faced a lot of hard times and the farmers experienced a lot of circumstances like the bad weather, the heavier debt loads , the banks that held their mortgages, the low market prices and high costs , the big businesses which led to the increase of the equipments prices.
also the end of slavery had a lot of changes since most of the farmers were slaves and they and a lot of debts ,t he only way to pay these debts was increasing planting which led to cotton and tobacco planting and exhaustion of the soil.
they had a lot of organized efforts to express their agricultural problems:
1.patrons of husbandry "The Grange movement" which focused on the social activities to counter the isolation most farm families encountered. they encouraged women participation , they and their own market systems, their stores, processing plants, factories.
they enjoyed some political success since a few states passes "Granger laws" limiting railroads and warehouses fees.
2.farmers alliances which was similar in some aspects but more overtly political.
3.the colored farmers national alliances federated into 2 northern and southern blocs they promoted economic programs to unit the farmers of America fro their protection against class legislation and the encroachment of concentrated capital.
4.the populist (the 3rd political party) which sent a score of senators and representatives to teh congress int he elections of 1890.
they had their platform which called for :
A.nationalization of the railroads.
B.a low tarrif.
C.loans secured bu non-perishable crops stored in government-owned warehouses.
D.currenvy inflation through treasury purchase and the unlimited coinage of silver.
their candidates for president gained more than a million vote but the currency question led to a lot of farming debts which means that they will be paying through inflated currency.
treasury currency will lead to low the dollar price and gold will be the only stable thing.
reasons behind the division of the democratic party( who where silver supporters):
1.bank failures.
2.unemployment.
3.president Cleveland defense of the gold standard.
But the discovery of gold in Alaska and Yukon led to the improvement of the country's finance.
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