Laura Masteller H106 Block 8 Critical Book Review The Jungle is a novel that focuses its story on a family of immigrants who came to America looking for a better life. It was written by Upton Sinclair, who went into Chicago and the stockyards to investigate what life was like for the people who lived and worked there. The book was originally written with the intent of showing Socialism as a better option than Capitalism for the society. The main arguments in this novel are the horrible conditions in the meat packing industry, and the treatment to the immigrants. The annihilation of Jurgis’s family at the hands of the economic and social system demonstrates the effect of capitalism on the working class as a whole.
The Red Scare Justin Nelzen HIS145 Sarah Farenick Oct 31, 2012 The Red Scare The Red Scare was based on the perceived threat of Communism, which few at the time knew little about. Communism is the political and economic system based on the principle of distributing properties to people according to their need gained from their ability. This system focuses on giving the control over the production of goods in a society to the people directly involved with the production work. In general, Communism stops the existence of social classes and let the people live in profusion without a ruling class over them. This theory was made well-liked to people by Karl Marx and Friedrich in their Communist Manifesto, 1848.
Looking Backward In Looking Backward, Edward Bellamy argues that monopolies running the American economy was one of the most significant problems in 1887. It was Bellamy’s belief that small independent businesses would not have the ability to succeed due in part to corporate monopolies running them out of business, or just buying them out. He gave an example of the railroads being slowly brought up until,“a few great syndicates controlled every rail in the land.” Bellamy’s opinion was that the monopolies were able to take advantage of their customers and small business owners because they had too much control of the markets. (34-38) Edward Bellamy criticizes the American government system because of the corruption present behind their curtains.
This quote relates to the text “he receives from greedy steamship agents and "bankers," who persuade him by false promises to mortgage his home, his few belongings, and his wages for months to come for a ticket to the land where plenty of work is to be had at princely wages“. He somehow strongly believes that it is true and will benefit him because he doesn’t know much. The worst thing about the Italian immigrant was he arrives in America and knows no word of English. This is no good use of him because communication will be tough when associating with other businessmen in that area. Unlike the German, who begins learning English the day he lands as a matter of duty, or the Polish Jew, who takes it up as soon as he is able as an investment.
In its primary years, the Knights of Labor opposed the practice of strikes and simply preferred peaceful boycotts. However, by the mid-1880s, labor stoppages had become an effective strategy for this organization and they began to lead several. This strategy helped the Knights win important strikes on the Union Pacific in 1884 and the Wabash Railroad in 1885, but failed to bring them success towards others such as the Great Southwest Railroad Strike in 1886. Another strategy the Knights of Labor used was the
It wasn’t until shortly after his death that Karl Marx’s ideology began to significantly influence socialist movements. Although relatively unknown during his lifetime he has become one of the fundamental economic and sociological figures of the modern era. Many of his theories and insights into the way society functions are still relevant in the expanding capitalist society that exists today. Marx was very critical of capitalism and the division in society between the bourgeoisie and proletariat classes, attempting to highlight the injustice and exploitation of the working class by the wealthy upper and middle class. Marx predicted that capitalism within a socioeconomic system would inevitably create internal tensions between social classes leading to its demise and replacement by a new system, communism.
One person Gompers did not want to associate with was the socialist leader Eugene Debs. In 1907, the AFL created strong links with the Democratic Party. However, many believed that the AFL was too moderate and did not support the unskilled workers. This led to the formation of the IWW. Most Americans feared socialism; they linked it to trade unions, mass immigration and anarchy.
The Jungle and Immigration The Jungle is a great book that exemplifies immigration and how it has extreme hardships that immigrants face in their everyday lives. Upton Sinclair does a great job of bringing out the horrors of immigrant labor. The lives of modern immigrants compare rather differently to the lives of the immigrants during Jurgis’ time. Many immigrants came to America because they were looking to capture and fulfill the American dream, which believes that working hard and diligently while being patient will result in economic gain and success and achieving every immigrant’s goal of becoming an American citizen. The Jungle also attacks Capitalism and how private owners should not control all means of production and the public economy.
Once these students have completed their studies, they will revisit their countries and use their education effectively in improving standards of living and try to avoid dependence on communism. The Historical Development of Communism: Communism was a system that was anticipated by two Germans known as Karl Max and Friedrich Engels who published a popular book titled ‘The Communist Manifesto’ In ‘The Communist Manifesto’, Max and Engels stated that:  Proletariats (also called the workers) were oppressed by those who controlled money and invested in businesses (also known as the capitalist)  Whilst capitalists made large profits and income, most workers received very poor wages and lived in ghastly conditions, swelling the space between the poverty and wealth .  This unfair condition must not continue and would predictably lead to a communist uprise.  The workers would cause the downfall of the capitalists. Following this, a new society would form with social equality and equal rights and
In the history of employment Caucasians and foreigners have been the business owners. As business owners, they tend to look out for their own race, which continue to leave African Americans unemployed. As African Americans, it is time for us to open our own businesses and decrease the unemployment rate for our black people. The economy can prosper by us standing strong together and building an empire for our children. Society may not like our unity and even try to destroy ours businesses.