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. For Marx, the concept of class has always existed in society. Historically, a society has always been arranged into various orders of social rank. A defining characteristic of capitalism however, is that “it has simplified the class antagonisms. Society as a whole is more and more splitting up into two great hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other: Bourgeoisie and Proletariat” (Marx and Engels 1848).
These first acts of hostility between tenant and landlord began the Anti-Renter movement in the Hudson Valley. Along with the Anti-Renter movement, there were other similar events occurring. There was a continuation of racism against African Americans as well as general conflicts between rich folk and poor folk. Even more specific, there was conflict between factory laborers and factory owners/supervisors. As with the rest of the chapters we’ll find in this book, the theme stays the same: differences bred conflict, and as this chapter states, that conflict could lead to another Civil War.
Employers had no compassion or empathy for their workers who slaved away in their factories. Because immigrant labor was cheap, it was often exploited by the employer. Workers tried to better the situation by unionizing and have a show of strength with the numbers of workers. The big businesses, used government support to suppress the organization of strikes or work revolts. However, when unions rised up and demanded fair wages, employers would have to consider these demands and negotiations would have to take place.
A particular Marxist view of the relationship between crime and social class is known as criminogenic capitalism. For Marxists, crime is inevitable in capitalism because capitalism is criminogenic. Capitalism is based on the exploitation of the working class – that is, on using them as a means to and end (profit), whatever the human cost of doing so. It is therefore particularly damaging to the working class and this may give rise to crime. Firstly Marxists believe that poverty may mean that crime is the only way the working class can survive therefore this results in the form of a relationship between crime and social class.
With such appalling conditions, industrial workers were forced into action. When factory owners refused to act, workers decided to rally together with a collective voice to change the conditions they faced. Unionization began in 1834 with the National Trades Union. While short lived, the NTU planted to idea of collective bargaining in the industrial workers and leaders began to rise up. In 1869 Terence Powderly created the Knights of Labor, a union designed to gain
4. Believed industrialism forced people into two rival categories: the middle class and the working class. These classes would always fight for political power, but the middle class would always rule because it owned the factories, property, and money and needed to oppress the workers to stay in power. 5. He advised workers to form unions that would overthrow the middle class.
“Battle Cry of Freedom”. The Civil war Era, James McPherson. Oxford University Press. NewYork, 1988 James McPherson James McPherson tackles problems in his one-volume history of the Civil War, Battle Cry of Freedom. The reasons are evident: the war that separated the country in the mid nineteenth century still drives a wedge between some; the war, its causes, and effects were abundant and difficult and affected nearly every part of American society; and it seems that the bloodier, more complex the event, the more words we use to describe, and justify its events and effects.
McMath, Jr., Edward C. American Populism: A Social history 1877-1898. Hill and Wang, 1992, 211 I believe that McMath wrote the book because he wanted the reader to understand the hardships of the lower classes back in the populism era. He gave us key area’s to look at such as New York and Texas. It shows how the workers and farmers were treated unfairly as well as looked down upon by the upper class. He captures the populism of that time from the strikes all the way to the farmer’s debt.
Needless to say, the concepts Darwin created have evolved to include social situations as well as physical ones. The virtual battle on ignorance in the Progressive era was extremely evident in politics, the fight for women’s rights, and the battle against slavery. The examples listed in my previous statement can be tied to the struggle for existence concept. This is the concept that,“ the struggle for life most severe between individuals and varieties of the same species; often severe between species of the same genus. (Darwin; Chapter 3)” The essential struggle for a say or ‘life’ socially in these times were more numerous among the slaves and women who were equally fighting for rights.
The authors in those days belonged to a modernist revolutionary era in which old values and traditions wanted to see a change. The story was written in 1927 which meant more and more women joined the battle against male chauvinism, to protect their rights as women. Also World War I was currently taking place. This meant many women had to complete chores by themselves while their husbands had to handle war. All that chaos contributed to the male chauvinism we see in our current society.