1. Actively read chapter 11 of Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States, "Robber Barons and Rebels". The chapter is available for view and print at : http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinnbaron11.html
2. Post two of your own discussion questions
3. Respond to at least one of the questions below (200 word minimum)
A) Zinn suggests that the US government’s non-intervention in business practices enabled exploitation and the widening gap between the rich and poor at the turn of the 20th century. At the same time, he points out that the free-market system enabled individuals from humble beginnings (i.e. Edison, Carnegie and Morgan) to become self-made millionaires. Evaluate Zinn’s notion that “the government of the United States was behaving almost exactly as Karl Marx described a capitalist state: pretending neutrality to maintain order, but serving the interests of the rich.” What impact did this approach have on American society as a whole?
B) Based on this chapter, was Big Business steering US politicians or were politicians steering Big Business in the period from 1890-1910? Provide evidence to support your answer.
C) By 1886,” the Supreme Court had accepted the argument that corporations were "persons" and their money was property protected by the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.” To what extent should businesses be entitled to the same rights and privileges as American citizens?
D) Monopoly and trust-busting were two political issues that reflected a great schism between the American industrial working class and wealthy elite. Zinn notes that many political policies which initially aimed to protect the common American were corrupted by misinterpretations in the US Supreme Court.
E) As corporate wealth expanded in the early 20th century, so did the causes of philanthropy and public works charities. In your opinion did the trend of corporate philanthropy (charity) advance or distort democratic process? Explain.
F) As the labor force became greater in members and discontent, so did the American Labor Movement. Consider the gains and losses made by strikers and unions in the period of 1890-1910. Was this movement a success or failure of the American working class? Explain.
G) Union activists (including Eugene B. Debbs) and members were often indicted for socialist beliefs and organizing against the government. Does promoting union values make one a socialist by definition? Is being a socialist particularly anti-American? Explain your answer.
H) According to Zinn, “ on top of the serious failures to unite blacks and whites, city workers and country farmers, there was the lure of electoral politics-all of that combining to destroy the Populist movement. How did the geographic, ethnic and racial diversity of the American workforce from 1880-1910 affect politics of the period as a whole? Provide specific examples to support your response.
REMEBER TO BRING YOUR NOTES AND READING WITH YOU TO ENSURE A MEANINGFUL SEMINAR ON MONDAY!
2. Post two of your own discussion questions
3. Respond to at least one of the questions below (200 word minimum)
A) Zinn suggests that the US government’s non-intervention in business practices enabled exploitation and the widening gap between the rich and poor at the turn of the 20th century. At the same time, he points out that the free-market system enabled individuals from humble beginnings (i.e. Edison, Carnegie and Morgan) to become self-made millionaires. Evaluate Zinn’s notion that “the government of the United States was behaving almost exactly as Karl Marx described a capitalist state: pretending neutrality to maintain order, but serving the interests of the rich.” What impact did this approach have on American society as a whole?
B) Based on this chapter, was Big Business steering US politicians or were politicians steering Big Business in the period from 1890-1910? Provide evidence to support your answer.
C) By 1886,” the Supreme Court had accepted the argument that corporations were "persons" and their money was property protected by the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.” To what extent should businesses be entitled to the same rights and privileges as American citizens?
D) Monopoly and trust-busting were two political issues that reflected a great schism between the American industrial working class and wealthy elite. Zinn notes that many political policies which initially aimed to protect the common American were corrupted by misinterpretations in the US Supreme Court.
E) As corporate wealth expanded in the early 20th century, so did the causes of philanthropy and public works charities. In your opinion did the trend of corporate philanthropy (charity) advance or distort democratic process? Explain.
F) As the labor force became greater in members and discontent, so did the American Labor Movement. Consider the gains and losses made by strikers and unions in the period of 1890-1910. Was this movement a success or failure of the American working class? Explain.
G) Union activists (including Eugene B. Debbs) and members were often indicted for socialist beliefs and organizing against the government. Does promoting union values make one a socialist by definition? Is being a socialist particularly anti-American? Explain your answer.
H) According to Zinn, “ on top of the serious failures to unite blacks and whites, city workers and country farmers, there was the lure of electoral politics-all of that combining to destroy the Populist movement. How did the geographic, ethnic and racial diversity of the American workforce from 1880-1910 affect politics of the period as a whole? Provide specific examples to support your response.
REMEBER TO BRING YOUR NOTES AND READING WITH YOU TO ENSURE A MEANINGFUL SEMINAR ON MONDAY!
22 comments:
1. Without the invention of steel machines for labor how do you think work today would be?
2. What doe you think was the best created invention during this time period?
B) Based on this chapter, was Big Business steering US politicians or were politicians steering Big Business in the period from 1890-1910? Provide evidence to support your answer.
During the period of 1890-1910 Big Businesses were steering US poloticians. In chapter 11 of Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States it talks about some famouos inventors and how they payed the government to allow their buisnesses to spreas. These inventors included Thomas Edison, Daniel Drew, and Jay Gould. Another example was during 1895 when companies such as J.P. Morgan & company, August Belmont & Company, and the National City Bank offereed the government gold in exchange for government bonds. Standerd Oil companies in 1899 controlled the stocks of many other companies. Andrew Carnegie became a millionaire by becoming a broker on Wall Street and selling railroad bonds. All these companies and bussinesses worked themselves up through bribes and money that they gave to poloticians and the government. Throughout time the government was becoming a capitalist society where the government felt it wa right to serve the interset of the rich for example the owners of busienesses and companies. As time passed politics became more involved in the businesses and companies. When Grover Cleveland ran for presidant in 1884 he opposed the power of monopolies and corporations. At the same time the republican candidate James Blaine was for helping the wealthy. During this time period many businesses started out well and through the years grew and expanded with the help of the government. Yet its wasnt till later on that the government started interacting with these corporations that it became all about money and the rich. So i believe that big businesses were the ones steering the US poloticians.
H) According to Zinn, “ On top of the serious failures to unite blacks and whites, city workers and country farmers, there was the lure of electoral politics-all of that combining to destroy the Populist movement.” How did the geographic, ethnic and racial diversity of the American workforce from 1880-1910 affect politics of the period as a whole? Provide specific examples to support your response.
Through 1880 to 1910 many new things came into play that changed America. In some places industries flourished because of new inventions, yet in other places such as farmlands weren’t doing so well because they lost their best workers. African Americans were now free and that hurt some peoples farming, and also most of the people who were on the southern side during the war lost their farms because of debt. Then in the 1900s new inventions started helping the farming such as railroads, which helped to transport goods farther quicker. There were also new textile mills, which allowed people to use the things they produce such as cotton and make different things with it more efficiently. “In the year 1877, the signals were given for the rest of the century: the black would be put back; the strikes of white workers would not be tolerated; the industrial and political elites of North and South would take hold of the country and organize the greatest march of economic growth in human history.” This is just showing how even though the war about slavery was over some people still questioned the fact that the government got rid of it. Later on Americans tried getting Chinese people to act as slaves to them. On page 265 there is talk about how in the 1880s many Chinese people came to America and earned little money for their hard work. A lot of violence was also breaking out in the United States especially in the West where many people were outlaws. Some Americans did not like to accept the fact that people were immigrating to the United States, and they felt like these people were taking the Americans work. This is why immigrants were treated so poorly, and the government really did not get involved. Then during this time the United States economy started to tank and people lost a lot of money.
1)Why do you think that Americans were so cruel to immigrant? Were they threatened by them or were they mad because they couldn’t use them for free labor anymore?
2)Which group of people (farmers, industrialists, immigrants etc…) did the depression hurt the most? Why?
A) Zinn suggests that the US government’s non-intervention in business practices enabled exploitation and the widening gap between the rich and poor at the turn of the 20th century. At the same time, he points out that the free-market system enabled individuals from humble beginnings (i.e. Edison, Carnegie and Morgan) to become self-made millionaires. Evaluate Zinn’s notion that “the government of the United States was behaving almost exactly as Karl Marx described a capitalist state: pretending neutrality to maintain order, but serving the interests of the rich.” What impact did this approach have on American society as a whole?
In Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States Robber Barons and Rebels, Zinn speaks about the exploitation of the rich and poor. Zinn also details that businesses and people from poverty, were able to turn themselves into self made millionaires.
As big businesses began to boom, monopolies and trusts were coming with them. Monopolies were when one person controls an entire product. When the government did not step in to stop it, the rich became richer, and widened the gap between the rich and poor.
James Duke, dominated the tobacco company, Thomas Edison, the electrical devices, Gustavus Swift the meat packing industry.
The idea of the government pretending neutrality to maintain order impacted the American Society. The big businesses were controlling the government. The government felt that it was right to serve the big businesses instead of the individual person. These business owners were buying railroad bonds from the government and reselling them to the public. The Oil companies controlled the rest of the companies.
Up until 1884 when Grover Cleveland became president, the government was acting blindsided. Cleveland opposed the power of the monopolies and trusts.
The idea of the government acting neutral towards the rich and power brought down the economy. The poor could not afford the big business products and since these products were monopolized, nobody could open new businesses.
1)If immigrants were working the jobs nobody wanted to do, why were Americans so hostile towards them?
2) In 1893, the economy was seen as the worst time. Do you think then or now was worst?
I hope everyone comes prepared! So far, so good, but I'm sad to see so few folks worked on this assignment so far!!!
B) Based on this chapter, was Big Business steering US politicians or were politicians steering Big Business in the period from 1890-1910? Provide evidence to support your answer.
Throughout the years of 1890-1910, Big Business were steering US politicians. In the begging of Chapter 11 in A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn, it details how the many inventions the began to rapidly spread, were taking the place of many import jobs people had. With inventions coming about rapidly, business were growing. Inventors such as Thomas Edison, were paying the government in order to allow their product to spread widely. In 1895 the United States gold reserve was depleted, while twenty six NYC banks were holding $129 million in gold in their vaults. A group of bankers headed by J.P. Morgan & Company and many others, offered to give the government gold in exchange for bonds. After being approved by President Grover Cleveland, bakers resold the bonds at higher prices making $18 million profit. Business had worked themselves up to a high point by bribes and money given to them by the government. John D. Rockefeller started as a bookkeepers in Cleveland and then became a merchant. He accumulated money in the new industry of oil. He bought his own oil refinery in 1862 and by 1870 set up Standard Oil Company of Ohio. Making secret agreements with railroads to ship his oil, he received rebates and discounts on their prices. By 1899 the Standard Oil company was a top company which help the stock of many other companies. In the end, John D. Rockefeller’s fortune was estimated to be well near $200 million. He later made his way into iron, copper, coal, shipping and baking. His fortune totally would be $2 billion dollars. In the time period of 1890-1910 many businesses began with the help of the government. These businesses expanded very rapidly. Agreeing with Briana, the obvious statement that it wasn’t till later when it became all about money and the rich which probes how big businesses steered U.S politicians. Without the deals of the government, businesses would have never spread so far out. Businesses bribed the government, which gave them the upper hand, hence steering U.S politicians.
1) Do you think businesses could have made it so far without the assistance of the government?
2) Similar to now, the economy was not so great during this time period. Do you think that life in 1893 was more difficult than now due to economic situations?
1. Do you see any similarities between the system of business monopolies in the 1800s and the recent events that led up to the Federal Bailout?
2. Have the economic conditions of the working class changed much since the 1800s.
H) According to Zinn, “ on top of the serious failures to unite blacks and whites, city workers and country farmers, there was the lure of electoral politics-all of that combining to destroy the Populist movement. How did the geographic, ethnic and racial diversity of the American workforce from 1880-1910 affect politics of the period as a whole? Provide specific examples to support your response.
Politics in the United States was deeply affected by racial, geographic, and social tensions. During the 1800's, each region of the United States had different needs and agendas. The Northeast was the center of commerce for the nation. The Southeast and Midwest were agricultural regions. The West was developing around the mining industry. Due to the differences in their agendas, politicians from the different regions were often at odds with each other. Wealthy businessmen built railroads to connect the regions and enable quicker transportation of raw materials and finished products. Irish and Chinese immigrants were paid a dollar to two dollars a day top build the nations railroads. Both groups faced harsh discrimination. Chinese immigrants in the West were constantly attacked by miners; these attacks usually resulted in Chinese casualties. Irish immigrants were hired to perform low paying dangerous jobs. Political machines took advantage of the growing number of Irish in the United States and put them in control of city organizations. The Irish in New York City became infuriated when Jewish immigrants began moving in to the Lower East Side. Since the Irish controlled the New York City Police Department, they constantly used excessive force against Jewish immigrants. African Americans were not "free" after slavery was abolished. Former slaves did not have money for their own land. They were forced to sharecrop, which turned into de facto slavery. Many African Americans migrated to the North and West. In the North, African Americans were forced to take low paying jobs. African Americans were under harsh scrutiny in the North. African Americans in the West were considered equal to whites. Due to the harsh conditions for survival in the West, people of different races were forced to live together in harmony in order for the West to develop. The Republican and Democratic Parties attempted to lure immigrants, however many immigrant laborers joined Socialist parties due to the Socialist visions of equality and unity. The social climate of the late 1800s deeply affected the politics of that time.
Part One:
E) As corporate wealth expanded in the early 20th century, so did the causes of philanthropy and public works charities. In your opinion did the trend of corporate philanthropy (charity) advance or distort democratic process? Explain.
As large corporations boomed during the last decades of the nineteenth century, the limited people who grew rich as a result sometimes chose to share their wealth. Conwell founded Temple University, Rockefeller donated to many colleges and helped found the University of Chicago, Carnegie gave money to libraries and colleges, and many others like Leland Stanford and James Duke created universities in their own names. According to Zinn, their role was to "train the middlemen of society... those who would be paid to keep the system going, to be loyal buffers against trouble." In a manner, philanthropy contributed to a more socialist society, where the rich would become poorer and the poor would become richer to create economic equality. Of course, charities have never and will never reach the degree of “voluntary” communism. Therefore, the extent to which nineteenth century philanthropy altered America’s foundation as a democracy is not great; in fact, perhaps philanthropy advanced democracy. Despite the possibility of a lower class growing dependent on a higher class, more people throughout all classes of society were receiving an education. In my opinion, education is the not only included in every Americans “right to own property” (yes, I considered knowledge as property), but education is the essential tool to progress and evolvement. A united and educated population would allowed a greater majority to be equally represented in society, as is the basic belief of democracy. Predictably, objectors to a uniform schooling system arose. Joel Spring, in his Education and the Rise of the Corporate State , argued that “the development of a factory-like system in the nineteenth-century schoolroom was not accidental.” He believed schools were training faculties where children were taught to become law-abiding, at-paying, obedient citizens. In his opinion, this restricted free will and thought. Control became the great issue. However, the aftermath proved that schools did not erase dissent, and the principles of democracy remained intact. Therefore, philanthropy did nothing more than improve the quality of life of Americans, provide them with more opportunities, and establish some of the country’s best universities. Though such charity may have involved some socialist beliefs, the overall result only improved American democracy.
Part 2
1. To what extent do we meet Edward Bellamy's, author of Looking Backward, prediction of society in the twenty-first century? Have we been more socialistic or capitalistic? Or has society not changed at all?
2. On page 260, Zinn asks "How can it [Supreme Court] be neutral between rich and poor when its members were often former wealthy lawyers, and almost always came from the upper class?". Do you believe this is true?
Just thought i would post something that struck my mind.
Earlier in the year I recall us doing a blog about how history repeats it self, could it be possible that the economy of 1893 and the economy now is an example of this? Although they are not hugely similar, it's just something that I thought about, figured i would share it.
I guess yu cant count this as my 3rd question.
B) Based on this chapter, was Big Business steering US politicians or were politicians steering Big Business in the period from 1890-1910? Provide evidence to support your answer.
In the period from 1890 to 1910, the monopolizing over the politicians took place in the United States from the rise of big businesses. Many inventors were mentioned in Chapter 11 in A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn. One was Andrew Carnegie, who became one of the richest men in the world. Carnegie did this by beginning the expansion of industry through communications and transportations. The creation of the Carnegie Steel represented in part of the rise of big businesses in the late 1800s. Another inventor, who invented the light bulb, was Thomas Edison. Edison and a few other multimillionaires wanted “collaboration of the government and courts” (pg. 188).By doing this, they had to put up some money as if these inventors were bribing others. Thomas Edison made an oath with New Jersey for $1,000 to each politician for good feedback of making laws. On the other hand, two other multimillionaires would spend one million dollars just to bribe New York legislature “to legalize their issue of $8 million in “watered stock” on the Erie Railroad” (pg. 188). These two multimillionaires were Daniel Drew and Jay Gould. Bookkeeping was started in the life of John D. Rockefeller in Cleveland when he decided to start the industry of oil. He bought an oil refinery in 1862 and had Standard Oil Company of Ohio created in 1870. This company was the top company because it helped other industries, as well as the stocks. Not only did Rockefeller invest in oil, but iron, copper, coal, shipping and baking as well. I agree with what Briana had said about the money situation and the expansion of industries. Without deals and money involved, the government would be no where that we are today. Businesses bribed others to make their way through to be the best and money was a big problem. It pretty much took over the lives of U.S politicians and steered them to different paths.
Questions
1.What do you think the government would be like if these industries were not created? Same or different?
2.Why did it “take money to make money” during the period of rapid economic expansion after the Civil War?
Discussion Questions:
1) Based on the facts presented in Robber Barons and Rebels, does Socialism or even impartial communism seem superior to Capitalism?
2) (During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s) would control over interstate commerce have allowed the federal and state governments to reduce the corruption in the market, including the abuse of laborers as well as the rights of small businesses?
A) Zinn suggests that the US government’s non-intervention in business practices enabled exploitation and the widening gap between the rich and poor at the turn of the 20th century. At the same time, he points out that the free-market system enabled individuals from humble beginnings (i.e. Edison, Carnegie and Morgan) to become self-made millionaires. Evaluate Zinn’s notion that “the government of the United States was behaving almost exactly as Karl Marx described a capitalist state: pretending neutrality to maintain order, but serving the interests of the rich.” What impact did this approach have on American society as a whole?
In Robber Barons and Rebels, Howard Zinn illustrates how a boom in the American manufacturing and a growth in industries increased the power of the upper and middles classes, while allowing a select few to prosper. During the late 1800’s and during the turn of that century, the introduction of machinery revolutionized steel production, railroad production and even agriculture. On the down side, these machines reduced human labor and those businesses that could not afford the new machinery seemed to fail. As a result, influxes of unsuccessful farmers and other searching for a living, moved to cities, such as Chicago and New York, in order to find labor. Fortunately, an increase in manufacturing and construction demanded a large labor force, but this labor was strenuous and constricted because the Wealthier population dominated. Zinn sheds light on how the government, ands policies during the time, primarily benefited the wealthier people in the nation.
Since permission to build railroads, plant companies or make any other major decisions required government consent, company businessmen often manipulated politicians to unethically make those decisions. Thomas Edison, Daniel Drew, and Jay Gould are examples of a few entrepreneurs who bribed politicians in return for favorable legislation. Stocks and bonds were also given to authoritative figures, so they would care about their possessions. Free land was frequently given to railroad companies because those companies bribed government officials to obtain the land and permission to build; the transcontinental railroad is one of the few that would not have been built without cash inducements. As large businesses succeeded and spread, a large labor force was required. Immigrants, especially Chinese and Irish, became the victims of harsh and unsanitary labor along with low wages. 1889 reports show 22,000 injuries and deaths of railroad laborers. Large businesses also tended to succeed over smaller ones, or purchase them to become even larger.
Congress passed tariffs on foreign products, reducing the competition for large businesses. President Cleveland’s policies also seemed favor monopolies; this could be seen by his denying aid to Texas farmers during a drought. The next president, Harrison imitated Cleveland by opposing strikes and using armed forces to limit them. Fear of Socialism and Communism was one of the factors that led the government to maintain a Lassiez Fair economy in the U.S. Even the Supreme Court, which included wealthy stock owning lawyers, supported monopolies. The Supreme Court interpreted the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, which allowed the national government to have control over commerce, to make it useless against business organizations. U.S. v. E.C. Knight Corporation case for instance, which the court claimed was a manufacturer; thus, it could not be acted upon with the Sherman Act. The court also made the Sherman Act a weapon for the government against strikes, limiting the efforts of those who fought against low wages and unfair labor. Additionally, taxing high income at higher rate was outlawed by the Supreme Court. Moreover, the fourteenth amendment was applied to corporations, securing their property rights, by the court, instead of just people. State government laws, 230 of them, were removed by the Supreme Court because they allowed those state governments were able to control commerce with those laws (1886).
Despite the aforementioned policies of the government, a few individuals seemed to rise to riches due to the lack of governmental interference. Thomas Edison for example, who fostered the production of his own inventions, making a significant amount of profit and establishing an industry. J.P. Morgan, started out as a banker, but then began purchasing, owning, and selling stocks. Eventually, he became a millionaire, owning half the country’s railroad mileage, and forty eight corporations, making forty million dollars annually. John D. Rockefeller also became wealthy, starting as a bookkeeper, but became a merchant and eventually owned the Standard Oil company of Ohio and making agreements with railroad owners to transport his oil. Rockefeller, who possessed 200 million dollars in 1889, drove others out of business. Similarly, Andrew Carnegie, a wage laborer, started selling railroad stocks and later became involved in steel production, earning millions. Carnegie later made 492 million dollars by selling his steel company to Morgan, which allowed Morgan to sell stocks for the company for over a billion dollars. Although, only a few millionaires began below the poverty line, reports show that 90 percent of millionaires came from middle or upper class families.
During the late 1800’s until the end of the century, politicians tended to be only involved in the market when profit was available, and this was possible if legislature favored the wealthy. Zinn explains how both the government and monopolies benefited from each other, at the expense of suffering laborers, who endured long hours of work with low pay at the end. As result of the government’s policies, the American society became one where the rich grew richer and the poor grew poorer. Immigrants, females, and other laborers were constantly exploited, Unionist movements reduced, and small business experienced harsh dominative competition. Karl Marx’s statement obviously rings true for the American Economy in the late nineteenth century.
-In Response to Brianne-
Your question about American cruelty to immigrants in extremely provocative. Perhaps, immigrants seemed to be the idyllic target for cheap labor, especially for greedy company, business, or corporation owners. Racism and white supremacy could be other causes, along with many more.
1)Would allowing workers to labor in businesses were exploitation grew to a remarkable high be constitutional?
2)Did organizations such as the Knights of Labor or Populists intimidate or provoke big businesses?
A)“And, for this, at the end of the week, he will carry home three dollars to his family, being his pay at the rate of five cents per hour-just about his proper share of the million and three quarters of children who are now engaged in earning their living in the United States.” “It is an elemental odor, raw and crude; it is rich, almost rancid, sensual and strong.” These two quotes were stated by Upton Sinclair in his book “The Jungle” which describes the hardships that many workers faced in the meatpacking industry during the 20th century. This story focuses on the filthy, hazardous conditions that labors in this industry faced on a daily basis and the cruelty that immigrants went through during their life in America. Relating back to Howard Zinn’s Robber Barons and Rebels, working conditions during the 2nd half of the 19th century took a drastic affect on the entire nation. An arise in labors occurred within the country as people from all different kinds of ethnicities, social rankings and gender worked for the advancement of the country. Many farmers left the countryside and progressed to urban areas because of their inability to keep up with the expenses of railroad rates and new machinery to produce goods. Thus urban communities increased in population sizes by nearly four times as much. Production in steel and oil grew exceedingly high as big businesses were created to boost the incomes of certain men. Wealth considerably increased as steel manufacturing businesses and railroad productions boomed. Entrepreneurs and other businessmen evolved and developed their own systems for economic prosperity while hiring others to work in their establishments. The government was said to take no sides in the construction of these industries, but seemed to favor the side with the most money, otherwise known as the wealthy. As Howard Zinn mentions, the free-market system benefited individuals including Thomas Edison, Andrew Carnegie, and J.P. Morgan to become successful businessmen. However, Zinn also indicates that although some men became victorious with the benefits of the free-market the “rag to riches” stories were only accurate with about ten percent of the multimillionaires. The other ninety percent came from upper class families. With J.P. Morgan’s banking system, Andrew Carnegie’s rapid production of steel and John Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company, foreign competition was demolished and these men with their businesses skyrocketed in through the 19th century. Though the free-market world profited few businessmen, a majority of the working class struggled to make ends meat. Since the government would benefit more from the rich, they allowed unsanitary workplaces and other shapes of exploitation to occur within businesses. With no government intervention in these corporations, work places were mostly unsafe and left laborers working long hours for little pay. Many immigrants as well as other minorities such as women, children, and other ethnicities were affected by these treacherous work places. Thus organizations such as the Knights of Labor and Populists emerged to insure justice for those working in tightfisted businesses. Many workers went on strike to protest about how iniquitous the businesses and government were towards the workers. The United States government did resemble the idea of Karl Marx’s “capitalist state” as they allowed companies to continue to misuse workers while the rich prospered in economic value. From large incorporations the rich stayed rich and thus the government favored those with high salaries. Although the government’s ideas of neutrality was suppose to alleviate tension between social class and help organize society, it’s partiality to the rich cause the nation to have controversy between the wealthy and the underprivileged. Populists fought to preserve the rights and interests of ordinary people, while the Knights of Labor worked to ensure that all workers were in a Union. One quote by the Knights of Labor states “an injury to one is a concern for all”. This quotation indicates that the organization took a consideration for those affected by exploitation from big businesses and with workers united they could accomplish much against the power-hungry incorporations. Seeking justice for both social and economic demands were the ideas of organizations that supported workers. The government’s role of non-intervention in businesses during the 19th century was completely unjust because no business has the right to treat its workers in which ever way they feel. If the businesses had so much money they could have used some of their income to create better work places. Instead the businesses were so greedy that they allowed diseases and other dangers to spread throughout workplaces, thus injuring and killing laborers. The government could have viewed the workplaces as unconstitutional and thus prevented harm for many underpaid workers.
Racquel Wood
G) Union activists (including Eugene B. Debbs) and members were often indicted for socialist beliefs and organizing against the government. Does promoting union values make one a socialist by definition? Is being a socialist particularly anti-American? Explain your answer.
Supporting union values and ideas defiantly does not make a person a socialist. The union is supposed to help workers so that they work in safer conditions and have better wages, the socialist group wanted to make life better for Americans wage workers are Americans therefore the socialist group would support their cause. The union was suppose to better the system for the wage workers because they had terrible conditions, the fact that socialist supported this should be a positive thing because it would show that even political figures felt that they were being mistreated. Instead people looked into socialist views, and overlooked the real problem which was the horrible conditions of the factories, long hours, and small pay. The idea of socialism is a society with equal opportunities for everyone; this defiantly is not anti-American because it is the bases of America. America can be defined as liberty and justice for all, know one person left out, so if America is about equality then how is socialist Anti-American. Being a supporter of the union defiantly does not make one a socialist, the socialist may have supported the union ideas but it does not mean that unionist have the same values as socialist.
1. Which invention during the time period do you think benefited the most in modern times? Explain.
2. Looking at our own economic troubles, do you think big business owners have learned much since 1893?
-Katie McSherry
*sorry its late i was sick all weekend and today but i just wanted to get it done
B) Based on this chapter, was Big Business steering US politicians or were politicians steering Big Business in the period from 1890-1910? Provide evidence to support your answer.
1) "Morgan had escaped military service by paying $300 for a substitute. So did John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Philip Armour, Jay Good and James Mellon. Mellon's father had written to him that 'a man may be a patriot without risking his own life or sacrificing his health. There are plenty of lives less valuable" (Zinn, 255). What is your interpretation of this quote?
2) What do you believe ran the western region of the United States between the time of the Civil War and 1900, big businesses (industries/corporations) or the banks?
In the period of 1890-1910, many new inventions were made by people such as Thomas Jefferson and James Duke, who used their inventions to start industries. For instance, James Duke used his cigarette rolling machine to start the American Tobacco Company. With these companies and industries making products that would help citizens with farming and transportation, the inventors who created them would become some of the wealthiest men of their time, and with wealth would come much power.
Presidents Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison never tried to shift power away from the industries because they wanted the country to become industrialized and didn't want to stop the flow of money coming from big business. This is proved when President Cleveland states, "no harm shall come to any business interest as the result of administrative policy so long as I am President... a transfer of executive control from one party to another does not mean any serious disturbance of existing conditions" (Zinn, 258). So, in 1890, Benjamin Harrison passed the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, which in 1895 would be interpreted by the Court in a way that would break proletarian strikes, protect monopolies owned by wealthy bank owners, like J.P. Morgan, and prevent Congressional interference in industrialist affairs.
With political dependence on the second Industrial Revolution, big business was steering US politician. Though politicians and banks had more power in the nation, their dependence on big business made industries the most powerful of all, thus creating an imbalance in powers.
Michael Appelgate
H block
Three extra questions:
1. What successes did the labor movement score in the 1880s and 1890s?
2. How did the Democratic party use race to defeat the Populists in the South?
3. Why were the farmers no satisfied with only establishing copperatives?
Briana: G+ Solid analysis that reflects a clear understanding of the chapter. Aim to ask peers more thought-provoking/ compelling questions.
Brianne - G-: You make a solid effort to reflect on the text, but some of your facts are inaccurate. The government ABSOLUTELY intervened, passing exclusion acts and immigration quotas. interesting discussion questions, though.
1). How did the increased monopoly control in banking give way to a weaker farming economy?
2). What were some advantages did many large corporations have over smaller, more specialized businesses?
3). How did the rioting and striking of laborers during the late 19th century inevitably cause many workers to be displaced/fired/paid their wanted wages?
4). As Howard Zinn describes, the adaption to mechanization was a huge breakthrough for the increase of food/crop production on farms. Why then did food prices continue to drop from the 1870's to the late 1890's?
5). Did foreign countries profit off the extreme expansion of American industries during this time period? Why of why not?
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B) Based on this chapter, was Big Business steering US politicians or were politicians steering Big Business in the period from 1890-1910? Provide evidence to support your answer.
Big Business was steering the politics of America. In other words, the large corporations, such as Rockefeller, Carnegie, and J.P. Morgan were all controlling the US government with large bribes, bonds, or just plain old cash. Anything associated with money was the key to "oiling up" the US government politics. Only large corporations had such high investments and financial power to persuade an entire state of legislation to pass a bill favoring the expansion of their own corporations interests. For instance, "the first transcontinental railroad was built with blood, sweat, politics, and thievery, out of the meeting of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads". The colossal company wanted to attach its rails to a huge plot of land, equaling about 9 million acres. So what does the company do in order to take the free land from the government? They bribe the US government, with 200,000 dollars alone in just Washington D.C. The government overpays for the production of the railroads (over 35 million dollars) and soon landed in the pockets of railroad moguls. The same thing happened in Nebraska by Union Pacific. They were given access to over 12 million acres and over 27 million dollars in government bonds. The Credit Mobiler company was praised for their cunning wits when the government paid 94 million dollars for construction that was only worth 44 million. That same instance involved selling shares of the railroads quite cheaply to Congressmen to keep things quiet.
Another example of fraudulent access to government money was by J.P. Morgan. During the Civil War, Morgan purchases over five thousand rifles costing three fifty each. Then, when the generals on the battlefields needed them desperately, he sells them to the generals for twenty two dollars, a profit of over 300% the original cost. Surprisingly, John D. Rockefeller was also a money mogul as Zinn puts it. Rockefeller made secret agreements with different railroad companies and government figure heads to give him the edge when selling oil, driving his competitors out of business. Out of pure greed, Rockefeller sent a spy into a rival oil refinery in Buffalo, and set up an explosion to shut down the company (which it did).
In addition, Morgan, who now has combined his corporations with Carnegie and other competitors totaling a 1.3 billion total network of his business, bribes and makes sure that government officials kept out foreign competition long enough for him to expand into an empire of wealth. Congress passed tariffs delaying foreign steel, and closing off nearby competition.
Many of these wealthy corporations were able to pull off their financial success with the bribery and thievery of the US government and its importers. Companies had so much money too contend with that they had to power to give Congressmen very high bribes, which very few declined. The companies showed how they could swindle, cheat, and bribe their way to the top, leaving poverty and low wages in their tracks.
Quite unfortunately, large companies won their way to the top by using a mix of bribery and cunning wit. Big Business steered the US government all the way, and paid them all back for their treason of the US government system, with interest.
Student Response:
I totally agree with Micheal with his thoughts on mechanization, and how it was a most needed process of their time. However, I do have some second thoughts on how you describe how the US was dependent on Big Business. Im the opposite, thinking that Big Business was dependent on the people. If there was no demand, their would be no supply for the consumers.
Vince Arcello
H Block
Absolutely right on the nose. Not very many people understand that the consumer is far more powerful than the producer. You might say that it is a tie: while the consumer demands the product, they cannot have their need met without the producer but really, the consumer can be resourceful and always find another way to have their need met by going to a different producer or being creative.
Zinn suggests that the US government’s non-intervention in business practices enabled exploitation and the growing gap between the rich and poor at the turn of the 20th century. At the same time, he points out that the free-market system enabled individuals from poor foundations to become self-made millionaires. During the period of 1890-1910 Big Businesses were steering US poloticians. Inventors founded these big businesses. These inventors included Thomas Edison, Daniel Drew, and Jay Gould. They payed the government to allow their buisnesses to spread. Throughout time the government was becoming a capitalist society where the government felt it was right to serve the interset of the rich for example the owners of busienesses and companies. As time passed politics became more involved in the businesses and companies. As big businesses began to grow, monopolies and trusts were being formed from them. Monopolies were when one person controls an entire product. When the government did not step in to stop it, the rich became richer, and widened the gap between the rich and poor. By 1899 the Standard Oil (notes John D. Rockefeller) company helped many other companies. Politics in the United States was deeply affected by racial, geographic, and social tensions. During the 1800's, each region of the United States had different needs and agendas. The Northeast was the center of commerce for the nation. The Southeast and Midwest were agricultural regions. The West was developing around the mining industry. Due to the differences in their agendas, politicians from the different regions were often at odds with each other. Wealthy businessmen built railroads to connect the regions and enable quicker transportation of raw materials and finished products. controlling the US government with large bribes, bonds, or just plain old cash. (Politicians and Big Business), (Railroads and Spread of Business) ( Money and Growing Economy)
By: Joseph Mccall
Refrences:
1.) A peoples history of the United States- Howard Zinn
2.) http://www.historyisaweapon.com/zinnapeopleshistory.html
3.)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Zinn
Its time to search jobs in Bangalore to find the high paying jobs.
Zinn sucks why do we learn about history when topics are irrelevant these days, yes I understand that it was "important" to our nations history but we as should be learning about more important subjects such as real world topics that are being talked about today and how we as a nation can preserve our future, lets stop looking in the past and focus on what really matters and that is the future
Great lesson. Came across your blog while researching whether or not the US Supreme Court was controlled by corporations when they made landmark decisions giving key constitutional rights to the corporations. If so, then the legitimacy of those corporate "rights" would be in question.
Would appreciate hearing your views or leads on answering this question. gdaeman at yahoo.com
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