Use information from the novel and discussions / readings in American Studies to show how and why Sinclair blamed the industrialization process for the degradation of workers.
Upton Sinclair blamed the industrialization process for the degradation of workers because when the industrialization process happened many people left their farms to find work in the city. But when they got into their new jobs they found out that they weren’t worth very much to the factories and could easily be replaced by a new person. Workers felt degraded from their farm work because they ran, watched their food grow and owned the farm. But know worker make very low wages and don’t feel important at the factories and many of the workers didn’t like how they only get to see their part of the factory and not the whole process. As the workers that were farmer were used to seeing.
Sinclair blames the industrialization process for the degradation of worker because farmers left the rural area and moved into the cities for work. When they arrived, the only way to get work was to be paid little. And if you argued about the payment or the condition, the boss doesn't care. He'll just boot you out and get another worker who is willing to work. Farmers felt degraded because on the farm, the farmers are needed everyday to grow and harvest the food and if they don't work, there is basically no one else to take the job. The farmer feels needed, but at the factory, the farmers don't feel as needed as on the farm. The workers only got to see their part of the work area and not the rest of the factory. They are being paid very little and if they don't work, the boss just kicks them out. The bosses are buisness folk, so their workers are not the top priority at the time. the workers just feel like nothing in the factory buisness.
The industrialization process took the blame from Sinclair for the degradation of the workers. Farmers left their farms and built a new life in the city, working in factories and being paid very little. Many depended on farmers for food and other agricultural goods. When they arrived to work in the factories, many farmers probably felt overwhelmed and unnecessary because they were only hired because no one else was willing to take that particular job. Like Kaitlin said, the owners of the factories were businessmen, and they didn't really care about their workers. They just needed someone to get the job done, and the farmers seemed to have been the only ones willing to work. Sinclair was obviously extremely upset at how the industrialization process degraded the workers.
I feel the same way about industrialization as Paige, Ryan, and Kaitlin. If I was a farmer and decided to move to a city and start fresh, I would have been shocked. Factory life isn’t what it cracked up to be and this disappointed the farmers. They no longer felt important or needed. City workers could be disposed of and a new worker would take their place in a heartbeat. The farmers felt degraded because they are not in a high position like on their farms. Many farmers ran their farms and now they are low class workers. The switch was confusing and I believe many farmers sense their bosses did not care about them. Also, in my mind I suppose the farmers would feel lonely. They are used to being and working with family and close friends. Being away from their family could have made the farmers feel uncomfortable
Industrialization led to the debasing of workers. Most employers of the workers were selfish and wanted to be rich. This led company bosses to hire anybody who was willing to work for little pay. The majority of the workers were immigrants who did not know any better and because of this were easily taken advantage of. Immigrant workers left their countries in hopes of a better life, many of which had no expectations other than there would be new jobs. At first, immigrants thought all Americans worked in these harsh conditions, but later discovered immigrants were left with the unwanted jobs and were paid minimum wage. Because of meager pay, immigrant workers could not afford houses; therefore they were forced to live with other families in tenements or settlement houses. Children also had to work as a result of insufficient salaries. Disease from the filthy cities were brought to the work place and spread to families. Sweatshops were extremely hot, dimly lit and the loud machines often caused workers to go deaf. Meat packing houses were dangerous as well. Workers frequently cut their fingers. Bacteria from the meat they were cutting entered their wounds, resulting in an infection. Employees that removed wool from sheep were repeatedly exposed to harsh chemicals that burned their skin. Thousands of immigrants died because of disease and harsh conditions. Immigrants often felt degraded because of their tough lives and long work hours.
During American Studies class we have discussed the degradation of workers in the early 1900’s during a very good time for United States and a somewhat bad time for certain people at the same time. In the novel The Jungle, I think Sinclair blames the industrialization process for the degradation of the industries workers. Upton Sinclair blames industries for the degradation of the industries workers because overall all the business owners cared about was money, which showed in whatever product they created. For example, the meat packinghouse put all of the spoiled meat along with the animal’s entrails grinded up together and stuffed the mixture into sausage links. My point is, if the business owners didn’t even care about the condition of the product that was making them money, why would they care about how they treated their workers at all? The employees of large businesses knew they were expendable. The employees knew they were degraded. But what could the employees do about it? Almost all of the employees were working to keep their families alive. If employees quit their jobs because of low pay or because of working conditions the employees knew finding someone to replace them would be nothing for the large businesses. In the novel Jurgis describes hundreds of people everyday freezing to death outside of the packinghouse looking for work. If an employee quit, the business owner would have no problem finding a person to do the work for the same amount of money and the same working conditions. After an employee quit their job, that employee would have no job, no money, and no food. Was there really any other choice besides just dealing with the degradation?
Sinclair blamed the industrial process for the degrading of workers because of the change in technology many farmers had to go to the city to get a job. This was a period of urbanization. All of the jobs gave little pay, but all of the farmers or immigrants had to live with it because if they didn’t they would starve. With these low paying jobs came harsh conditions and long hours. The bosses don’t care about these workers because of the massive group waiting outside the door. If one worker was unable to work for any reason, he could be replaced. This is why, in my opinion, that unions were ineffective. The large mass of people willing to do anything to get a job prevents union workers from going on strike because they could just be replaced and no one would think twice. Sinclair showed this in The Jungle by describing the meat packing plants and showing us what the normal day worker had to go through. Everyday they’d risk their health for just a job.
Sinclair had every reason to blame industrialization for the degradation of workers. Industrialization started when immigrants started coming in by the masses, and when farmers decided to move from the rural area into the city. This high increase in people caused a much-needed need for new technology and more housing. This increase in demand caused workers to work in poorer conditions, as described in The Jungle. Thus sweatshops were born. Jurgis had to work in one of these sweatshops, which was the local meatpacking plant. Meat-packing plants were dark, dirty, and normally very loud. There was also a foul stench that lingered in the air of blood and entrails of freshly slaughtered farm animals. When it got cold, the boss wanted to save money by not using any heat. The poor workers had to continue their work in mostly zero degrees or below! The blood would even freeze in large chunks on their hand and feet. Industrialization may have brought about the modern era, but the people paid the price.
Sinclair showed the truth about the industry in America. Sinclair probably chose this topic because industry was a major job supplier and industry was also a big lie. Industry was looked upon as a job that was easy to be employed. So many people chose this job because they didn't want to waste their time and money searching for a job that was too hard to get. Sinclair blames industilization for the degradation of works because it was truely a life killer. Workers had to work for long shifts and little pay. It was easy to describe the reality of industrialization because there was so much bad things in industries. The Jungle tells a story that probably happened to may people and is sad to think that a job is the death of many souls.
In American Studies we learned that Immigrants were degraded because industrial leaders thought they were better than everyone else because they had the money and those leaders could trick immigrants into working for less. Upton Sinclair just enhanced those feature of an immigrants story to get to the point that they were treated badly. Sinclair blamed the industry for using immigrants because they didn’t know what is right and wrong in this new country. The immigrants thought they got a good deal but were bamboozled by hidden costs like interest or having to pay one third of their income to someone just to keep a job. Upton blames the industrial leaders for degradation of immigrants because they put such a bad stereotype to their workers who could not fight for themselves in a world of rich people.
Upton Sinclair blamed the industrialization process for the degradation of workers because when the industrialization process happened many people left their farms to find work in the city. But when they got into their new jobs they found out that they weren’t worth very much to the factories and could easily be replaced by a new person. Workers felt degraded from their farm work because they ran, watched their food grow and owned the farm. But know worker make very low wages and don’t feel important at the factories and many of the workers didn’t like how they only get to see their part of the factory and not the whole process. As the workers that were farmer were used to seeing.
ReplyDeleteSinclair blames the industrialization process for the degradation of worker because farmers left the rural area and moved into the cities for work. When they arrived, the only way to get work was to be paid little. And if you argued about the payment or the condition, the boss doesn't care. He'll just boot you out and get another worker who is willing to work. Farmers felt degraded because on the farm, the farmers are needed everyday to grow and harvest the food and if they don't work, there is basically no one else to take the job. The farmer feels needed, but at the factory, the farmers don't feel as needed as on the farm. The workers only got to see their part of the work area and not the rest of the factory. They are being paid very little and if they don't work, the boss just kicks them out. The bosses are buisness folk, so their workers are not the top priority at the time. the workers just feel like nothing in the factory buisness.
ReplyDeleteThe industrialization process took the blame from Sinclair for the degradation of the workers. Farmers left their farms and built a new life in the city, working in factories and being paid very little. Many depended on farmers for food and other agricultural goods. When they arrived to work in the factories, many farmers probably felt overwhelmed and unnecessary because they were only hired because no one else was willing to take that particular job. Like Kaitlin said, the owners of the factories were businessmen, and they didn't really care about their workers. They just needed someone to get the job done, and the farmers seemed to have been the only ones willing to work. Sinclair was obviously extremely upset at how the industrialization process degraded the workers.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about industrialization as Paige, Ryan, and Kaitlin. If I was a farmer and decided to move to a city and start fresh, I would have been shocked. Factory life isn’t what it cracked up to be and this disappointed the farmers. They no longer felt important or needed. City workers could be disposed of and a new worker would take their place in a heartbeat. The farmers felt degraded because they are not in a high position like on their farms. Many farmers ran their farms and now they are low class workers. The switch was confusing and I believe many farmers sense their bosses did not care about them. Also, in my mind I suppose the farmers would feel lonely. They are used to being and working with family and close friends. Being away from their family could have made the farmers feel uncomfortable
ReplyDeleteIndustrialization led to the debasing of workers. Most employers of the workers were selfish and wanted to be rich. This led company bosses to hire anybody who was willing to work for little pay. The majority of the workers were immigrants who did not know any better and because of this were easily taken advantage of. Immigrant workers left their countries in hopes of a better life, many of which had no expectations other than there would be new jobs. At first, immigrants thought all Americans worked in these harsh conditions, but later discovered immigrants were left with the unwanted jobs and were paid minimum wage. Because of meager pay, immigrant workers could not afford houses; therefore they were forced to live with other families in tenements or settlement houses. Children also had to work as a result of insufficient salaries. Disease from the filthy cities were brought to the work place and spread to families. Sweatshops were extremely hot, dimly lit and the loud machines often caused workers to go deaf. Meat packing houses were dangerous as well. Workers frequently cut their fingers. Bacteria from the meat they were cutting entered their wounds, resulting in an infection. Employees that removed wool from sheep were repeatedly exposed to harsh chemicals that burned their skin. Thousands of immigrants died because of disease and harsh conditions. Immigrants often felt degraded because of their tough lives and long work hours.
ReplyDeleteDuring American Studies class we have discussed the degradation of workers in the early 1900’s during a very good time for United States and a somewhat bad time for certain people at the same time. In the novel The Jungle, I think Sinclair blames the industrialization process for the degradation of the industries workers. Upton Sinclair blames industries for the degradation of the industries workers because overall all the business owners cared about was money, which showed in whatever product they created. For example, the meat packinghouse put all of the spoiled meat along with the animal’s entrails grinded up together and stuffed the mixture into sausage links. My point is, if the business owners didn’t even care about the condition of the product that was making them money, why would they care about how they treated their workers at all? The employees of large businesses knew they were expendable. The employees knew they were degraded. But what could the employees do about it? Almost all of the employees were working to keep their families alive. If employees quit their jobs because of low pay or because of working conditions the employees knew finding someone to replace them would be nothing for the large businesses. In the novel Jurgis describes hundreds of people everyday freezing to death outside of the packinghouse looking for work. If an employee quit, the business owner would have no problem finding a person to do the work for the same amount of money and the same working conditions. After an employee quit their job, that employee would have no job, no money, and no food. Was there really any other choice besides just dealing with the degradation?
ReplyDeleteSinclair blamed the industrial process for the degrading of workers because of the change in technology many farmers had to go to the city to get a job. This was a period of urbanization. All of the jobs gave little pay, but all of the farmers or immigrants had to live with it because if they didn’t they would starve. With these low paying jobs came harsh conditions and long hours. The bosses don’t care about these workers because of the massive group waiting outside the door. If one worker was unable to work for any reason, he could be replaced. This is why, in my opinion, that unions were ineffective. The large mass of people willing to do anything to get a job prevents union workers from going on strike because they could just be replaced and no one would think twice. Sinclair showed this in The Jungle by describing the meat packing plants and showing us what the normal day worker had to go through. Everyday they’d risk their health for just a job.
ReplyDeleteSinclair had every reason to blame industrialization for the degradation of workers. Industrialization started when immigrants started coming in by the masses, and when farmers decided to move from the rural area into the city. This high increase in people caused a much-needed need for new technology and more housing. This increase in demand caused workers to work in poorer conditions, as described in The Jungle. Thus sweatshops were born. Jurgis had to work in one of these sweatshops, which was the local meatpacking plant. Meat-packing plants were dark, dirty, and normally very loud. There was also a foul stench that lingered in the air of blood and entrails of freshly slaughtered farm animals. When it got cold, the boss wanted to save money by not using any heat. The poor workers had to continue their work in mostly zero degrees or below! The blood would even freeze in large chunks on their hand and feet. Industrialization may have brought about the modern era, but the people paid the price.
ReplyDeleteSinclair showed the truth about the industry in America. Sinclair probably chose this topic because industry was a major job supplier and industry was also a big lie. Industry was looked upon as a job that was easy to be employed. So many people chose this job because they didn't want to waste their time and money searching for a job that was too hard to get. Sinclair blames industilization for the degradation of works because it was truely a life killer. Workers had to work for long shifts and little pay. It was easy to describe the reality of industrialization because there was so much bad things in industries. The Jungle tells a story that probably happened to may people and is sad to think that a job is the death of many souls.
ReplyDeleteIn American Studies we learned that Immigrants were degraded because industrial leaders thought they were better than everyone else because they had the money and those leaders could trick immigrants into working for less. Upton Sinclair just enhanced those feature of an immigrants story to get to the point that they were treated badly. Sinclair blamed the industry for using immigrants because they didn’t know what is right and wrong in this new country. The immigrants thought they got a good deal but were bamboozled by hidden costs like interest or having to pay one third of their income to someone just to keep a job. Upton blames the industrial leaders for degradation of immigrants because they put such a bad stereotype to their workers who could not fight for themselves in a world of rich people.
ReplyDelete