Negative Effects of the Industrial Revolution

Negative Effects of the Industrial Revolution 1834 in Lowell, Massachusetts; chants of Union is Power could be heard as the young girls of Lowell Mills took to the streets to protest a wage cut of 15-20% to their already meager salaries. Banded together as one, with a common sense of companionship and unity bred from long hours of working side by side; the girls attempted to keep their earnings. An attempt that only ended in defeat, and the firing , of many. This is only a small example of the many indecencies done to society during the Industrial Revolution of America. From 1824 to 1840 the Jacksonian Era raged in America, a period in time in which the common man became the focal point of politics and the Industrial Revolution reared its head; changing the country economically as well as socially. In this time period The United States of America went from a mainly agricultural based economy to one that relied heavily on textiles and manufacturing. Several factors contributed to this occurrence: new technology, new fuel sources, advancements in transportation, a rise in immigration, and the creation of the telegraph which led to faster communication not only in America but also across the sea. Technological advancements were accompanied by a drastic rise in the population, not only had the average birth rate risen, immigration had added hundreds of thousands new residences in a relatively small period of time, mostly coming from Ireland and Germany. In the mid-1840s Ireland was faced with the Potato Famine, an extreme drought that left more than two million dead. In an attempt to escape this condition, and find a country that could not only support them but in which they could also make a living, many Irish immigrated to America. Unfortunately, many of these immigrants reached the land of plenty with insufficient means and were forced to stay in the cities being unable to afford expanding westward into new territory, or even owning any land at all. Due to their financial situations, many Irish immigrants were taken advantage of by the natives. Boston was a good example of the abuse that occurred to the Irish. Landlords were known to divide former single family dwellings into inexpensive housing charging a single Irish family living in a nine by eleven foot room with poor ventilation, no water, unsanitary conditions, and no daylight for around $1.50 a week. The demand for housing was astronomical and the cramped, overpopulated conditions that steamed from this need became a breeding place for diseases; especially cholera. Of all the Irish children born in Boston during this period, sixty percent did not live to see their sixth birthday, and the adult Irish lived an average of only six years after stepping off the boat into America. Most of this death and disease was simply caused by poor housing. A Boston Committee of International Health described an Irish slum as, a perfect hive of human beings, without comforts and mostly without common necessities; in many cases huddled together like brutes, without regard for to age or sex or sense of decency. Under such circumstances, self-respect, forethought, all the high noble virtues soon die out, and sullen indifference and despair or disorder, intemperance and utter degradation reign supreme. Not only were the new Irish immigrants faced with horrible living conditions, they were also discriminated against heavily by the native Americans. The Protestant population that could trace their origins all the way back to the earliest English settlers did not take very kindly to the newcomers. Not only were they stealing scarce jobs that were in high demand in their eyes, but they were also Catholics. Protestants were extremely against any religion that wasnt theirs, especially Catholics who were rumored to be cannibals among other things. It was this resentment that helped fund a strong nativist/ anti-Immigration movement and helped to later form the Know-Nothing Party. This discrimination along with the fear that the Irish immigrants would take much needed jobs led to the placement of NINA signs on many factories, or No Irish Need Apply . Germans, the other major European nationality emigrating to America at this time, faired slightly better due to the fact that they arrived in North America in much better financial standings. However, they were still forced to deal with discrimination and were still forced down to the bottom of the social ladder. Many ended up pushing westward and keeping to themselves, forming German communities. Women were another group that was greatly affected by the Industrial Revolution. Before the Industrial Revolution farm women and girls made a living for their families; spinning yarn, weaving cloth, and making candles, soap, butter, and cheese. However, with the new technology in manufacturing goods, these women were displaced by factories that could produce the same products at a much quicker pace and at greater quantities. While these factories took away one part of their livelihood, they attempted to make up for it by offering employment to them, promising a new economic independence and the ability to afford all of the manufactured products of the time. This promise was misleading; the reality of the matter was that these factory girls typically worked long, grueling thirteen hour days, six days a week. They earned a meager salary, much below the male workers of those days, for limb-numbing, mind-draining, dangerous work in which the machinery could seriously or even fatally injure a girl of she made a mistake. On top of that, they were made to live in a small boarding house owned by their employers, carefully watched and held at a very strict time schedule that ran their lives leaving these young women with no free time. Their lives were lived from whistle to whistle, its blowing signaling when to wake up, eat breakfast, go to work, and every other aspect of their lives including going to church every Sunday. The factories also claimed that they would provide education for their young workers. However, this was generally meant to be done on the ladies own time that of which there was little. A young woman who worked in the Lowell M ills of Massachusetts in 1845 wrote about her living conditions, Crowded into a small room, which contains three beds and six females, all possessing the without end tongue of women, what chance is there for studying?Despite the constant restriction these women were set in a new environment far from home with no mother-like figure to guide them. These boarding houses provided plenty of temptations and the lack of guidance was surely an equation for trouble. Another problem that arose with women in the workplace was the rearing of the next generation. Long hours in the factories, year after year, led to a physically and emotional premature breakdown of these women. When it came time to raise their own children who were to be the next generation, many times they had to continue working or were ill after the added stress that child birth put on them. A young Lowell Mill girl simply known as Julianna commented that, It has been remarked by some writer that the mother educates the man. Now, if this be a truth, as we believe it is, to a very great extent, what, we would ask, are we to expect, the same labor prevailing, will be the mental and intellectual character of the future generations of New England? The Industrial Revolution which led to the employment of women completely disrupted the cult of domesticity that was in place at this time. Despite the fact that this cult of domesticity was almost necessary to the bringing up of children at this time, it was also something that most women wanted. They looked forward to raising their children at home; this was a society that was still predominantly family orientated. A new way of looking at life was becoming prominent with the Industrial Revolution. The strive to make money in order to survive and obtain the luxuries now available to the general population through the new manufacturing technologies brought about the idea that money equaled happiness. That, To get, and to have the reputation of possessing, is the ruling passion ( Bellows, Henry W. The Influence of the Trading Spirit ,1845) is the new American ideal. According to Henry W. Bellows , this new drive for material possessions and money was creating an anxiety in the people of America, making them fundamentally unhappy. The basic moralities that used to drive the nation were no longer, and the new need for material conquests had taken over creating an every man for himself environment. In other countries in the world, happiness is as easy as maintaining a family business and making enough financially to support a family, but not so in America. Where work had driven American families ti b e gone from the home for most of the day and to neglect the family. This bread an unfortunate consequence of unhappiness during the Jacksonian period. All of these factors can add up to and attribute to one of the most influential social changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution; a widening of the gap between the rich and the poor. Through the new market enterprise, those in charge continuously took advantage of the less fortunate, gaining wealth without fail. Whereas those who were poor only continued to become more so. This widening of the social gap was beneficial to none but the highest of classes leaving the majority to despair and strive to survive. The Industrial Revolution from 1824 to 1840 was a time of drastic change. An influx of new immigrants, over population, new social roles for women, a new American ideal, and a widening gap between social classes were all unfortunate repercussions of this movement that drastically changed the way society ran for the worse. Creating a negative impact that categorizes this era and provides a building block for unrest in the Civil War. Sources Cited: 1834 Lowell Mill Girls Turnout to Protest Wage Cuts. Massachusets AFL-CIO. Web. 26 Feb. 2011. . Bellows, Henry W. The Influence of the Trading Spirit. 1845. Print Robinson, Harriet H. Memories of a Factory Girl. 1898. Print. A Young Woman Writes of the Evils of Factory Life in 1845. Documents Workbook Out of Man A History of the American People. Fifth ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, 2007. 146-47. Print. A New England Woman Describes the Responsibilities of American Women in 1847. Documents Workbook Out of Man A History of the American People. Fifth ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, 2007. 148-49. Print. A Young Woman Writes of the Evils of Factory Life in 1845. Documents Workbook Out of Man A History of the American People. Fifth ed. Upper Saddle RIver: Pearson Education, 2007. 146-47. Print. A New England Factory Issues Regulations for Workers. Documents Workbook Out of Man A History of the American People. Fifth ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, 2007. 146-47. Print.

The Role of Communication in the Modern Life

The Role of Communication in the Modern Life Over the last years the role and the sense of the communication have changed appreciably. All these changes happened because of significant development of technologies. They have brought radical change in communication. More often people use such modern technologies as Internet, Skype, e-mails, mobile phones etc. to communicate instead of face to face communication. And often, the points arise how useful are all these developments? Why do so many people draw their attention to that question?Firstly, people want to expend lesser efforts and at the same time do their own business. For instance, mobile phones help us always to be in touch with anyone throughout the country and also beyond the borders of the country and simultaneously people can do different tasks. However, with the invention of the mobile phone people do not have a free minute: almost every minute they talk to someone. Furthermore, we can't be sure if these devices are safe f or us and not damaging our life.But as a result, they are very convenient for communication and people can't imagine their life without them, they became a commonplace for everyone. Secondly, I fully agree that knowing how to use the Internet is a great advantage nowadays. The Internet is a huge and incredible source of information and knowledge at work, at school and, of course, at home. Besides, it provides us with a quick and easy means of communication in the form of e-mails and we should not forget about Skype. In my opinion, Skype, in contrast with e-mails, is more popular nowadays.It is the easiest and the cheapest way of communication. For example, when people live far from each other and the phoning is expensive for them, they may use Skype to communicate. Such communication is close to face to face communication, because they can not only hear the interlocutor but also see him. This programme are useful for old people, because they can see and hear their nearest and deares t. Finally, it seems to me that modern people rely too much on technology today. This means that we are losing important skills such as personal communication.For instance, people who spend long hours in front of a computer no longer know how to talk to other people, and may even feel uncomfortable in the company of others. To sum up, technology definitely has brought great changes in communication. On the one hand, the modern technologies enable people to communicate for more easily than ever before, and, on the other hand, the communication between people is becoming poorer nowadays. Once Lewis Munford said: † Modern science and technologies have taught the mankind at least one lesson: Nothing is impossible†

Holden in “Catcher in the rye ” by J.R Salinger Essay

Holden is a complex person with many conflicting characteristics. He has many ambitions and desires for his life but he is faced with the basic conflict in the story, corruption. This corruption is what drives him and at the same time restricts him Holden’s being surrounded by corruption disgusts him. There are a few main instances in which Holden encounters corruption directly. One type is Stradlater, the ‘secret slob’or Ernie, who ‘performs for the people’. Two that affect Holden very much is his brother D.B. ‘selling out’ to the movies and Pheobe eventually having to grow up. This corruption is very evident in Holden’s life and situation. Corruption is what Holden wants to avoid but can not because he wants to grow up and act like an adult. Drinking, ordering the prostitute, and using money are all things that grownups do but Holden yet still wants to remain innocent. Theses are few of the obvious ironies of Holden’s pers onality. Holden’s utter hate for the fact that we have to grow up and how he ties adulthood with corruption just shows how he has a large problem determining illusion from reality. He doesn’t understand that to grow does not mean to become corrupt but to become wiser through experience. These experiences are what frighten Holden because this boy of sixteen has already been involved in many of the pleasures and problems that come from these experiences. Holden’s ‘catcher in the rye’ analogy shows how he wants to save the children from this corruption but he never will. Holden wants to be the great savior of a helpless cause and does not realize he has fallen into the evil hands of corruption. Holden idolizes Allie is little brother who died. The reason for this idolization is that Allie will never become corrupt. He will always be in Holden’s mind a little boy not affected by the dirty hands of society. Pheobe, on the other hand, will have to enter the world sooner or later and then she too will become corrupt. D.B., though, has already submitted to that corruption by ‘selling out’ to the movies. Holden realizes that D.B. has given his story to the movie business and does not like it because he wanted his brother to continue wr iting the little stories he loved so much. Pheobe, diametrically, has not yet been absorbed by society but is on her way and Holden nor anyone else can stop her. Holden finds corruption in almost everything he sees but does not yet even realize that he too is part of that corrupt world the minute he stopped being a child and wanting to be an adult. By doing many of the things he does he displays a desire to grow up, to act mature, to ultimately blend in with society but he is restricted by his ideals of innocence. The way he orders his drinks, dances with the two ladies in the hotel, and sends his money frivolously shows how Holden has accepted the reality of being an adult but can not come to terms with the fact that all children will also enter Holden’s corrupt society. Holden’s basic description of a corrupt person is a phoney. This characterization is often harsh and unjust to many of the people he attributes this characteristic to. But there are people that Holden does like other than Pheobe and Allie. James Castle, Jane Gallager, the two nuns he spoke to in the coffee shop, and the little child on the curb of the road are a few. James Castle is someone that Holden could possible identify with. He dies because of a refusal to take something back; something that was true. In respect to Jane Gallager Holden could possible be in love with her but does not ask her in fear of her saying ‘no’ but if she says ‘yes’ he would not be able to come through a attribute of adulthood Holden has yet to acquire. Holden has yet to acquire many different aspects of adulthood. This is what keeps his personality in a state of ambiguity. No one knows whether Holden wants to become an adult or stay a child. In my opinion, he wants to continue his life as an adult but a child at heart and mind. By doing this he destroys many incorrupt things that he has yet to experience. Holden’s whole life revolves around the battle of corruption and innocence. This battle, through Holden’s eyes, is one of adulthood verses childhood. this battle is an impossible one an until Holden realizes this he will never leave his land of illusion and adjust to the world.

What Caused Civil War - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1516 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2019/05/18 Category History Essay Level High school Tags: Civil War Essay War Essay Did you like this example? Abraham Lincolns election of 1860 was that start to something new and very different for the nation. Lincoln, former member of the Whig party but now a member of the republican party, understood how divided the union was and believed it was his duty to keep the union together, at all costs. Although this election was not the actual start of the Civil War, it was the start of different ideas and conflict between the parties that would soon lead to a breakout. This election made it clear that the division would become greater and eventually start a war. Along with Lincolns election, there were many other events that led up to that start of the civil war, including Uncle Toms Cabin, The Kansas-Nebraska Act, Bleeding Kansas, and the actual start of the war with the attack on Fort Sumter. A main event that occurred and is known to have begun the idea of having a war is the book that was written entitled Uncle Toms Cabin. This book was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, and according to The Sixth Edition: The American Promise, she had never been to a plantation and was a white northerner (364). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "What Caused Civil War?" essay for you Create order This book exposed the truth behind slavery and the conditions that the slaves had to live in. Due to the slavery being in the south, the southerners shut down what was said about them and pronounced the information to be lies. The southerners stood together but they no longer received condolences from the free states due to the tragic and detailed description in Stowes reading. On the other hand, the northerners believed the information to be true which confirmed their opinion and helped them stand taller by their anti-slavery ideas. Although the two groups stood closer together with themselves, they stood farther apart from each other. This separation of the two sides is what is believed to have started the controversy, which is why Lincoln said to Stowe as he met her in the White House, ?So you are the little woman who wrote the book that made this great war (364). As this meeting between Lincoln and Stowe occurred a decade after the publication, many events occurred during that ti me and it was believed to have all started with this exposure of the way slaves were treated. Even though it is believed that the start of the war was from Uncle Toms Cabin, there were many other events that occurred in between the publication of this book and the beginning of the fighting that led up to the outbreak. One of these events is known as the Kansas Nebraska Act, in which a railroad was the incentive for it. Stephen A. Douglas, Illinois Democratic senator, wanted a railroad for Chicago but any railroad that ran west would pass through a region that Congress in 1830 had designated a ?permanent Indian reserve (365). This Indian reserve would be named Nebraska, which was a huge area between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains, and the Indians would soon be thrown out. As this land became open and no longer had Indians, it would have to collect southern support so that the Nebraska legislation would be passed. This support helped not only Nebraska but also the southerners due to this new land becoming part of popular sovereignty which would allow the people goi ng there to choose if the land would be for or against slavery. This act caused the government to push the Plains Indians farther west, and make way for farmers and railroads (365). There was a huge division between this land, and this large piece of land started out as only Nebraska but turned into Nebraska and Kansas due to the different beliefs for slaves. This separation caused further tension for the result of having a war. The conflict of the anti slavery and the pro slavery in this newly separated land caused an event which is known as Bleeding Kansas. Bleeding Kansas was similar to a small civil war in the one area of land, Kansas. This small breakout started when multiple hundreds of pro slavery men invaded the center of the free state settlement entitled Lawrence. Due to this invasion, a fight broke out between the anti slavery and the pro slavery. There was also a division with the north and south that was connected to Preston Brooks, who was a member of the house of South Carolina. The day after the fight broke out in Kansas, May 22, 1856, he beat senator Charles Sumner in order to make him resign his position in the House. This treatment put on a northerner and performed by a southerner was a reflection of how the south handled their situations. This torture emphasized and solidified the horror that was mentioned in Uncle Toms Cabin. This small violent act gave us a taste of what would soon happen on a much larger scale and with everyone involved. As we got a little taste of what a war between the northerners and the southerners was about, it started to become more real about five years later. Fort Sumter was located at the Charleston Harbor entrance in South Carolina, this was a small island where about eighty United States soldiers stayed. This was the place that history would be made, and the true beginning of the civil war would start. Lincoln had to make a big decision of whether or not to relieve the fort, although there was a dilemma that he had to consider. He had to investigate what risks would come with relieving the fort which was risking war, but he also wanted to consider the plan he had of defending federal property and avoiding military force. As this decision was difficult for Lincoln to look at and make, he turned it over to Jefferson Davis who wanted military action but had people telling him that it was almost like walking into death and no longer having support of the north. As Davis thought about the decision that was now put on him, he soon decided that the Confederate troops needed to take the fort before the others would show up to Charleston and relieve if themselves. As the Confederate troops took the fort, they took Fort Sumter after a bombardment that lasted thirty-three hours. Although the Confederates had Fort Sumter, the idea of war was also present and came with it. Five years later from Bleeding Kansas on April 12, 1861 the civil war officially started. With each of these events came many different ideas that made the idea of the civil war come closer to reality. The election of Abraham Lincoln started even the smallest thought of a war eventually coming, due to what he believed. He wanted to be a free nation and not have slaves, but with his one very strong opinion also came the south who all also had strong opinions about being for slavery. This election caused the nation to become stronger and more passionate about their beliefs because they wanted what they believed in to be put into play everywhere. Uncle Toms Cabin was important to the division that was already in play, because it exposed who the south was and what they would do in order to have their slaves. Harriet Beecher Stowe did not hold back when it came to explain the treatment these slaves had to deal with every day. This deep explanation caused the north to believe further into being anti slaves because of how horrifying and terrible they believed this treatment to be. It also caused the south the deny what was being said about them with proof of it being true and it expressed who they were to the north. This book caused the north to become stronger for their opinion and did not want to have anything to do with having slaves. There was also the Kansas Nebraska Act that expressed how this idea was so powerful and moving for the people, that it caused one piece of land to split into two dues to the northern and southern ideas. Along with the Kansas Nebraska Act came Bleeding Kansas which gave us a small taste for what the actual war would be like when it came to play. This idea of anti slavery versus pro slavery became personal and a member of the house, Preston Brooks, decided to beat Charles Sumner to force him into resigning and the decision of pro slavery being put into play. Yet this idea did not work as Brooks had hoped and Sumner got places back as a senator soon after he resigned. This was a major event that led to the attack on Fort Sumter which began the true civil war. The start to this was is very significant because it did truly start with this attack but, yet it had started before when Lincoln came into play. The start of the civil war was long awaited, and it had a lot of buildup which caused this war to be one of the most significant wars in history.