People and Groups (Zinn)
This African American leader, who was an advocate for economic and social equality, argued that class and race were deeply interconnected, calling for a radical change in American society.
Who is "W.E.B. Du Bois
Define the term "strikebreaker"
What is ... someone hired to replace striking workers, often to undermine the effectiveness of the labor strike
What was the impact of Upton Sinclairs' novel The Jungle?
Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle exposed the harsh conditions and unsanitary practices in the American meatpacking industry, leading to public outrage and government regulation.
What is the concept of colorism and the paper bag test?
Colorism is the discrimination or prejudice based on skin tone, where lighter-skinned individuals, often within the same racial or ethnic group, are treated more favorably than those with darker skin. This bias can affect social, economic, and cultural opportunities and is often rooted in historical and social hierarchies.
The paper bag test was a colorism practice where individuals with skin tones lighter than a brown paper bag were considered socially acceptable or "superior," while those with darker skin were often discriminated against or excluded from certain opportunities.
Describe capitalism
This economic system, championed by the wealthy and industrial elite, is based on private ownership of the means of production and operates for profit, creating a division between the wealthy few and the working class.
This early 20th-century socialist ran for president multiple times, advocating for a peaceful revolution to redistribute wealth and end capitalist domination of American society. He was a key figure in the early American socialist movement.
Who is "Eugene V. Debs"?
Define the term muckracker
What is ... a person who searches for and tries to expose real or alleged corruption, scandal, or other wrongdoing, especially in politics
What does Emma Goldman mean when she says "that the lives, blood, and money of the American people were used to protect the interests of the American capitalist? (Include what event she is referring to in particular)
Goldman argues that the war was not fought to liberate the Cuban people from Spanish rule, as the U.S. government claimed, but to further the economic and imperial ambitions of American capitalists. The war, in her view, was a way for the United States to expand its influence in the Caribbean and Pacific and to gain access to new markets, resources, and cheap labor, all of which would benefit wealthy business interests.
What is the convict leasing system and explain lasting impacts?
The convict leasing system was a practice in the post-Civil War South where states leased incarcerated individuals, mostly Black men, to private companies or plantations for forced labor, often under brutal conditions.
- Continued racial and economic exploitation
- Expansion of the prison-industrial complex (Mass incarceration)
Describe communism
This political and economic system advocates for collective ownership of the means of production and the establishment of a classless society, where the wealth is distributed according to needs rather than profit.
This prominent 19th-century American labor leader and founder of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) fought for better wages, working conditions, and labor rights for industrial workers.
Who is "Samuel Gompers"?
What does the term "class struggle" refer to in the context of this chapter?
What is ... the conflict between the working class (labor) and the owning class (capital), particularly over wages, working conditions, and rights
What is one specific practice (mentioned in the chapter) that businesses ensured the production of more goods and money?
Workers repeat one part of the work (assembly line) so that they could hire less skilled workers for less pay. Workers were interchangeable. Mass production at lower cost
Explain the 13th 14th and 15th amendment
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, known as the Reconstruction Amendments, were passed after the Civil War to grant civil rights and equality to formerly enslaved people:
Describe the major difference between capitalist and socialist system
The major difference between capitalism and socialism is that capitalism is based on private ownership and profit-driven competition, while socialism emphasizes collective or government ownership of resources and aims to distribute wealth more equally among all members of society.
What did "the Wobblies" believe in? (give an example)
"The Wobblies," or the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), believed in anarcho-syndicalism, which means that workers could take power not by armed rebellion but by bringing economic system to halt. Example: General Strike
This event led to the labor strike of 1911, where workers in the garment industry in New York City fought for better working conditions after a deadly fire killed many workers
What is the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
Describe the case Plessy vs Ferguson? (The outcome and the court case that overturned it)
The case of Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) involved Homer Plessy, a Black man who was arrested for sitting in a "whites-only" railroad car in Louisiana, challenging racial segregation laws. The Supreme Court ruled 7-1 in favor of segregation, establishing the "separate but equal" doctrine, which allowed racial segregation as long as facilities for Black and white people were considered equal.
This decision was overturned by Brown v. Board of Education (1954), where the Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, declaring that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal" and effectively ending the legal basis for segregation.
Contrast the treatment of Black and European immigrant workers in industrial America and discuss how these experiences were shaped by race and class.
Both groups faced exploitation and discrimination, but Black workers often encountered additional racial violence and systemic exclusion, while immigrant workers were seen as threats to white dominated labor markets.
What were pitfalls of the American Federation of Labor?
One of the pitfalls of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) was that it primarily represented skilled white male workers and excluded women, African Americans, and immigrants, limiting its ability to advocate for the broader working-class population.
What is the significance of intersectionality in understanding race and class struggles in the labor movement?
Intersectionality highlights how overlapping systems of oppression such as racism and economic inequality, shape the experiences of marginalized workers.
In what ways did the struggles of Black workers in the 19th and early 20th centuries foreshadow modern movements for racial and economic justice?
Black workers' demands for fair treatment and equal opportunities prefigured contemporary movements like Fight for $15 and Black Lives Matter, which link racial and economic equity.
What is Social Darwinism, and how did its ideas influence society's views on race, particularly toward Black people?
Social Darwinism applied the concept of "survival of the fittest" to human societies, suggesting that certain races were naturally superior to others. This ideology was used to justify racial discrimination and the marginalization of Black people, reinforcing stereotypes of racial inferiority and supporting policies like segregation and inequality.
How did Zinn portray the connection between capitalist interests and racial oppression in this chapter?
Zinn argues that capitalism relied on racial oppression to justify exploitation, maintain social hierarchies, and prevent worker solidarity.