Working life
What is laissez-faire?
The belief that the government should interfere as little as possible with society/markets
What did the average pay mean for workers?
It left many unable to meet living expenses, and of those in industrialized cities, at least 20% were at or below the poverty level
What were some effects of high child labor rates?
Low education levels, and long term health issues do to constant work
What does Sinclair's undercover technique show as well as his reaction, about the public's view of the meat industry?
It shows how accurate information wasn't widespread, and his horror shows how the true disgusting conditions weren't public knowledge
What was Congress' reaction to the push for food safety laws? What were they influenced by?
Congress resisted reforms bc they were getting large money amounts from food/drink productions to not pass laws
What were some effects of laissez-faire approach?
Limited regulations and working condition abuse by robber barons
This sweatshop underwent a destructive and deadly fire
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory
Who published the Jungle?
Upton Sinclair
What is the significance behind Sinclair's quote, "I aimed at the publics heart, and by accident i hit it in the stomach."
This shows how there were two issues at play, and Sinclair's target issue wasn't the one that appealed to the majority of the public support for reforms
What law did Teddy Roosevelt sign?
The Meat Inspection Act
What type of hours did most workers face?
Long hours, 10-12 hours a day, 6-7 days a week
What is a sweatshop?
Factory where manual workers endured bad working conditions under low pay and long hours
What was Sinclair's goal with the Jungle, and what idea did he see as a solution?
To expose horrible working conditions and inspire reforms through a socialist lense
What was one food danger that was largely exposed?
Fraud in packaging/marketing and production
What was the effect of more public meat production information on foreign trade?
Foreign countries began to ban US meat and stall trade
What was the Lochner v. New York case about?
About whether bakers' working hour regulations were violated
Why were the doors locked at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory?
The bosses feared union organizers
What was the more significant impact from The Jungle that was less of Sinclair's goal?
Inspired food safety reforms and regulation laws (exposed unsanitary meat industry conditions)
What were the implications of food fraud?
People didnt know the widely available products were dangerous, and so it led to high numbers of sickness/death
What act was considered violated in Lochner v. New York case, and what was it about?
Bakeshop Act- bakers cant work over 60 hours a week or 10 hours a day
Why were children valued workers?
They were less likely to strike, and small enough to easily move about the machines
What did Sinclair do to obtain accurate working condition information?
He went undercover into meat stockyards
What was Teddy Roosevelts stance on food regulations?
He supported them and led undercover research on food production conditions