Robber Barons and Wretched Refuse , livre ebook

302

pages

English

Ebooks

2020

Écrit par
F. Zeidel Robert

Publié par
Cornell University Press

Lire un extrait

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne En savoir plus

Découvre YouScribe et accède à tout notre catalogue !

Je m'inscris

Découvre YouScribe et accède à tout notre catalogue !

Je m'inscris

302

pages

English

Ebooks

2020

Lire un extrait

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne En savoir plus

Publié par

Cornell University Press

Date de parution

15 avril 2020

EAN13

9781501748332

Langue

English

Poids de l'ouvrage

1 Mo

Robber Barons and Wretched Refuse explores the connection between the so-called robber barons who led American big businesses during the Gilded Age and Progressive Era and the immigrants who composed many of their workforces. As Robert F. Zeidel argues, attribution of industrial-era class conflict to an "alien" presence supplements nativism-a sociocultural negativity toward foreign-born residents-as a reason for Americans' dislike and distrust of immigrants. And in the era of American industrialization, employers both relied on immigrants to meet their growing labor needs and blamed them for the frequently violent workplace contentions of the time. Through a sweeping narrative, Zeidel uncovers the connection of immigrants to radical "isms" that gave rise to widespread notions of alien subversives whose presence threatened America's domestic tranquility and the well-being of its residents. Employers, rather than looking at their own practices for causes of workplace conflict, wontedly attributed strikes and other unrest to aliens who either spread pernicious "foreign" doctrines or fell victim to their siren messages. These characterizations transcended nationality or ethnic group, applying at different times to all foreign-born workers.Zeidel concludes that, ironically, stigmatizing immigrants as subversives contributed to the passage of the Quota Acts, which effectively stemmed the flow of wanted foreign workers. Post-war employers argued for preserving America's traditional open door, but the negativity that they had assigned to foreign workers contributed to its closing.

Voir

Publié par

Cornell University Press

Date de parution

15 avril 2020

EAN13

9781501748332

Langue

English

Poids de l'ouvrage

1 Mo

ROBBER BARONS AND WRETCHED REFUSE

E T HNI C AND CL ASS DY NAMI CSDURI NG T HE E RA OF AME RI CANI NDUST RI AL I Z AT I ON

Ro b e r t F. Z e i d e l

NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY PRESS

AN IMPRINT OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY PRESS Ithaca and London

All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Cornell University Press, Sage House, 512 East State Street, Ithaca, New York 14850. Visit our website at cornellpress.cornell.edu.

First published 2020 by Cornell University Press

Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data Names: Zeidel, Robert F., author. Title: Robber barons and wretched refuse : ethnic and class dynamics during the era of American industrialization / Robert F. Zeidel. Description: Ithaca, New York : Northern Illinois University Press, an imprint of Cornell University Press, 2020. | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2019026759 (print) | LCCN 2019026760 (ebook) | ISBN 9781501748318 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781501748325 (epub) | ISBN 9781501748332 (pdf ) Subjects: LCSH: Foreign workers—United States— History. | Industrialization—Social aspects—United States—History. | Working class—United States— History. | Industrial relations—United States—History. | United States—Emigration and immigration—History. | United States—Ethnic relations—History. Classification: LCC HD8081.A5 Z34 2020 (print) | LCC HD8081.A5 (ebook) | DDC 331.6/20973—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019026759 LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019026760

Cover image:48Inch Universal Plate Mill, Homestead Steel Wks., Homestead, Pa. (ca. 1908). Detroit Publishing Company Col lection, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Divi sion, https://www.loc.gov/item/2016814562/.

In memory of Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Zeidel, sisterinlaw and friend

Co nte nts

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction: Capitalists and Immigrants in Historical Perspective, 1865–1924

1. Harmonic Dissidence: Immigrants and the Onset of Industrial Strife 2. No Danger among Them: Asian Immigrants as Industrial Workers 3. Alien Anarchism: Immigrants and Industrial Unrest in the 1880s 4. Confronting the Barons: Immigrant Workers and Individual Moguls 5. Into the New Century: Economic Expansion and Continued Discord 6. Turmoil Amid Reform: Immigrant Worker Protest and Progressivism 7. Effects of War: Immigrant Labor Dynamics during the Great War 8. Addressing the Reds: Immigrants and the Postwar Great Scare of 1919–1921 9. Restricting the Hordes: Implementation of Immigrant Quotas

108

136

160

181

204

vii

viiiCONTENTS

Epilogue

Notes 221 Bibliography Index 283

259

217

A c k n o w l e d g m e nt s

No project of this magnitude is solely an indi vidual effort. Over the many years during which I researched and wrote this book, numerous individuals and institutions provided invaluable assistance and support. To one and all, with recognition that I will overlook some of those who aided me with this arduous task, I would like to offer my heartfelt appreciation. Numerous librarians and archivists helped me locate pertinent materials. Staffs at the Hagley Library, Newberry Library, California Historical Society, Huntington Library, Stanford University Library, Chicago Historical Society, and Minnesota Historical Society offered their expertise in identifying rel evant collections and cheerfully retrieved multiple boxes. Other depositories assisted with requests for photocopies. The University of Wisconsin Interli brary Loan program gave access to books and journals not available at my home library. Scholars too numerous to note read draft chapters, commented on related conference papers, or responded to research questions. Those who provided special assistance include Kevin Kenny, “Skip” Hyser, Chris Arndt, Erika Lee, Kurt Leichtle, and Melvin Dubofsky. Appreciation also goes to the anony mous outside reviewers, for their insightful comments and suggestions for improvements. The phenomenal staff at Northern Illinois University Press played sev eral key roles in this endeavor. Years ago, when I was completing a previous book on the Dillingham Commission, the then acquisitions editor suggested “Robber Barons and Wretched Refuse” as the title for that work. Not used then, it planted the seed for this book. Current editors Amy Farranto and Nathan Holmes worked with me to polish the work and make it worthy of publication. Of course, I alone bear responsibility for all statements of fact, interpretation, and opinion, and for any errors or other failings. The University of WisconsinStout, my institutional home, has provided immeasurable support. My colleagues in the social science department, along with philosopher Tim Shiell, Dean Maria Alm, Chancellor Bob Meyer,

Voir