How The Other Half Lives By Edward Bellamy - 1111 Words

Throughout the 1890’s to the 1920’s the Progressive Era was a period of social activism and political reform in the United States. It was also a period of explosive economic growth, fueled by increasing industrial production, a rapid rise in population, and the continued expansion of the consumer market place. The main objective of the progressive movement was illuminating the presence of corruption in government (Foner, 2017). During the 1880’s there were two very influential works published during the earliest moments of the Progressive Era. In the novel â€Å"Looking Backward† by Edward Bellamy, the author pinpoints the issues that he himself perceived in the social and economic systems of nineteenth century society. His novel presents an†¦show more content†¦Members of society in the 19th century were enlightened by an industrial system of private capital. Compared to a feudal, agricultural society, an industrial economy based on private capit al became a far more efficient means to produce and accumulate wealth (Bellamy, 1996). It allowed the production of cheap, mass-produced goods, so it raised the standard of living. However, the wealth that was produced as a result was placed into the hands of the privileged few. Bellamy expresses his point of view by arguing that an economy based on publicly owned capital would strengthen the characteristics that 19th century society members admired most about their industrial system (Bellamy, 1996). He believed that his ideal society would be more efficient. For example, labor would never be inactive, and supply would far more closely match demand. He argued that the frequent gluts, shortages, strikes, and business failures under an economic system run on competition are immense wastes that would be eliminated under a system based on communal cooperation (Bellamy, 1996). In â€Å"How the Other Half Lives†, Riis wrote his novel to inform members of society of the terrible living conditions of more than half of New York City s residents. He described the cheap construction of the tenements, the high rents, and the absentee landlords. He protested the city s ineffectual laws and urged private enterprise to provideShow MoreRelated Conditions and Effects of the Evolving Electronic Economy on Labor3644 Words   |  15 Pagesand bankers? Hung them all, perhaps, as the anarchists wanted to do in my day?† â€Å"Not so bad as that,† replied Dr. Leete. â€Å"We have simply dispensed with them. Their functions are obsolete in the modern world.† (60) Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy, 1887 Edward Bellamy’s futuristic conception of commerce in the 21st century unintentionally created a surprisingly accurate representation of the emerging electronic economy. The use of computer technology and the internet is allowing the creationRead MoreThe Representation of Colonized People in Rudyard Kipling’s Poem â€Å"the White Man’s Burden†: an Unrealistic Representation3227 Words   |  13 Pagesin the poem from Edward Said’s perspective, one can find out that it is just a misrepresentation. And through Kipling’s accusation of camouflaging the atrocity of the imperial vision by this misrepresentation, it is clear that the real reason behind this unrealistic image is empowering the cultural hegemony of the colonizer. 1- The analysis 2.1- Defining Edward Said’s notion of representation. People can be able to understand the complex world in which we live through language andRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesof the New York City Landscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed: A Political Autobiography Allida M. Black, ed., Modern American Queer History Eric Sandweiss, St. Louis: The Evolution of an American Urban Landscape Sam Wineburg, Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: Charting the Future of Teaching the Past Sharon Hartman Strom, Political Woman: Florence Luscomb and the Legacy of Radical Reform Michael Adas, ed., Agricultural and Pastoral Societies in Ancient and Classical History Jack Metzgar