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Jonathan Rivers September 27, 1999 IAH 201, Mr. Washington Topic # 2 Frederick Douglass definition of slavery, I believe, changed many times throughout his life and experience. Frederick Douglass not only underwent a transformation but, being intelligent and endowed with the gift of voice, he also had a sharp perspective on the blights of racism and slavery. As Douglass looked back at his days of slavery, he realized that the graveyard of the mind that American slavery was for him, was the same for the rest of black America. Douglass learned and mastered proper English, and used it to show the very same group who invented and hoarded it, the evil that they and their withholding of language caused. Throughout this paper I will discuss the Industrial Revolution, and even talk about other forms of slavery, as they existed.
Frederick Douglass was an emancipated slave who passed from one master to another until he finally found the satisfaction of being his own; he went through almost as many names as masters. The Industrial revolution, much like Douglass life, was a time of drastic change and transformation from hand tools, and hand made items to machine manufactured and mass-produced goods. This change generally helped life, but also hindered it as well. Pollution levels in the atmosphere rose, working conditions declined, and the number of women and children working increased. The government, the arts, literature, music and architecture and mans way of looking at life all changed during the period.
Two revolutions took place, both resulting in productive but also dire consequences. Before the first industrial revolution, England's economy was based on its cottage industry. Workers would buy raw materials from merchants, take it back to their cottages, hence the name, and produce the goods at their home. It was usually owned and managed by one or more people, who were generally close to the workers.
There was a good worker / boss relationship, which was demolished and destroyed by capitalism. In a way this was also a form of slavery, but there was a relationship between the people, as opposed to the slave and master relationship that existed on the plantation. This industry was efficient but the workers productivity was low, making costs higher. The longer it took one person to manufacture a product, the higher the price. Subsequently, goods were high in price and exclusive only to the wealthy people. The year was 1733, the demand for cotton cloth was high, but production was low.
This crisis had to be solved or England's economy would be hindered. The answer came from a British weaver, John Kay, who invented and fashioned the flying shuttle, which cut weaving time in half. John Kay was a pioneer and his invention paved the way for numerous inventors. Although at first, many workers didnt accept machines, in fact, many inventions were destroyed, but what was inevitable, could not be stopped. The machines had made their way to England, and nothing could stop them. Unfortunately, the slaves in the Americas did not have the assistance of such machines when it came to picking cotton from the blazing hot plantations.
By the 1750 s, the Industrial Revolution had begun. At first, inventions were strictly limited to cotton weaving. Inventions such as the spinning jenny and the water-powered frame, both of which provided spinning yarn faster, the spinning mule, the power loom and the cotton gin, all helped the manufacture of cotton goods by speeding up the process. Mass production had begun, along with capitalism. Capitalist, people who have their own materials, money and space, bought many machines and stored them in a factory, where hired people worked the whole day manufacturing goods. The factory system had replaced the cottage industry.
Mass production made usually expensive items, such as shoes, less expensive and easily affordable by lower class and less wealthy people. The quality of life had improved. In the 1800 s, inventions werent just limited to the cotton industry. Steam engines were invented, providing a faster mode of transportation, instead of the use of horses and carriages.
With steam engines, cities were able to move farther away from rivers and sources of water, to start cities. The Industrial revolution brought on more technology, wealth and power. America was well defined as this took place throughout history. The people were living in filth, working unthinkable hours and being paid very little. As great leaders came upon the people, they shaped a Constitution that saved the hopes and dreams of all Americans who helped shape modern society to what it is today. The second Industrial revolution proved more drastic, not only in inventions, but in social and government policies and reforms.
Art and culture flourished and was transformed into many different and unique styles. The first industrial revolution had forever changed England, and later the world. England was now ready for another change, as life with machinery had already been assimilated into society. The second industrial revolution utilized the power of electricity to help them develop their technology and help social and home life. Michael Faraday, a British scientist, demonstrated how an electric current could be made. This concept and principle is still in use today.
Electricity improved life by supplying people with light, and electricity to power machines. Communications improved as a result of electricity. The telephone and telegraph were the first communicational devices that were for public use. Life was drastically changed during the industrial revolution. People were living in germ infested, crowded and very unhealthful conditions, much like their place of work. Children and women labored in harsh conditions, working long hours with little pay.
The British Parliament stepped in and limited and controlled child labor. This sparked a rebellion. People, especially wealthy capitalists, wanted the government to stay out of its issues, called the laissez-faire system. Many people opposed the laissez-faire system, saying the capitalists would gain too much power and people would be mistreated. The laissez-faire system was disregarded after a few years. In conclusion, Frederick Douglass discovered what kept him enslaved for all those years and then retaliated by learning to read and write.
By keeping slaves uneducated, not knowing their families and history, the white men always managed to stay one step ahead. I believe that is what Douglass truly defined as slavery; of course being tortured and treated like an animal played a role as well. However, I still believe that not knowing his parents, having his grandmother taken away almost was worse than being beaten on a daily basis. From slavery to freedom, from the South to the North, from a young man of many names to the adult named Frederick Douglass, and singing those songs so that all could hear, this gifted man helped America come to terms with slavery as it really was.
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Research essay sample on Second Industrial Revolution Laissez Faire System
