Adam Smith PSA

Smith, Adam. The Wealth of Nations (Excerpts). Modified from the Modern History Internet Sourcebook. 1776. Fordham University. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/adamsmith-summary.asp (accessed September 18, 2013).

 In The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith, various positive aspects of the economic system of capitalism are described.  Adam Smith grew up in a small town in Scotland and went to the University of Glasgow and earned a scholarship to Oxford University.  Being a well educated man, who wrote the book with no personal agenda during the beginning of the industrial revolution, his book and these excerpts from it prove to be a reliable primary source.  Smith wrote the book to present and discuss his views on an economic system which would eventually be called capitalism.  He met different politicians, French intellectuals, and philosophers who influenced his economic ideas.  In these excerpts from his book, he discusses that through the division of labor, multiple people working on a job together, using their various skills, dexterity, and judgment, can produce a greater amount of goods in a shorter amount of time, than one person performing all the tasks on their own.  To demonstrate this, Smith writes that if one person was making pins by themselves, it would take much longer to perform all the required tasks, than if multiple people each have one specific job in the production of pins.  Smith also discusses how through capitalism, people are motivated by their own self-interest.  People, Smith says, perform jobs so that they will make money or receive something in return.  Smith, when writing the book, had no idea the influence his work would have on industrialists who manipulated his ideas to become rich.  Smith presents a positive tone throughout the excerpts, which can be seen by his discussion on all the “great” things that can be accomplished through the division of labor and capitalism in general.

Luddites RAFT Post

                During a short time during the early industrial revolution, a protesting group called the Luddites emerged.  These men were skilled artisans, mechanics, and weavers who attacked factories and the machines inside.  They were not against technology nor did they not understand it, but they were angry about how it was being used and how people were being treated because of it.  They were angry because workers in factories were being paid so little.  Luddites mainly just wanted fairer wages.  To protest they would often cross-dress (dress like women) and sneak into factories at night to destroy machines.  Sometimes they would set fire to factory buildings.  Many people who also wanted fairer wages sided with the Luddites, but others including the soldier who wrote the letter below, thought the revolution was great and were against the Luddites.

Luddites Wanted Poster

Dear John,

                I have unfortunately been sent to the dangerous city where the horrible protests and fires are taking place.  These despicable people, who call themselves the “Luddites”, are wreaking havoc on not only the city but innocent people.  One man was killed over all this nonsense.  And it is all due to the fact that some people do not like the new and efficient machines!  It is absolutely ridiculous.  And they have undeservedly attracted so much attention to themselves.  They often cross-dress when they destroy the expensive machines in the factories and they follow some sort of crazy leader or something called “King Ludd”.  These people were workers in the factories, but something has come over them and they now seem to hate the new technology.  They sneak into factories at night to destroy all the wonderful machines.  These people are costing a lot of money for the factories.  Now I, along with other soldiers, am trying to protect the factories from any further destruction by these insane people.

                I personally feel that the new technology is greatly improving people’s lives.  Goods like clothes are being made faster than ever.  There is an abundance of goods being produced and the work required is far less than it used to be.  Transportation has also improved.  There are railroads and steam locomotives as well as canals and steamboats to take the different goods to many different and distant places.  Why would anyone protest against that?  It makes no sense.  Besides, I have no tolerance for lawbreakers and troublemakers, and eventually the government will punish them for what they have done.

I want to do something to stop these people, but I am afraid.  I am doing my job to protect the factories, but I am scared to do more.  They seem very dangerous.  I do not want to get killed trying to seriously fight back against them.  I have seen what they have done and what they are capable of.  I believe they could cause even more damage if they wished.

                I hope that this amazing technology will come to you in America, and that people in America will not react like they have here.  Hopefully you will find people who appreciate what it does for them.  I will write again soon.

Sincerely,

George

Image: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/politics/g3/source/g3s2nf.htm

Museum Curator Activity

          

                Our exhibit focused on some of the negative effects of the industrial revolution.  Since poverty and pollution seemed to be the main effects discussed, we created the title “The Industrial Revolution brings Poverty and Pollution”.  Each source which either related to poverty or pollution was different and had valuable information.  To make a successful exhibit all artifacts and information needs to be well understood and analyzed so the important information is summarized and presented through the exhibit.  It is important to understand the reason for the creation of the artifact/evidence and why the author has a certain opinion.  When analyzing, the information was read carefully and sourced.  If it was a picture, specific details and the overall meaning of the picture were analyzed.  The map at the top gives useful background information and served as a timeline for where and when different technology was invented.  The next two artifacts on the right are about the poverty.  The chart shows that the cost of living was almost always much greater than income.  The picture shows many poor children and families living in the streets.  On the left are artifacts showing pollution.  An illustration of the Thames River shows the air, water, and land pollution.  The letter below further describes the pollution of the Thames River due to the industrial revolution.  At the very bottom are two opposing opinions on the industrial revolution.  Important information on the artifacts are highlighted, the most important info goes from the top to bottom, and almost all the artifacts have brief captions.  Using these different tools to bring our exhibit to life we hope people see the effects of the industrial revolution on the city including not only the people, but the environment.

The other exhibits show the effects of the industrial revolution.  One exhibit focuses on the horrible treatment of children during the revolution.  Many children had to work long hours, performing dangerous jobs like pulling mine carts for low wages.  49.9% of children started working when they were under the age of 10.  Another exhibit shows the correlation between the use of slaves and the need for vast amounts of cotton.  Since lots of cotton was needed to make textiles in factories many slaves were used to harvest cotton, and the amount of slaves used during the revolution increased.  Many families, as shown by one exhibit were affected by the revolution and the new machines being used.  The cost of living for families increased and there was no longer a need for people to make cotton in their homes using a spinning wheel when the spinning jenny in factories was more effective.  Now one man’s weekly pay would be all a family had to live on.  New and improved transportation developed quickly during the revolution which was displayed by another exhibit.  Steamboats, railroads, and steam engines were being used to transport good made in factories quicker and easier than before.  The railroads were viewed as useful by many such as Samuel Smiles who thought “The iron rail proved a magicians’ road”¹ while others like William Wordsworth disagreed and thought the rails just disturbed the beauty of nature.  The many changes created by the industrial revolution had some positive, but mainly negative impacts on people living during that time.

¹ Debate on the Coming of the Railway, Wordsworth vs. Smiles.

Engels PSA

Engels, Friedrich.  The Condition of the Working-Class in England in 1844.  London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co., 1892.  45, 48-53.

In The Condition of the Working-Class in England in 1844 by Friedrich Engels, the horrible living conditions of the working-class in Manchester, England during the Industrial Revolution are described.  While Engels, a German who believed in communism, was in Manchester, he met with people from English labor and Chartist movements and took notes on child labor.  His father owned a textile mill, but he was against the revolution due to its effects on the working class people. He wrote this book to show the horrible conditions the working-class endured, such as the air quality being atrocious, trash being everywhere, repugnant smells, and polluted standing water.  He also mentions their rooms were exceptionally tiny with little furniture, all further backing his view that the factory workers in the city lived in very small and dirty places.  His book, written only one year after visiting Manchester is a reliable, primary source due to it being written so soon after visiting and taking notes.  He wrote many other political works in his time, even though he dropped out of secondary school.    In his book, his distinct negative tone is seen when he states that his unbelievable and awful descriptions are not even exaggerated.

Town Meeting in Syria

Over 100,000 people have been killed due to the civil war in Syria.  In the past few weeks there has been a reported chemical weapons attack in Damascus by the government on its own people causing surrounding nations to contemplate whether to intervene.  There are many rebel groups against the government.  Some rebel groups are receiving help from terrorist groups.  The war began in 2011 when troops open fired on peaceful protesters and the protesters shot back.  The protesting began because civilians were unhappy with the current government and its president Bashar al-Assad. 

                At a meeting in a small town in Syria, civilians discussed their options on the situation.  As the danger worsens, they must decide what to do.  They feel it is important to take action either to improve the corrupted government or avoid being hurt by rebels and the government.  Everyone is afraid of the lack of safety and worsening economy.  People in this town are going to be making life changing decisions.

                One option discussed was to flee.  Over 2 million Syrians have fled to surrounding countries like Lebanon.  Many said fleeing may be a good option for families who have no education and want to provide food, shelter and safety for their children.  One fact not mentioned was that many countries that refugees are fleeing to lack sufficient funding.  The UN refugee agency requested 1.1 billion dollars and received less than half.  But, many did argue this would be a bad option since everyone would need to leave all possessions behind and essentially start their lives over.  Many agreed, saying that fleeing is a temporary solution.

                Another option discussed was to join in arms.  Many agreed this would be another poor choice since one could get killed and not help any cause.  It was argued though that this solution could speed up the civil war and it would protect everyone in the town.  Even though not mentioned, this option could mean forming strategic alliances with rebels that could possibly harm them otherwise.  Some rebel groups have already harmed many innocent civilians.

                The final option discussed was protest.  Many expressed concern that this could get everyone killed by the government as it did in the beginning of the conflict.  Someone mentioned that protesting could be done anonymously through social media outlets, but there was no mention of the potential difficulties with this due to increasing internet censorship by the government.  If it is possible, though, it might draw attention and action from other countries.  Almost everyone liked this as a solution.

                The best option that was not discussed at all may be to stay put.  Though the problem is not likely to solve itself, many other countries, with resources that civilians in Syria lack, are working towards helping, whether it be by military intervention, humanitarian intervention, or getting the Syrian government to agree to a deal to release their chemical weapons.  The US especially wants to make sure Syria receives the much needed help.