APEngLangper711-12

As more historical perspective on the Jungle, this article provides direct quotes from the author, the president, and some bystanders. It discusses the effects the Jungle had on society both socially and legally

Discusses class conflict in the 1930s and, the New Deal's support of unionization. This article presents the views on the financial turmoil of the time from both the rich and poor, breaking down the reasons they dislike eachother

This article talks about the political ripple effect that the jungle caused. The text talks about how the horrors of the meatpacking industry were a well-kept secret before this book was published. This book caught the attention of the federal government and helped to achieve social reform.

This underlined quote displays the conditions the workers of the early 20th century had to overcome. Coming from poor areas and having nothing, their jobs could not supply them with any form of security but rather put stress into their lives and destroyed families.

This article describes the working conditions in modern America for teens, the corporation's complience (or lack thereof) of labor laws, and the evolution of these labor laws. The information in this article reflects the positions of the children in The Jungle and FFN, supplying concrete details about the safety risks presented to a younger workforce.

This site is AMAZING for topics regarding treatment of workers. It literally describes in vivid detail the cruelty and carelessness of the corporations, as well as the insignificance and disposability of the worker. No one matters; the companies see people in terms of dollars, not faces or names. People are just a means to an end, a way to get profit. Once the profit ceases, the people are discarded in search of even better workers, which will be discarded in their time as well

Yet again, Sparknotes is a fairly decent source, describing various themes for potential essay topics including the failure of capitalism, corruption in businesses, treatment of the [immigrant]  worker, etc. It's very short, to the point, and concise, talking about how awfully workers are manipulated, and the utter torment they go through on a day-to-day basis, merely trying to survive.

This is a great site for primary sources.

This author describes the way Steinbeck sympathizes with the impoverished lower class. He portrays them in a way that idealizes them for their ability to combat the physical and emotional hardships imposed on them by the bankers. By favoring the migrant farmers, Steinbeck takes advantage of this emotional appeal to the readers and makes his exposé more convincing.

About alleged attempts by Boeing to break their employees' union by building a new plant in South Carolina, a state whose laws are not particularly friendly to organized labor.

The is a good history of worker unrest, not just pertaining to late 19th century America. The Industrial Revolution was by no means the first instance of attempted unionization and worker discomfort.

Comments on the tractor driver in The Grapes of Wrath, and how he had to do what was right for his family. Also discusses other ethical/unethical examples in other works.

An editorial talking about how the migrant farm workers system is broken, and that many migrant farm workers are fleeing places where they can find work because of anti-illegal immigrant laws.

This article appeared in a business magazine, and relates the practices in Fast Food Nation to real life business strategies.

This demonstrates other events that were happening during the late nineteenth century to early twentieth century- not only were migrant farmers from all over America coming to California, but immigrants from Japan, the Philippines, Mexico, and China provided still more competition for work.

Focuses on how retailers are at the mercy of much larger and stronger forces, such as the chains they work for.

this article is a general overview of The Jungle and what its purpose is.

Good site describing migrant struggles

The site gives the general background of migrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The rise of the railroad led to a massive migration from an agrarian based society to an industrial one centered in the city, which was also fed by a myriad of immigrants. Migrants from the midwestern states also experienced a large movement during the early 20th century. Tenant farmers were pushed off their land, and tried to find success in the fertile fields of Calfornia. The source also gives information pertaining to the rise of trade unions in the nation, like the American Federation of Labor.

This author discusses the "brutal realism" that Steinbeck uses to make his message to readers more effective. His writing is designed to emphasize the hardships of the migrant class.