A People’s Readalong: Chapters 10 and 11
by Jenners • 03/26/2012 • A People's Readalong, History, Non-Fiction, P Titles, Z Authors • 31 Comments
Fizzy Jill and I (and some others…although I think the number is dwindling as the weeks drag by) are reading a chapter a week of Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States. Feel free to join us in whatever way you prefer—by reading along, commenting, or writing your own posts. To keep things organized, link up posts over at Jill’s blog as she is the quasi-official host who designed the button and reading schedule. (By the way, we’re doing posts every other week now instead of every week.) This post covers Chapters 10 and 11.
Oh Dear
This past week, spring sprung in our neck of the woods and it has been simply gorgeous! Daffodils are blooming. Birds are singing. The sun has been shining. It has been breezy and warm and lovely. The point of telling you this is to say that reading Zinn’s book is difficult under the best of circumstances but darn near impossible with weather like this calling you to from an opened window.
I tried. I really did. I actually finished Chapter 10 (The Other Civil War) and made it about halfway through Chapter 11 (Robber Barons and Rebels) before admitting defeat. I just couldn’t sit on the deck, in the sunshine, with birds singing and make myself read about how capitalists are evil and greedy and exploit working people. I just couldn’t. So, for the first time in this readalong, I didn’t complete the reading. Sigh. However, I shall try to muster some thoughts together to give you the gist of what I was able to read.
So You Think Your Job Sucks
Chapter 10 focuses on the oppression of the working folks and non-landowners by the upper class. The Anti-Renter movement is discussed at length, and then the rest of the chapter details the various ways that companies/capitalists exploited their workers and how the working people attempted to fight back by striking, which were (usually) put down by militias or government troops. As miserable as any one of us might be in our jobs, these poor people (including children) were basically factory slaves—working 12- to 14-hour days in awful conditions and then often being paid in company scrip (which could only be spent at the company store). Total exploitation. The main idea that you get after reading about countless failed strikes is that the nascent federal government basically did everything it could to support business and its interests at the expense of the working people. Although some strikes were successful and eventually workers were able to gain an 8-hour workday, it was a long and bloody battle that often cost people their lives.
Chapter 11 seems to continue with this theme—focusing on the rise of various moguls like J.P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie and the like and how various populist/socialist movements arose to fight back against the rich who continued to get richer at the expense of the working folk. Issues of rivalry between various ethnic groups is also covered (new immigrants were often used as strike breakers).
Through this all, the federal government is basically in the pocket of the rich businessmen—with bribery of congressmen being quite common and the Supreme Court ruling in favor of businesses over and over again. The lack of true differences between the political parties also begins to show up. Consider this quote from Chapter 11, which seemed as relevant today as it did back in 1877:
The presidential election itself had avoided real issues; there was no clear understanding of which interests would gain and which would lose if certain policies were adopted. It took the usual form of election campaigns, concealing the basic similarity of the parties by dwelling on personalities, gossip and trivialities. Henry Adams, an astute literary commentator of the era, wrote to a friend about the election:
We are here plunged in politics funnier than words can express. Very great issues are involved….But the most amusing thing is that no one talks about real interests. By common consent they agree to let those alone. We are afraid to discuss them. Instead of this, the press is engaged in a most amusing dispute whether Mr. [Grover] Cleveland has an illegitimate child and did or did not live with more than one mistress.
Trying Again
Sorry this week’s post is a bit fragmented and choppy. (Check out Nomadreader’s excellent posts, which put mine to shame. Plus she is posting every week.) In fact, the only reason this post got written was because the weather turned a bit cold and rainy. I will attempt to do better next week with Chapter 12 (The Empire and the People) and Chapter 13 (The Socialist Challenge). However, if the weather holds up, I just can’t imagine how I’m going to get through a chapter by Howard Zinn called “The Socialist Challenge” without significant difficulty. Wish me luck!
The nice weather is keeping me from the laptop. I give you credit for plowing along with this challenge.
“Cold and rainy? Will post.”
“Sunny and nice? I’ll be outside playin’!”
Love it!! I need to virtually embroider that and hang it on my blog!
TOo bad I didn’t make it more rhyme-ier like a poem or something.
Too bad I didn’t make it more rhyme-ier like a poem or something.
Your one-dog carpet wrecking machine is just ADORABLE!! what a face.
It’s hard to get anything done when it’s sunny and beautiful outside. Especially after cold and rain. Enjoy it while you can, winter will be back around before you know it. Great review as well of chapters 10 and 11. I have never heard of the book before.
Winter will NOT be back around … I can’t think of that. (Actually, we barely had any winter this year at all. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and get a big snowstorm but I don’t think that is actually going to happen.)
I’m so glad I read these two chapters in different weeks. They’re both long, and even though I’m enjoying this book, I’m enjoying it in my weekly segments. If I were reading it simply as a book, I don’t think I’d make it. I am eager to get really into the 1900s, which is where my knowledge of American history is strongest. Hang in there!
I would have NEVER made it if I attempted to read this book straight through. The chapters do seem to be getting longer. To be honest, I’m thinking of switching to the kid’s version. It isn’t so jam-packed with fact after fact. It is all those little factoids that start to get to me and wear me down.
You have spring! How lovely! Get out there and enjoy it.
I am enjoying it … or I was until the allergies kicked in.
I find it hard to read and sit at my computer when the sun is finally shining! I apologize for slacking off with my reading and post but I’ve been sickish and work has been nuts. At some point I hope to do another post with resource links. Happy sunshine and daffodils!
No need to apologize! I would totally understand if you were feeling wellish and had 10 weeks of vacation!! : ) Hope you feel better.
I wish you the best of luck! It sounds like a very informative book, but I have to admit to being glad I didn’t join in this time around.
Be very glad you didn’t join in. You made the right choice.
Thanks for your honest reaction to this book. It does sound difficult, but the truth ain’t always easy (duh!)!
That is true. The truth isn’t always easy. But it doesn’t have to so dry and boringly (if that is a word) presented either.
Zinn is definitely a downer and there isn’t anything positive to hold on to with his writing so I can imagine that trying to read it on a sunny day would not work! Hopefully the next chapter will be better. I read this one for school so wonder what I would think about trying to read it for “fun”.
As you probably know by now, this isn’t a book you read for “fun.” I’m reading it as part of some attempt to better myself and my education. However, I feel that I could have picked better. It is feeling a lot like homework now.
Like I mentioned over at Jill’s site, I gave up on this one. It was just too much for me, and though it started off grand, things just sort of devolved over time. I feel embarrassed that I couldn’t finish this one, but I think a lot of us are having issues with it. And I don’t blame you for spending time out in the sun over reading this one!
Oh I would be abandoning this one too if I wasn’t one of the “hosts” for the readalong. (That would be embarrassing.) It did start off great, didn’t it? And then it just went downhill from there. I’m hoping (praying) it perks up in the more modern times. I think what he has to say is important but it is difficult to pay attention long enough to get it all. Don’t feel embarrassed … I feel awful for convincing you to get the book in the first place!
I don’t blame you for not wanting to sit and read while this awesome Spring weather beckons.
Unbeleiveable about how the workers were treated, such a shame.
It is horrifying to realize how hard people had to work back in the day … for barely a living wage. It makes you wonder what joy or interest they even got from life.
Slacker!
I actually liked the chapters (and I use the word like loosely…in comparison to the other chapters, I was fascinated…I still almost fell asleep, though) for this week. But did you notice how much longer they seemed?
YES!! These chapters are longer (or just feel that way). I kept thinking things were wrapping up and then he goes on for 10 more pages. I don’t know how much longer I can last!
How many chapters are in the book? I can understand your dilemma – I keep hearing fish taunting me from our pond.
The quote you included is SO fitting for today! It sometimes gets me listening to people bash both sides…Democrats AND Republicans (third parties don’t stand a chance in our system) because I’m one of those who thinks they’re ALL sorry for the most part.
There are 25 chapters in the book so we’re creeping up to halfway there. Oh dear. I wish it were more.
And it is an oddly fitting quote for today isn’t it?
Oh dear, it sounds as if you are really struggling with this. I think a pat on the back is deserved for you getting so far.
Thank you for my pat on the back. I am struggling with this book. Sigh.
I fully understand your dilema of reading when it’s sunshine and rainbows out there. We’re suppose to have a blast of cold today, I need it, I’m cleaning my basement and it doesn’t take much to distract me, like a pot of tea, or a cookie or sunshine.
Well they do say that the more things change the more they stay the same, re: the quote from the book. Good luck maybe the weather will hold out and you’ll get some reading done.
Cookies and sunshine will do it to me every time! It was sunny today but really windy … yet still I did no reading.