Dorothy worked at a meat packing plant during the 1920s. Slaughterhouse is a book about the other reality behind our demand for cheap meat, and lots of it. How chicagos slaughterhouse spectacles paved the way for big meat. Treatment of animals the truth about the food industry. Tables are divided by division, occupation, and district, as well as by sex. Leadership comes with the burden of responsibility. His primary purpose in describing the meat industry and its working conditions was to advance socialism in the united states. Constitutional rights foundation bill of rights in action fall 2008 volume 24, no. The big four meatpackers high country news know the west. And these meat companies, for example, tend to be publicly held, so the share value is being distributed throughout the national economy to individual americans. Meat packing is on a roll ebook bemis north america. Recent examples on the web in cudahy, the union that represents workers at smithfield foods inc. Throughout history, meat inspection legislation, regulations, and procedures have been altered to keep pace with changing methods of beef production, slaughter, processing, and consumption.
The growing meat packing industry during the latter half of the 1800s, the railroads expanded rapidly across the united states and its territories, providing for improved transportation of livestock. The salt opened in 1865, chicagos union stock yard was the greatest. Which of the following is the most accurate description of the us between 1880 and 1920. Meatpacking definition of meatpacking by merriamwebster. Concentration affects the public health, not just its pocket book. Its reinforced concrete construction is an example of early twentieth century industrial construction, the first of its type in omaha, nebraska. Meatpacking definition is the wholesale meat industry.
The decade of 1910 to 1920 is the most critical time in victorias development. Working conditions in the new urban industrial zones were wretched, and a progressive reform movement soon grew out of the need to address the health and welfare of the american worker. A guide to the honaker family papers, 18591920 a collection in special collections, kegley library. Photography collection topics meat industry united states. While animals are a point of focus of this book, i wouldnt call slaughterhouse an animal rights or vegan work. One example of the cruelty and inhumane treatment of the cattle is how they were killed. The meatpacking industry during the early 1900s was unsanitary, unregulated and incredibly dangerous work. Consumer activist go after red meat industry 1980 1989 also, more emphasis on food safety and sanitation, four beef packers slaughtered about 80% of cattle. From the jungle to the western front, which books have brought about social change. Sinclairs book was so moving and troubling that it inspired the establishment of the food and drug administration, a federal agency that is to this day responsible for regulating. The jungle, a 1906 novel by upton sinclair, is full of graphic descriptions of the poor conditions workers and cattle endured in the chicago meatpacking industry. September 6, 2015 in the beginning he had been fresh and strong, and he had gotten a job. Honaker and an 1918 letter from stuart french honaker during his world war i service. Children as young as three were often employed and forced to work long hours sometimes 1215 hour days for very little.
The meat packing industry handles the slaughtering, processing, packaging, and distribution of meat from animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and other livestock. Although the courts failed to indict, the national packing company voluntarily dissolved in 1912. Utterly disturbing, centuryold photos of meatpacking. Although the book was written to highlight the plight of the working poor and the deeprooted corruption of people. Once germans, who loved spareribs, moved to the city, the meat processors had a market for the ribs. In the packer consent decree of 1920, the big three agreed to sell their holdings in stockyards, foodrelated companies, coldstorage facilities, and the retail meat business. Americas many stockyards were known to be filthy, and a breeding ground for diseased meat.
Technological advancements, such as refrigerated rail cars and electricity, made yearround business possible for the meat packing industry. Some critics say todays meat packing industry in america is little better than the one described by upton sinclair in the jungle a century ago. Conditions in meatpacking plants 1906, by upton sinclair. A book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Although meatpacking was hard work and many people did not prosper from it, some people certainly did benefit. Our famous premium beef hot dogs, topped the traditional chicago way with all of the authentic stuff. President 19011909 a naturalist, was sickly as a child and stayed inside and focused on school. Unit 4 progressive era 19001920 flashcards quizlet. Hanley, milwaukee journal sentinel, were going to work and putting our families at risk.
It was founded in chicago, in 1867, by the armour brothers led by philip danforth armour. Which of the following is least accurate about the meat packing industry about 1900. The meat, poultry and egg product inspection directory is a listing of establishments that produce meat, poultry, andor egg products regulated by usdas food safety and inspection service. In the book history of wages in the united states from colonial times to 1928. In 1906 upton sinclairs novel the jungle focused attention on unsavory conditions in the packing plants and led to the federal meat inspection act of 1906. Final inspection of cattle collection the pageant of america collection. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. His description of diseased, rotten, and contaminated meat shocked the public and led to new federal food safety laws. The inspections were done by the secretary of agriculture and were focused on protecting the diet of americans. The jungle may have led to some reforms, but working conditions in meatpacking plants remained dangerous and often wretched, though they improved for a few decades. This facility was then the second largest hogpacking plant in north america.
In 1906, upton sinclairs novel the jungle uncovered harrowing conditions inside americas meat packing. Sinclair wrote the novel to portray the harsh conditions and exploited lives of immigrants in the united states in chicago and similar industrialized cities. Victoria, tx victoria county the handbook of texas. Buy vienna beef chicagos hot dogs, sausage, grilling. One of the first meatpacking plants was established there in 1869. It creates a system whereby a foodborne pathogen may be distributed to a large population of consumers. Meat packing industry 1920s by grace smavik on prezi. How chicagos slaughterhouse spectacles paved the way for. Condemning bad meat collection the pageant of america collection.
Conditions in meatpacking plants 1906, by upton sinclairthe explosive growth of american industry in the late nineteenth century caused a similar expansion in the work force. The meat packing act was also known as the meat inspection act of 1906. Even though the jungle was set in chicago, sinclair went out of his way to point out that packingtown was a synecdoche for the american meat packing industry as a whole. During those years the countys population increased 21. This excerpt from upton sinclairs muckraking novel of the chicago meatpacking industry describes, in graphic detail, how cattle are slaughtered and. After you look at these images of meatpacking facilities from early last century, youll understand why social reformer upton sinclair wrote his great 1906 novel the jungle about workers.
The best books published during the 1920s decade 1920 1929. Report shows hours and earnings of workers in the slaughtering and meat packing industry. By 1880, the company had become chicagos most important business and had helped make chicago and its union stock yards the center of americas meatpacking industry. Roosevelt supported pure food and drug law, created the bureau of corporations to inspect business earnings, prohibited discrimination by the railroads, and enforced the sherman antitrust act. The william davies company facilities in toronto, ontario, canada, circa 1920. Beef sales and exports declined, and in response, and with support from large packing houses stung by the. In 1906 upton sinclairs muckraking novel, the jungle, stirred a public outcry against unsanitary condition and labor abuses in the packing industry. North america resources ebooks ebook meat packing is on a roll amcor and bemis combine to create global consumerpackaging leader on 11 june, amcor completed its acquisition of bemis, forming a company with one great future unmatched talent and safety, comprehensive reach and scale, industrybest operations and innovation, and a. Meat packing industry 1920s by grace smavik on prezi all weak stomachs beware. The jungle is a 1906 novel by the american journalist and novelist upton sinclair 18781968.
Employers squashed unionization efforts in 19191920, but in the 1930s. A short history companies want to make a profit only an idiot would disagree. After you look at these images of meat packing facilities from early last century, youll understand why social reformer upton sinclair wrote his great 1906 novel the jungle about workers. Photography collection topics meat industry united states food. Also included are two mid1800s land deeds of peter g. A history of the meat industry ansc 3404 published by the american meat science association. This act was a federal law that could condemn any meat product that was thought unfit for the consumption of humans. As the meat packing industry has become dominated by four firms and as industry practices such as the higher speed chains the chances of food contamination have risen. Report shows hours and earnings of workers in the slaughtering and meatpacking industry. Final inspection of cattle nypl digital collections. A guide to the honaker family papers, 18591920 honaker.