Joseph Henry: Job Application

Japan - Revolution and Modernization: thoughts and reflections

          Just before the eighteen-fifties, if a traveler were to visit Japan they would remark about its primitive structure of government and society. The mix of sexes in bath houses, and the chaotic sport of sumo-wrestling where two of the more primitive parts of the Japanese' lifestyle. The lack of an overruling government was another. When concerned with the separation of rights between foreigners and native Japanese, the government did not step in to establish any laws that should be in place. This would all soon change though, because of the 20 years of modernization that, however creating pollution and unhappiness, would hep Japan to become a wold power. 

          Japan modernized in a few different ways. They created the position of the emperor to establish an overruling monarch in charge of running the government. A mint was created in order to produce imperial coinage for the country, they replaced their feudal domains with prefectures, adopted the solar calendar, built railways, created a compulsory education and military system, and permitted marriage between different social classes. Later on in the eighteen-seventies, large factories were created and sold to private owners while a western-style postal system was in development. Japan also started to bring in english teachers and workers to further bring in western influence into Japan. These different small contributions to Japan were what advanced it from an isolated country to a major world power.  

Dynasty and Destiny: thoughts and reflections

Currently in society there is a large amount of competition throughout the economy. However, this was not how things always were. By creating mass production and mass marketing which fueled mass consumption, the Ford Motors company started the modern race for winning consumers and creating goods. Henry Ford was the inventor of the moving assembly line who created the idea of identical replaceable parts for his cars and a higher salary for his workers. He believed that his employees should be able to afford what they make, so he doubled their salaries. 

His company also changed the automobile industry. From the prosperity of Ford Motors other companies found ground to start up, creating the first competition in the automobile industry. These new companies were able to grow and gain mass amounts of revenue while Ford Motors slowly lost profit because of their production of the Model T car, which by the 1970's, was outdated. 

Labor unions were a crucial part of developing the work environment that we have today. This is because they brought power to the workforce. These unions discussed social justice, and were the first time that workers were allowed to organize. These groups also allowed workers to fight their bosses legally to protect their rights in the workspace. The power of employees has drastically changed through the twentieth century, and the creation of labor unions would prove to be one of the largest factors that created this change. 

Hard Times: thoughts and reflections

  When thinking of the advancements made by the human race, there are a few major times in history where more invention and improvement have occurred than any other. One of these points in history is the Industrial Revolution. With the creation of large factories and the mass production of products the Industrial Revolution improved the lives of many people. The exceptions to this new improvement in living were the lives of the poor living during the Industrial Revolution, the factory workers. 

Present in both Engel's History of the Working Class and Dickens' Hard Times were the descriptions of the lives of the poor. It is very apparent in both writings that the lives of those who worked for the factories in large cities were not great. The condition of the city or town that the workers lived in was terrible. Smoke covered the sky, conditions were crowded, and there was coal and dirt covering every building. The poor had to live in horribly dirty conditions both inside and outside of their small homes. Also apparent in these towns was the lack of anything that was not related to work. Giant factories surrounded by small houses built for the employees were a large part of cities. These factories did not support their workforce with their revenue, but instead supported their benefactors. The pay was very low for those who did the work. 

These three characteristics of the lives of the working class were seen in both of the reading. Hard Times did not give too many specifics. However, Engel's writing supported the same ideas of how horrid the conditions of the poor were. 

The Condition of the Working Class in England: thoughts and reflections

         As detailed throughout the text, Engels feels that the condition of the urban working class in England at the time of industrialization was horrid. The poor lived in small one room cellars grouped together into the slums. Overcrowded, damp, dirty, and without proper furnishings, household necessities, or even a good meal, the poor were left to work in horrible factories that tired them to the point of utter exhaustion to keep their cursed lives going. Men had a hard time finding jobs, so the women were usually sent to work in factories while the men became the women of the house and did household chores as their work. Many suffered from hate of this situation of powerlessness over what they cold do with their lives. A family should be able to support themselves in a way that leads to a good living. With the mother of the house trying to support the family, she has no time for her children, which isolates them from the family feeling like outsiders. The mother can also not provide healthy food for her children to consume. This led to malnourishment in the working class. Engels thought that a family should be supported by the father figure and the mother should take care of the children. The life of the urban poor completely flips the idea to the exact opposite. 

The industrial revolution did advance the output of what people could create. However, it created a huge conflict. The ones working the factories to produce the goods suffered greatly in the face of progress. With the polluted atmosphere of the city and the cramped dirty conditions the poor had it harder than before when they were begging in small towns. This led to a two sided view on industrial improvement; it is beneficial to society, and it is hazardous to the health of the populace. 

The Great Train Robbery: thoughts and reflections

          Before the beginning of industrialization in the 1800's people were isolated, poor, and lived working in small businesses. Never before had the working class been mobilized to power large companies that shaped the urban lifestyles of society in the West. These large factory companies moved into small towns and gathered workers to run their machines. This increase in pay for work improved the life of people from all classes of society. However, while these new large corporations took over small isolated towns people rejected what they produced. This can be seen with the creation of railway systems. They connected society as an easy and cheap mode of transport for people and goods. Connecting the country, it allowed for more trade. Trains on the other hand led to an shift in theft. They themselves now served as targets to be robbed. In this way criminals were able to prey on the progress that the railway systems created. 

          In modern times new technologies have led to huge advancements in science and economy. With these instruments society has grown. One example of a newly created technology is the drone. The human race for the firs time is now able to fly out to battles to survey information or fight without endangering human life. However, at the same time it can be seen that terrorist groups could get their hands on drones to bomb cities. Even small criminals can get their hands on a small drone and fly it over to a store with weaponry to rob their safes. Technology can be used in many ways, but their are two main categories: to help the economy or people within it, or to hurt them. 

The Human Story Chapter 14: thoughts and reflections

          "We make more and live better," (235). These are well fitted words to describe the contents of chapter 14 in The Human Story. This chapter talks about the industrial revolutions in Britain. These technological advancements in the creation and mass production of products were what allowed people of that time to create more, sell more, and earn more to better their lives. This can be seen the the working class as they worked for growing companies. Those enterprises steadily gained revenue, and because of this rise they could provide their workers with cheap houses for them to stay in an have them continually work for the company. This allowed the working class to free themselves from only buying necessities like food. Another thing that changed the lives of the working class was Ford's invention of the model T car. It was cheap for people to buy, and made the lower classes able to be mobile for the first time. As factory companies grew they were able to finance large changes in the economy. An example would the the creation of railroads to connect the country. Before the rise in industry, producers of goods, alone or in small groups, were not able to produce large amounts of goods and were not able to earn much because of it. The industrial revolutions happened in Britain because of the growing populace and their increasing need for goods. Larger factories need large amounts of laborers to run them. This, along with clever inventors is what fueled these revolutions.