TA Lead: Wealth and Commonwealth

In Wealth and Commonwealth Henry Lloyd critiques the capitalist system that creates wealth, only to breed greed. He claims that, while “nature is rich”, humans everywhere throughout time have been poor. This paradox is due to a flawed system. He believes that there are enough resources to create a comfortable, wealthy life for all. Lloyd appeals to his audiences logic by suggesting that only so much is needed for one person to live a “wealthy” life and that having too much is just as bad as having too little. He reasons that the strive for competition drives the economy and creates liberty, but that the wealth that comes from it destroys liberty. He also touches the heart strings of his audience by arguing that there are enough resources on Earth to provide the global population with comfort and freedom even greater than that of the most idealistic utopian societies ever dreamt up. By stating that our society will not be destroyed from barbarians from below, but rather by those from above, Lloyd makes another emotional appeal while also displaying his character. The statement strikes questioning, if not fear, into those concerned about the direction of society and shows that he strongly believes in the need for greater equality. The author makes a very convincing argument calling for the need to spread the wealth. In particular, pointing out the fact that such a small minority controls such a huge portion of the wealth, while others are starving. He also clearly shows respect for what industry can do by noting that it does create wealth for society but those in control choose to hoard it. He could do better, though, in making a call to action by focusing his efforts toward the factory owners and monopoly-men he is critiquing.

TA Lead: Speech to a White Audience

Chief Joseph is arguing against the injustice of his band of Nez Perce indians being forcibly removed from their land in Oregon. He asserts that no group of men has the right to tell another what to do and that land cannot be owned like an object, saying that any person can go where he pleases. The Wallowa Chief appeal to his audiences emotion by reminding them that the land they are being forced to leave has been their home for generations; it is where they were born and where their ancestors are buried. He also describes the admirable qualities of his father, the Chief before him, and tells of his honest, peaceful struggle to remain on the land. He uses his calm and peaceful attitude to show that though he has faced negative experiences with white men, he remains accepting and simply hopes to use logic to fight his case. This article is very historically significant because it is a clear example of how the Willowa people sought only peace in finding an alternative solution to the demands of relocation they were faced with. It serves as evidence for the alternate route that was not followed before a deadly battle. The author makes a logical argument for peace and was able to win certain concessions for his people, however, it was mostly ineffective because he did not get the harmonious neighbor relationship with white settlers that he believed was possible. He never truly addressed the real issues of those he was opposing. They did not want to live amongst natives and wanted full control of the land.

CDL Lead #2: What Did the Ku Klux Klan Really Want?

The Ku Klux Klan was started as a "social brotherhood", taking its rituals from the college fraternity background of its founders. It quickly turned into far more than just that and spread through the south like a wildfire with new chapters, or "dens" sprouting up. They claimed to have been joined together by a natural "instinct" that they (being white) were a superior race and had a duty to fight to preserve their social and political dominance over the black population. This meant that their attacks were aimed at Republican officials and others who sought to create civil rights for black, though they primarily targeted innocent black citizens, particularly community leaders and politicians. They felt this fight was necessary because they saw an uprising of the black population, politically and socially. The KKK's goal was to use terror tactics against those with opposing views and actions as a way of preserving the status quo. They wanted to prevent the education of black people in the United States because it was a way of trying to make them "like white men" and because it meant less laborers in the fields. Their tactics of burning, whipping and torturing to death apparently had some effect, as planters would utilize the services of the KKK as a way of making their workers more submissive. They essentially became the "military wing of the Democratic party" because of their effective terrorizing of Republican leaders and voters. Unfortunately, because of the twisted court system, Klansmen were almost never punished for their crimes. If a white man committed a crime against a black man, it was nearly impossible to convict. Eventually the federal government stepped in with the Ku Klux Klan Acts of 1870 and 1871 which slowed the KKK, but did not prevent other terror groups from continuing their work.

1.) Why did the Ku Klux Klan feel it was necessary to burn down schools for blacks? Why was education of blacks particularly threatening to them?

2.) How did Ku Klux Klan members in the South get away with their crimes?

Dominic Barrera, "White Gold: The International Empire of Cotton"

Prior to 1793 the production of green seed cotton in the American South was a tedious and time consuming process. WIth the invention of Eli Whitney's new cotton "gin", growers now had a far more efficient way of producing cotton. This new found efficiency spread through the south, and cotton almost instantly overtook rice and tobacco as the primary cash crop. This lead the cotton industry not only in the USA, but also Europe to boom. The new efficiency, however, did not make the situations for the millions of slaves any better. It took the civil war to free the slaves, and ironically, the South's cotton production more than doubled after this point. The American South solidified itself as Britain's primary producer, and would eventually surpass it as the "largest manufacturer of cotton cloth in the world." Eli Whitney's invention helped the American export economy and made cotton readily available to all.

How did Eli Whitney's invention change the economy of the American South?

How was American cotton production linked to the booming of industrial flash cities of England, such as Manchester?