Lecture Participatory Activity
Analysis of Mary Howitt’s “The Spider and the Fly” Poem
The poem “The spider and the fly” presents a key concern related to women during the industrial revolution. In relation, the period offered various employment opportunities following the emergence of multiple industries. To fill the existing labor gaps, factory owners employed women who would work for long hours on cheap labor to maximize their profits. In consideration, Howitt’s poem cautions women from celebrating the employment opportunities offered since they would oversee their suffering.
Similarly, the poem develops outlines the effects of deception, which oversee the exploitation of victims upon following into the laid trap. In particular, the poem outlines the cunning nature of the spider that attracts the fly into its web upon which the spider feeds on the fly. The move is depicted under the suffering incurred by factory girls. In relation, they are subjected to long working hours and denied freedom of expression. Despite their hard work, they get paid meager salaries since they lack education and freely submit themselves to their oppressors.
Lastly, the fil cautions individuals from accepting offers made by strangers in unfamiliar places since they might be traps that will facilitate their restriction and exploitation. In relation, the spider develops sweet words to persuade the fly to accept his offer upon which they fly to visit the web and gets trapped.
Discussion Questions
Question 2
Both the Whiskey rebellion and Lowell Mill strikes sought to condemn oppression developed on poor society members. In particular, the protest aimed to acquire justice and ensure the equality of all participants within their respective industries. In consideration, Whiskey protests demanded the removal of Whiskey tax that oppresses small western distillers at the expense of large eastern distillers. Similarly, Lowell Mill protests demanded better pay for mill workers, most of who were ladies. The I836 protest serves as an example upon which the mill workers demonstrated to discourage the announced wage cut-down (Robinson, 1898).
Regarding the differences in the two protests, Whiskey protests got conducted by the entire population while as Lowell Mills demonstration was developed by “factory girls.” The Lowell Mill strikes got developed by ladies working in the textile industry, demanding laborer’s rights, and a better working environment. Under the demonstration, women demanded better pay and condemned the mistreatment of workers in their workplaces (Robinson, 1989).
Question 3
Under the book “Birthright Citizens,” Martha outlines the various activist activities which sought to acquire justice for Black-Americans who were meant to be deported and got exposed to slavery based on their race and the definition of citizenship based on race. In particular, Black-Americans developed campaigns seeking proper treatment for Black-Americans since they were citizens of the county given; they were born within the country. Among the key activists involved in the struggle include William Yates, who condemned the racial discrimination outlining it as a factor promoting legal disability (Jones, 2018). In relation, he developed a case seeking the rights of men of color more so their status as American citizens. The move oversaw the development of the Civil Rights Acts in 1866 and the Fourteenth Amendment that identified citizens based on birthright. In consideration, everybody born within the country got recognized as a citizen.
The struggle was also developed to discourage slavery activities within the U.S during the industrial revolution period that oversaw the enslavement of Black-Americans. Charles Hacker serves as an example since he produced and distributed the Freedom’s Journal upon which he despised the affliction of Black-Americans, describing that they were among the founding father of America’s independence (Jones, 2018). The move developed the basis for anti-slavery activism upon which Black-Americans demanded their freedom. In return, Black-Americans developed law-suits seeking to attain liberation, which oversaw the abolishment of slave-trade within the country.
References
Jones, M. (2018). Birthright Citizens: A history of race and Rights in Antebellum America. New York: Cambridge University Press. Print
Robinson, H. (1898). Characteristics of early factory girls. Retrieved from www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/robinsonfactgirls,html#:~:text=They%20assume d%20these%20girls%20would,newspaper%2C%20the%20’Lowell%20Offering.