Immigrant Workers In America Cruz Case Study Summary

1. Describe some of the working and living conditions that immigrant workers like Jurgis faced in Chicago’s stockyards and meatpacking plants?

The working conditions faced by Jurgis and other immigrant workers were unsanitary and hazardous. The factories were infested with rats and their droppings were often found throughout the entire factory. Additionally, factories lacked areas where workers could wash their hands prior to eating, so they made it a habit to wash their hands in water that was later used for the canning of the meat. The workers were often over to the point to where they were described to be insensible to anything after the brutal work. Not only were the working conditions poor, but the living conditions as well. The workers often lacked enough means of food to feed their families and were hungry most times causing an uncomfortable hunger which effected the children much more than the adults who had grown accustom and numb to the feeling of hunger. Correspondingly, workers and the families of workers who fell sick were not able to see a doctor when ill and at times faced death due to the lack of medicine and diagnoses by a doctor.

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How did Jurgis and other workers cope with these conditions?

Some workers such as Ona and Elzbieta fell into depression and others like Jurgis looked to drinking in order to cope. Elzbieta was said to often be in a quiet state and lack life in her persona. She would do what was expected of her as a worker and as a mother, but was quiet and slept to avoid the misery of her life. However, Jurgis looked to drinking to bring joy into his life while resenting his family and work. Jurgis and others drank to bring happiness and often joked with each other while intoxicated.

3. What is social Darwinism? How is Sinclair’s writing a critique of social

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Immigrant Workers In America Cruz Case Study Summary

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