Analysis of Tompkins' The Cotton Mill Commercial Features

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Tompkins’ book Cotton Mill, Commercial Features is a paradigm of the racist and constricted mindset that has been prevalent throughout our countries history. This book was published in 1899; over three decades after the Civil War had ended. Despite the fact that the Union had prevailed during the Civil War, African American’s, as well as other minorities, were still desperately struggling for their freedom. After the Civil War there were more opportunities for African American’s in the Northern portion of the United States. However, by the end of the 1800’s their freedoms and rights were increasing becoming limited in Southern segment of the United States, where the majority of African American’s resided. The government in the South was controlled by rich, white and xenophobic male landowners who sought to prevent those who differed from themselves from obtaining any privileges or influence within their community. While African American’s were struggling to gain equality, Native American’s were being slaughtered, forced to abscond their territory and to conform to reigning ethnicity of that time. Immigrants living within the United States were also facing an excessive amount of adversity and women were still deprived of many liberties and including the right to vote. Throughout this cultural tragedy, America was beginning to industrialize. It was within this framework that Thompkin wrote Cotton Mill, Commercial Feature. This book discusses how a cotton mill in the South should operate, what type of people should work there, how they should live and what benefits the company is required to provide. The author of the book is noticeably biased and that is evident within this publication. This document contains the stereo... ... middle of paper ... ...o are not. However, this belief is only applicable to the white portion of the population. . In conclusion, this document serves to illustrate the racist views that were prevalent within this time. Furthermore, it demonstrates the South’s unenthusiastic views on laws that would serve to protect the working class. I found his views concerning the effect that slavery had in the South to be shocking. While I expected his blatant disregard for the well being of African Americans, as well as his refusal to consider their entitlement to equal rights within our country, I was unprepared for his conviction that slavery had hindered industrial progression. Despite the fact that I was aware of this belief, this document brings it into perspective. I can only conclude that white Southerners formed this belief as a coping mechanism in an attempt at clinging to the pride.

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