Use the instructions on today's lesson plan to complete this opening.
LINK #1: Profile of Lucy Gonzales Parsons
LINK #2: An unpublished 1934 letter from Lucy Parsons
(For the sake of time, scroll down to the text of the actual letter that starts with "Dear Comrade Lawson...")
1) Parson’s story shows a reoccurring theme in the American Identity throughout the ages: That of singular people inspiring change despite the oppressions of those in power.
ReplyDelete2) The history of May Day shows that laborers have always had to come together to force change in government, and thus rest away control from the rich.
3) I would say that in the short term, reformers have never been successful. However, each reformer acts like a stone in a landslide, inspiring other would be-reformers to speak out. The movement (if it is just) then continues picking up steam until change is inevitable.
I think Parson’s story tells us that the American identity was against people speaking out against what the government wanted. I also think it shows that if something was done during a resistance towards the government they will assume that when something goes wrong it was the person who was speaking out about what they think is right. I also think that it shows that America would kill when they felt threatened by a little person such as Albert Parson’s.
ReplyDelete2. What does the history of May Day tell us about the relationship between Labor, Capital, and the Government?
ReplyDeleteThe history of May Day tells us that the relationship between labor, capital, and government wasn’t a good one still. On May Day people marched for an eight hour workday, a goal for workers rights. This shows that capitals still had not given the laborers what they need and the government still hadn’t made sure the capital did this. If 80,000 citizens still had to march just to get an eight hour work day then that’s how you know capitals and the government weren’t doing their jobs.
1. What Parsons story tells me about the American identity is that people were rebellious and wanted to be taken serious by the rich. What made me think that was when it said “She led poor women into rich neighborhoods “to confront the rich on their doorsteps,”.
ReplyDelete2. What the history of May day tell me about the relationship between labor, capital, and government is that it wasn’t fair at least that how the working people felt and that they deserved more. Also that Lucy wanted better for working women when she urged the IWW to fight for equality and assess underpaid women lower union fees.
The Parson’s tells me that the American identity can sometimes be harsh and that there are people within the American culture that don’t have a problem speaking on how they feel about the injustices that are happening around them and most of the time to them. When I first read this, my reaction was that, how could something like this happen and the local government not do anything about it? Or did they know at all? But I will say that I wasn’t surprise when the text said that her and her husband was ran out of Texas because she was black and he was white. It seemed like the government wasn’t punishing the Ku Klux Klan for intimidating blacks and whites who had black friends.
ReplyDeleteParson's story tells us that Americans are resistant. Throughout our history we have always stood up against something that they believed was the wrong thing and were never afraid to do so. This just proves that if Americans see something wrong in what is going on in their society, they won't hesitate to try to change it.
ReplyDeleteParson’s story really speaks to the “we’re not gonna take it anymore” attitude of many reformers of labor in the United States. I believe that her story also touches down on the issues of mixed race people during this time and how unjustly they were treated, such as when she and her husband (how was of a different race) were driven out of state because their marriage was thought to be dangerous and illegal. She was also described as being a “militant, dynamic, and self taught woman”. These traits really came out when she would lead parades of people all across the U.S in order to win the 8 hour work day for workers. What I got from her story was just how strong one little spark could erupt into a huge social movement.
ReplyDeleteParson’s story tells us many things about the American Identity. One thing it tells us is that people were fighters at this time, but they didn’t fight with violence, but with words. They fought for things they thought were right like the eight-hour work day. They marched for their rights like the first Day Parade. Parson was basically the symbol for workers reform. She wasn’t afraid to do anything and she didn’t stop protesting even when her husband and youngest daughter died. Parson led poor women into rich neighborhoods “to confront the rich on their doorsteps”. She challenged politicians at public meetings, marched in picket lines, and addressed and wrote political tracts for workers’ groups beyond Chicago. She was a fighter that only used words instead of her fists. She called for the use of non-violence, which turned out to stick to many people who used this “non-violent” approach as well.
ReplyDeleteHer story tells us two things, the first being that former slaves had gained a confidence and willingness to fight for rights even just two decades after they were freed, and the second would be that the worker’s movement would incorporate almost anyone if they had the effort to put in to lead a movement against the powerful corporate world.
ReplyDeleteParsons story tell me that the Americans identity, is cruel yet determined one. That on both sides the people were very determine to win against the opposing force. The identity is cruel because they are the Americans are an unforgiving force and they are stubborn.
ReplyDeleteThe history of May Day tells us the Labor, Capital, and Government are all linked
It’s somewhat effective; one downside is that if a bomb goes off or something of that nature. The blame usually goes to rebels, some people are even executed
What does Parson’s story tell us about the American Identity?
ReplyDeleteWhat Mrs. Parson’s story tells us about the American Identity is that no matter where you come from you can always make a difference for what you believe in. Also even though she is not well know today to many the quote that “every dog has its day” is true she may not have a place in our history books but she is obviously made a difference for the “everybody” of today.
1) What does Parson’s story tell us about the American Identity?
ReplyDeleteParson’s life story tells us a lot about the American identity. For example, her, herself is a piece of this identity, a mix breed of people who have been done wrong in society of her day and still too, today. She being an African-, Native-, and Mexican- American speaks of how the different nationalities of the United States were married and had children even though many people thought this was not the best idea but people did it. These three nationalities also had a very important part of American Society being that they fought the injustices of the American law. It shows the bold-ness of the American Identity, sticking up for your-self type of identity…… and she was a strong example of this American Identity.
1. As a result of reading about Lucy Gonzales Parson, the American identity had become this massive strike movement to pass eight-hour day, along with other regulation during that time span. In 1886, she led 80,000 working men and women down Michigan Avenue. This represents how the American Identity back then was. The people of Chicago didn’t want to be taken advantage of and because of that, The Parsons and workers united in the world’s first May Day Parade.
ReplyDelete2. The history of May Day tell us that the relationship between labor, capital and government is not good because workers are engaging in a movement to work eight hours a day instead of longer hours. If the workers continue this movement then they won’t work, and if they’re not working the capitalist won’t earn any revenue, and so on.
3. Though Lucy Parson got arrested several times for speaking truth,
Parson is a labor organizer. She was born of Mexican American, African American, and Native American descent born in slavery. In 1988, Lucy, her husband, and two children stepped onto Michigan Ave to lead 80,000 working people in the world’s first May Day parade and a demand for an eight hour workday. Her story tells us about the American Identity by relating to other strikes other Americans had such as Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement.
ReplyDelete1. The Parson’s story explains to us how the American identity had changed in some areas but had stayed the same in other area. For example in the letter it stated that Lucy Parsons explains how the anarchists and labor activists struggled in this time period to create peace and cease injustices.
ReplyDelete~Shirley-Ann Feliciano
Evaluate the effectiveness of Resistance and Rebellion during this period of American History.
ReplyDeleteI strongly believe that the resistance and rebellion during this period of American History was extremely effective. From the turn of the century progressives were speaking out and protesting for their rights. And with this outspoken way of change, came reactions from government. The US was constantly trying to suppress radical change, as shown by their actions of imprisonment against Eugene Debs. Despite this, people such as Lucy Gonzalez, Margaret Sanger, and many others persisted ensuring their fight would be effective. The personalities and american identities of reformers resulted in effective rebellion. They would not settle for anything less.
Question #2: What does the history of May Day tell us about the relationship between Labor, Capital, and the Government?
ReplyDeleteThe history of May Day tells me that during this period in time the thoughts and ideas between the laborers, capitalists, and government were not in sync. I say this because while I was reading Lucy Gonzalez Parson’s profile it mentioned that while laborers were fighting for an eight hour work day, business elites were pushing against it. Capitalists targeted the workers so that they would fail in accomplishing what they wanted (unions). And through all of this, the government took the side of the elites because during this certain laws weren’t put in place just yet to prevent corrupt things like this.
Tabree Bello
ReplyDeleteOpening: Happy May Day!
1. Parson’s story tells us that the American identity of the time was one, which was racist and segregated and tells us that the government wanted to maintain superiority over those whom they believed to be inferior to them specifically, non – Caucasian people.
2. Labor affects capital which affects government policies which affect capital and labor.
Parson’s story tells us that the American identity was changing. Instead of having a certain group, race or figure represent a group of people, individuals were becoming more self reliant and were addressing issues independently. The history of May Day tells us that labor, capital and government still had different views about socialism; overall they didn’t cooperate with each other. While protesters begged for eight hour work days, the government and capital continued to shun them and make their concerns seem less important. The resistance and rebellion during this period of American history wasn’t immediately effective. The way I see it is that once a rebellion or resistance occurs, people are usually punished by the law immediately after and then years or months later there is some type of law, institution, or significant event (in this case May Day) that acts as a justification for what the “rebels” protested for.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a sad lifestyle that Mrs. Parsons had to live. During this time period slavery was still common in the south and being born and raised in Texas was a bad thing. I believe that her story tells us about the American Identity that we are all the same and when we unite we can all do wonderful things together. So when they all united they did wonderful things, such as the March with Eighty Thousand People. When we all unite we can achieve more things than with just one single person. But it takes that one person to make that difference, and when we all put our differences aside just like in this particular case they were able to have the first ever May Day Parade in 1886, and they DEMANDED a limit for an eight-hour working day.
ReplyDelete1.What does Parson’s story tell us about the American Identity?
ReplyDeleteI think that Parson’s story about the Haymarket Massacre and Worker’s Day shows that during this time period; the American Identity was about reform – by the people and for the people. (Mostly working people who made up majority of America) Here, in just Parson alone, we see several groups of people represented: a woman, a worker, and a minority race; and she’s making changes in everyone’s lives. We see that the people are coming forth to change/make better the conditions in which they live in. For example, the main thing is that she worked hard for an 8 hour workday and organized rallies/parades, like the first May Day Parade in 1886 with 80,000 people! She was also a radical speaker who was accredited “the most talented and eloquent woman of the age”. I think that quote showed that because America supported her in this way, all of America was reforming. And also, in my opinion, she was also a radical reformer in the fact that she married a white man “illegally”! I think her actions not only showed a huge step for the working class but for acceptance of different races as well in the American Identity.