Capitalist Traditions: Migrant Labor, American Dreams, and the Bottom Line

Question 1

Reliance on imported foreign labor started early in America. Can you describe the (shifting) roles of African slaves and European indentured servants in colonial America?

Answer 1

Slaves: more expensive, small supply, no law granting land or freedom.

Indentured servants: Large supply, less expensive, law granted rights, land, food, at the end of servitude for males

Middle passage flipped these roles, until 13th amendment

Question 2

How does Andrew Carnegie’s life and views of immigration reflect a strong capitalist perspective on this issue?

Answer 2

emphasized the economic benefits of immigration

Question 3

What were the terms of labor for the “Railroad Chinese” on Gold Mountain?

Question 4

Who is “alone and exploited” in Hannah Dreier’s investigative story?

Answer 4

child migrant workers

Question 5

Why was the Bracero Program begun and why did it last so long?

Answer 5

to address wartime labor shortages, wages were 75% of prevailing wage incentivizing the continuation of the program, grew illegal immigration, short term employment = no promises of rights, capitalist ideology

Question 6

Can you describe the role of migrant workers in U.S. farm labor today?

Answer 6

Growing, 2013: 1.8 mil, 2022: 2.3 mil., 25% of farmworkers, more than $15 bil in taxes, but barred from social services

Question 7

In his piece on “mobility socialism,” what are David Leal’s conservative criticisms of the immigration restriction movement? Why would Ronald Reagan, in his view, oppose modern anti-immigrant voices in the Republican party?