Question

mr. adkins
us history
why did the homestead strike turn violent? dbq

document a: emma goldman
sourcing

1. who was emma goldman? what position do you expect her to take with the strike?

emma goldman was an anarchist and labor activist
she likely supported the strikers

1. what kind of document is this? when was this written? how does this make you feel about the reliability of the document?

it is a historical written account written account from may 1892. reliability has both subjective and significant aspects

close reading

1. write down all the words or phrases that seem particularly strong.

abolish means open declaration of war. slaughter means make the company seem wrong due to suggesting extreme behavior

1. do these words make one side seem

ight\ or \wrong\? how do you know?

1. whose perspective is missing from this document?

document a: emma goldman (modified)
it was may 1892. trouble had broken out between the carnegie steel company and its workers, organized in the amalgamated association of iron and steel workers. amalgamated association was one of the biggest and most efficient unions in the country, consisting mostly of strong americans, men of decision and grit, who stood up for their rights. the carnegie company, on the other hand, was a powerful corporation. andrew carnegie, its president, had turned over management to henry clay frick, a man known for his hatred of unions and workers.
the carnegie company enjoyed great wealth and prosperity. wages were arranged between the company and the union, according to a sliding scale based on the current market price of steel products.
andrew carnegie decided to abolish the sliding scale. the company would make no more agreements with the amalgamated association. in fact, he would not recognize the union at all. then, he closed the mills. it was an open - declaration of war.
the steel - workers declared that they were ready to take up the challenge of frick. they would insist on their right to organize and to deal collectively with their employers. their tone was manly, ringing with the spirit of their rebellious forebears of the revolutionary war.
then the news flashed across the country of the slaughter of steel - workers by pinkertons. in the dead of night, frick sent a boat packed with strike - breakers and heavily armed pinkerton thugs to the mill. the workers stationed themselves along the shore, determined to drive back fricks hirelings. when the boat got within range, the pinkertons had opened fire, without warning, killing a number of homestead men on the shore, among them a little boy, and wounding scores of others.
source: emma goldman was political activist and writer who fervently supported workers rights. she documents her account came from her first - hand experience.

Explanation:

1. Emma Goldman was an anarchist and labor - activist, so she was likely to support the strikers as she advocated for labor rights.
2. It is a historical written account from May 1892. Reliability has subjective and objective aspects. While it is a contemporary account, the author's bias as a labor - advocate may affect its objectivity.
3. Words like "abolish" and "slaughter" are strong. "Abolish" implies an open declaration of war and "slaughter" makes the company seem wrong by suggesting extreme behavior. These words make the company seem "wrong" as they are used to describe actions that are harsh and violent.
4. The perspective of the company management (other than Frick) and perhaps some neutral third - party observers is missing.

Answer:

1. Emma Goldman was an anarchist and labor activist, so she likely supported the strikers.
2. It is a historical written account from May 1892. Reliability has subjective and objective aspects.
3. Strong words: abolish, slaughter. They make the company seem wrong as they suggest extreme behavior.
4. The perspective of other company management and neutral third - party observers is missing.