The Octopus
One of the most significant inventions to come of age in America in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries was the railroad. It developed new forms of communication and transportation, which in turn revolutionized the ideologies of the nation in relation to the economy and social values. Railroads not only created a rush to get to the West, but also modernized the American way of life. Along with many positive aspects of this modern “marvel” there were those who used it to their advantage and to the disadvantage of others. As the years went by, the railroad industry became monopolized by a few individuals, who exploited individuals such as farmers and laborers. This “heavy” struggle became Frank Norris’ inspiration for writing the muckraking novel, The Octopus. The Octopus, depicts the conflict between farmers and the “Powers” associated with the railroads, but it all didn’t come about so quickly. The origins for the conflict go back to the earlier settlers of California. The vast expanse of land, beautiful scenery, and unique climate made California a farmer’s heaven. The settlers made use of their land wisely, but were overtaken by the next set of settlers, the gold miners. A lot of the money that was made during th
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Leland Stanford, Henry Brewers, Grapes Wrath, Americans Depression, Grand League, Casey Tom, California Chapter, Herbert Hoover, Mussel Slough, California Instead, grapes wrath, grand league, migrant farmers, land farmers, west california, world war, frank norris, broderson osterman, farm families, journey west,
Approximate Word count = 2400
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)
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