Asked by obamason

“The Italian laborer does more than his share of work and receives less than his share of earnings; for as a matter of fact, the laws enacted with regard to this matter oppress the laborer and assist rather than hamper the contractor. Even supposing that the contractor does not succeed in importing contract labor, he finds in the market a large number of men entirely at his mercy, with not even the weak [government] promise to defend themselves against [the contractor’s] greed. . . .

“The contractor is sure to depart from the terms of the contract either as to wages, or hours of labor, or the very nature of the work. . . . The employer . . . recognizes [only the contractor, not the laborers], and all wages are paid to him. He [keeps a portion of] these for his own benefit. . . . Meanwhile the [working] men have to live, and to obtain food they increase their debt with the contractor.”

S. Merlino, journalist, article on contractors who recruit immigrant laborers for employers, The Forum magazine, 1893

In your response, be sure to address all parts of the question. Use complete sentences; an outline or bulleted list alone is not acceptable.

Using the excerpt, answer (a), (b), and (c).

Briefly explain ONE cause of a historical development in the excerpt.

Briefly explain ONE point of view of the excerpt.

Briefly explain ONE way in which the situation in the excerpt is significant for a historical argument about immigration in the Gilded Age.

use simple words 1-2 sentences each section

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
(a) One cause of the development described is rapid industrial growth and weak labor laws, which gave employers and contractors a strong incentive to recruit cheap immigrant workers and to pay them poorly.

(b) The point of view is critical of the contractors and the laws; the author sympathizes with the Italian laborers and blames employers and the legal system for their exploitation.

(c) The situation is significant because it shows how many immigrants were trapped in low pay and debt, which helps explain growing labor unrest and demands for reform and regulation of immigration and labor practices in the Gilded Age.