Employment and Industry

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This document is a photo of the English class 1914-1915 in the Ford Company taken by the Photographic Department of Ford. This item illustrates one aspect of what is Americanization after the immigration period. The school took pictures to keep memories but also to show and to affirm the progress and the benefits of those English school on immigrants. On the picture, there is a teacher and men who are seated on desks, they look very concentrated. A lesson is written on the board, and all the men look like children raising their hands in class. When Ford recruited immigrants with a lot of different nationalities, the language was the main issue. This source demonstrates that the companies, the government, the people invest a lot in massive immigration. It is also interesting because this photo only shows the good side of immigration and measures that were taken. In order to solve the issue of language, English classes were created. A lot of foreign-born workers experienced Americanization through language instruction.

 

 

This document is a newspaper article published on January 7, 1914, two days after the announcement by Henry Ford and his vice-president about the double wages. In fact, on January 5, 1914, Ford Motor Company increase wages from 2,30$ to 5$.  The poverty that immigration and other economic issues produced influenced the industry field. By increasing wages, Ford wanted better living conditions for his workers.  Immigration impacts the number of inhabitants, it provokes more demand and creates a better economy. The mass European immigration of the early 19th century impacted US economy, but also participate in the improvement of workers’ living conditions in US industries.