Laissez-Faire In The Jungle By Upton Sinclair

Despite, The Jungle by Upton Sinclair showing a horrific struggle of America's working-class, the federal government does not have the responsibility to enact policies or take action to help the situation of American workers. This can be deduced through the U.S. government's tradition of laissez-faire as well as the principles stated in the U.S. constitution. The U.S government’s practice of “laissez-faire” is one aspect which makes it difficult to aid struggling workers. Laissez-faire is a policy where the government does not intervene in the practices of businesses and citizens. The government’s practice of laissez-faire is shown through the dominance of meat packing companies at this time. For example, in The Jungle, the main character
American law and tradition has shown that equality is moral that many Americans believe in and practice. For instance, in the Declaration of Independence, it is stated that all men are created equal, which shows the intention of our founding fathers to create a nation in which all its citizens are equal. However, this balance of equality will be disrupted if the federal government conspicuously helps American workers deal with their financial troubles. Aiding American workers will show that the government is favoring the laborers because in order to help them, the government will need to pass a law or act advantageous towards the working class. An effort made by the government to help the working class will most likely not allow other people to benefit, because they are not of the same socioeconomic status as American workers. Furthermore, the federal government cannot only help the plight of American workers because it would be against the American tradition of equality and anti-favoritism. Historians may say that the federal government aiding blacks during Reconstruction shows how the factory workers should be helped too. However, this was a different case than the worker’s because the workers have been free from the beginning, meaning there are no restraints on what the workers could do. In the black's, case they had been restrained their whole lives so they would need help to understand society from a free person’s perspective. Furthermore, there are other Americans who are suffering from financial difficulties other than factory workers, like farmers. In The Jungle, Jurgis temporarily becomes rooms through the countryside, staying on farms for food and shelter. In exchange for food and shelter, Jurgis works for farmers who are in need for a hand. Thus, it would be unfair to just help American workers because many