Answer to Question #274918 in History for lily

Question

What does the structure of the company town of Pullman say about George Pullman’s attitude toward its residents?

Answer 1

Although Pullman saw the town as an effort to curb labor, poverty, and unrest, it was evident that he had an attitude of discrimination through the structure of the town. this was seen in the housing within it that reflected the social hierarchy of the workforce. Freestanding homes were for executives, row houses for skilled or at least senior workers, tenements for unskilled workers, and rooming houses for common laborers. George Pullman prohibited independent newspapers, public speeches, town meetings, or open discussion. His inspectors regularly entered homes to check for cleanliness, and the company could terminate leases on 10 days’ notice. The churches often stood empty because approved (Protestant) denominations would not pay the high rent, and no other. his good aims for this town were not seen since he opted to reduce the wages of people, but increase rent thus further discriminating the poor who could barely afford rent.