The Pros And Cons Of Industrialization

Industrialization can make life better for some, but it can also lead to oppression for others. Throughout history, people have oppressed others again and again, usually claiming that it is all done “in the name of progress.” We see this in the Peruvian Amazon Company’s treatment of the natives, and in the way that those who benefited from the rubber collected allowed the oppression to continue. The Industrialization of Peru made life for the natives rough, and often even impossible. The natives were tortured by the owners of the Peruvian Amazon Company, and the population of Indians in the area dropped by about two-thirds (from about 30,000 to 10,000) while the company had them “employed” to bring in rubber. Even though slavery was outlawed in British companies, the Indians were treated as slaves. The

Indians who didn’t make the quota for bringing in rubber were put into the cepos, or stocks, and they were given “the mark of Arana” through whipping. Some had heavy chains placed over their bodies. Muchachos de confianza, young men hired from rival tribes, were sent after any Indians who tried to escape. Indians who tried to escape were shot, burned, or had their bodies mutilated as an example to the other Indians. Wives and children were held hostage or forced into sexual servitude to the caucheros. Many children were also forced to collect rubber, often carrying loads that weighed more than they did. Many Indians died because of malnutrition. They were so busy collecting enough rubber that they didn’t have time to grow their own food, and the caucheros only gave them food sometimes. In his investigation, Casement was able to see, “…all the telltale signs that everything he had read had prepared him for- malnutrition and disease, slavery, and abusive an illegal punishment.” (pg. 112) While industrialization