Red Meat Republic: A Hoof-to-Table History of How Beef Changed America

In the late 19th century, beef production in the US became a highly centralized industry, with cattle bred on ranches in the West, slaughtered in Chicago, and consumed in the nation's growing cities. Red Meat Republic tells the story of the violent conflict over who would reap the benefits of this new industry and who would bear its heavy costs. Joshua Specht puts people at the heart of his story, including big cattle ranchers, meatpackers, and stockyard workers, and shows how the meatpackers' ability to make their interests overlap with those of a hungry public led to the enduring success of the cattle-beef complex.

Format: Hardback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 07 May 2019
Publisher: Princeton University Press

By the late 19th century, both the rich and poor in America had come to expect high-quality, fresh beef with almost every meal. Beef production in the United States had undergone a remarkable transformation, transitioning from small-scale, localized operations to a highly centralized industry that spanned the entire country. Cattle were bred on ranches in the rural West, slaughtered in Chicago, and then consumed in the rapidly growing cities across the nation.

Red Meat Republic, a captivating and thoroughly enjoyable book, delves into the intricate history of exploitation and innovation that shaped the food we consume today. It tells the remarkable story of the violent conflict over who would reap the benefits of this new industry and who would bear its heavy costs. Joshua Specht places the human element at the center of his narrative, focusing on the significant cattle ranchers who played a crucial role in driving the nation's westward expansion, the meatpackers who revolutionized industrialized slaughterhouses, and the stockyard workers who faced shocking and unsanitary conditions, as depicted by Upton Sinclair in his novel The Jungle.

Specht vividly brings to life a turbulent era marked by Indian wars, Chicago labor unrest, and food riots in the streets of New York. He demonstrates how the enduring success of the cattle-beef complex, characterized by its centralized nature, low costs, and meatpacker dominance, was a result of the meatpackers ability to align their interests with the needs and desires of a hungry public. At the same time, the interests of struggling ranchers, desperate workers, and bankrupt butchers took a backseat. This transformation had a profound impact on America and the American table, shaping the food industry for generations to come.

Red Meat Republic offers a compelling and insightful exploration of the complex history behind the food we eat. It sheds light on the struggles, triumphs, and compromises that have shaped the industry, providing a valuable perspective on the origins of the modern industrial food complex. Whether you are a food enthusiast, history buff, or concerned citizen, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex relationship between food, power, and society.

Weight: 538g
Dimension: 151 x 224 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691182315