American History Chapter 6 The Expansion of American

American History Chapter 6: The Expansion of American Industry IV. The Great Strikes

Objectives • Discover the impact of industrialism on the gulf between rich and poor. • Find out the goals of the early labor union in the US. • Learn why Eugene V. debs formed the American Railway Union. • Study the causes and outcomes of the major strikes in the late 1800 s.

Attention Getter • Your employee has just told you that you must work 5 hours extra a week or you are fired. You will not get paid for these hours. • What do you do? Could you be able to find a job with all of these immigrants and farmers moving to the city? • Remember – no unemployment compensation.

Recall Prior Knowledge • What are unions? • When were they created? • Can you name a few?

Setting the Scene • During the late nineteenth century, workers were getting paid so little that they could not afford to buy the products they were producing. • Low wages were not the only problem. Long work weeks and dangerous working conditions were still major issues.

A) Gulf Between Rich and Poor • • • 1890 – 9% of Americans held 75% of the wealth This is called unequal distribution of wealth Workers became politically active to deal with this problem. One solution was socialism. 18) Socialism: economic and political philosophy that favors public instead of private control of the means of production • Society should run the wealth – and distribute it equally • In 1848, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote Communist Manifesto • Most Americans opposed socialism – even the poor. Why?

B) The Rise of Labor Unions • Early labor unions failed because of depressions and a poor economy. National Trade Union and National Labor Union are two examples • Knights of Labor – allowed men women and African Americans – fought for equal pay for equal work, 8 hour work day, no child labor – a violent strike ended the union

• American Federation of Labor started by Samuel Gompers 19) Craft Union: only skilled workers – not all workers • No African Americans and women were allowed because they drive wages down and their main goal was higher wages. Used a technique called collective bargaining. 20) Collective bargaining: process in which workers negotiate as a group with employers • Wanted a closed shop – no workers not union members could not get jobs

• 1) 2) 3) Employees took steps to end unions Forbid union meetings Fired union organizers Forced workers to sign “yellow dog” contracts – people could only get jobs if they promised they would not join a union 4) No collective bargaining during strikes 5) Refused to recognize unions 1. Read the quote on the bottom of page 249 by George Baer – an executive of a big company. Does that quote sound like Social Darwinism?

C) Railroad Workers Organize • The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 – Baltimore and Ohio Railroad cut wages because of a depression twice – workers strike – militia called in to break strike – riot spread throughout US – President Hayes called in federal troops to put it down – government takes side of business • Some unions peaceful – Eugene Debs President of the American Railway Union did not use strikes 21)Industrial union: Union that organizes workers from all crafts in a given industry

D) Strikes Rock the Nation 22) Scabs – negative term for a worker called in by owner to replace striking laborers 23) Anarchists: radicals who oppose all government

a) Haymarket Riot • Strike at Chicago Mc. Cormick reaper factory – got violent when scabs were sent in – police intervened – several dead • Protest rally called at Haymarket Square – bomb thrown into police killing one – police fired into crowd – killing many • 8 people convicted 4 – hanged – one suicide – 3 pardoned later

b) Homestead Strike of 1892 • At Carnegie Steal plant in Homestead Pennsylvania • Carnegie in Europe – partner was Henry Frick • Frick tried to cut wages – union called a strike • Frick called in the Pinkerton private police force – things got bad and a shootout happened – several dead • Anarchist not involved tried to assassinated Frick • Public opinion turned sour – strike called off.

c) Pullman Strike of 1894 • Built rail cars • Pullman built a whole town for his workers. They bought groucerys from Pullman’s store and rented Pullman’s houses. • Cut wages 25% but kept prices of everything else in the town the same. • Eugene Debs and the ARU got involved – national train stoppage which delayed mail. Delaying the mail is a federal crime. • President sent in troops – strike over • Government again protected business

Summarize and Review • What impact did industrialization have on the gulf between rich and poor? • What were the goals of the early labor unions in the US? • Why did Eugene Debs organize the American Railway Union? • What were the causes and outcomes of the major strikes in the late 1800 s?

Process Information • One of the recurring themes of this section was what side did the federal government take on labor issues? The answer is that they took the side of business – not the workers. As long as that happens, will unions ever achieve their goals? What US President will be the first to back workers? • Franklin Roosevelt

• Once you finish, go back to the web-page and download and print quiz 6. 4. After completing the quiz, send an e-mail to me with your answers. In the subject line put (your first and last name – quiz 6. 4) • When you finish with that – check with the syllabus to find out when the review worksheets need to be completed • Good Luck!