Reforming the workplace Reforming the Workplace Event Safety

Reforming the workplace

Reforming the Workplace Event Safety in the mining industry Safety in the factory workplace Political Machines Women’s Suffrage Key Players Involved Issues / Problems

Imagine you are a muckraker… Your job to rake up the muck and filth of society In a small group, conduct interviews on one of the topics above. Using the i. Pads, conduct research on your topic and create a script for your “muckraker interview” Interviews MUST be a minimum of 90 seconds in length and accurately depict the event or conditions that are being exposed. Each group MUST have each of the following: A muckraker Interviewees (x 2) Cameraman

Every day at 7: 00 AM, 15 -year old Sadie Frowne sat down at her machine in a garment factory in Brooklyn, New York. “The machines go like mad all day, because the faster you work the more money you get, ” she wrote. “Sometimes in my haste I get my finger caught and the needle goes right through it. ” When her workday ended at 6: 00 P. M. , she felt exhausted.

Child Labor Reform Many children are forced to work during the 1800’s Due to low wages for parents Children made on average $2. 40 a week How much does that break down to an hour? ? ? More than 1. 75 million children 15 and under worked full time in the year 1900 1916 and 1919, Congress passes federal child labor laws The Supreme Court rules this unconstitutional as being a state right

Safety in the Workplace Demand for reform in multiple areas of work… Child Labor reform 8 -hour work day Higher wages Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (1911) 35, 000 workers deaths and 500, 000 injuries in 1900 Workers compensation laws now passed for injuries

The Courts and Labor Laissez Faire principles vs workers safety / rights Lochner v. New York Ruled that the government could NOT legally limit bakers work days to 10 hours Violates the 14 th amendment's protection of corporations against laws that would take property without due process Muller v. Oregon Upheld a law that limits women’s working hours Women’s health is a matter of public concern

Labor Organizations Union membership grows from 800, 000 in 1900 to 5 million in 1920 Many union workers began to favor an economic system known as socialism An economic system in which the government or the workers own and operate a country’s means of production

Socialism / Communism

Women’s Suffrage and Temperance Women had previously won property rights, and access to higher education following the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 Progressive women fought for higher education, voting rights, and temperance reform Helped lead to the passage of the 18 th ammendment Prohibition Helped lead to the passage of the 19 th ammendment Women’s right to vote

Minorities fight for change NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) W. E. B. Dubois Protest racial discrimination and segregation to demand equality Up From Slavery Booker T. Washington Do not spend your time fighting discrimination and segregation Improve your own education and economic well being to get ahead The Souls of Black Folk