The Labor Movement Standard SS 912 A 3
The Labor Movement
Standard • SS. 912. A. 3. 2 -Industrial Revolution: Examine the social, political, and economic causes, course, and consequences of the Second Industrial Revolution that began in the late 19 th century • SS. 912. A. 3. 9: Examine causes, course, and consequences of the labor movement in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries.
Worker Problems • • Impersonal Conditions Long Hours Boring, Repetitive tasks Low wages Child labor Periodic unemployment Lack of opportunity for advancement Unpleasant living conditions
Workers organize • Because the work required little skill, workers could easily be replaced • The only was to achieve better conditions seemed to be through worker organization • Organizations were called labor unions
Purpose of Labor Unions • To obtain higher wages and better working conditions • “Mutual Aid” societies • To place pressure on Government
National Labor • As industries nationalized, labor leaders wanted unions to nationalize • The Knights of Labor and American Federation of Labor were two early national labor unions
Knights of Labor • Founded by Terrence Powederly in 1869 • Both skilled and unskilled workers could join • African Americans, women, farmers welcomed
Demands • • 8 hour work day Higher wages Safety codes No child labor No convict labor Equal pay for women Restrictions on immigration
• By 1886 they had 700, 000 members • Too big, too loose=not effective • Unsuccessful strikes led to members leaving
American Federation of Labor • • Founded by Samuel Gompers in 1881 Network of craft unions, only skilled workers No women and a few allowed African A. By 1900 it has 1 million members
Demands • • 8 hour workday Higher pay Better conditions Closed shop policy-employer promises to hire only union members
Tactics of Labor • Strike • Picket Line • Strike Fund
Tactics of Management • Strike-breakers (scabs)-temporary workers • Managers-could fire workers • Lockout-close the factory for a time and not pay workers • Yellow dog contracts-not join union • Blacklisting-fired union members information was given to other jobs so they will not be hired • Pinkertons-private detective that spied on union and broke up strikes often with violence • Injunction-court order to stop a strike
Role of Government • Favored management for these reasons: Ø Unions were small Ø Role was to protect private property Ø Public opinion against unions Ø Unions seemed dangerous un-American Ø Business contributed to campaign Ø Laissez faire Ø Anti-strike
• • Great Railroad Strike Haymarket Riot Homestead Strike Pullman Strike
• Ideology-system of related beliefs and ideas about people, society and government
Rise of Ideologies • • • Capitalists Social Darwinists Communist Socialists Anarchist
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