Unions, strikes, and working conditions

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Unions, strikes, and working conditions

• Late 1800s

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New economy

• As discussed earlier, 3 factors influenced the US
  economy.
• 1. Large working class. Who?
• 2. New economy in south. What was different?
• 3. New inventions. How did these affect the
  economy?

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The Gilded Age

• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_history_of_t
  he_United_StatesThe_Gilded_Age_1865.E2.80.931900
  
• http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carnegie/gildedage.ht
  ml

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Robber Barons

• How did the emergence of companies like Carnegie
  steel and Standard oil affect workers?
• What were working conditions like?

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Are these conditions dangerous?
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American labor movement

• When a worker got injured or hurt on the job,
  they were fired.
• The amount of immigrants was so abundant, that a
  workforce was always available.
• What happens if workers are injured in todays
  working world?

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American labor union contd.

• If workers are fired for getting injured, what do
  you think would happen if they complained?
• Workers only had one choice, BAND TOGETHER!
• Workers begin a method of collective bargaining.
• A call to make safer working conditions, 8 hour
  workdays and higher pay ensues.

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Strikes

• If employers do not meet the demands of the
  workers a strike would ensue.
• What is a strike and what is the advantage of a
  strike?
• Labor history of the United States - Wikipedia,
  the free encyclopedia
• In the beginning of the labor movements the
  public completely supported the unions.
• As the years went on, public opinion turned
  against the unions due to violence they were
  percieved to have caused

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Strikes from worksheet

• Railroad strike 1877
• Homestead strike 1892
• Carnegie had gone on vacation and the man he left
  in charge cut wages.
• Carnegies company hired the Pinkerton protection
  agency to protect the plant.
• Pullman strike 1894
• Led by Euguene V. Debs. Leader of the ARU
  (American railway union)
• Encouraged socialist views and an overthrow of
  capitalism.

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Chicago Haymarket strike

• Workers from Chicago industries met in Haymarket
  square in Chicago.
• Riot was basically peaceful until.
• A groups of anarchists and socialists began to
  stir up trouble.
• Anarchists are accused of throwing a bomb into a
  formation of policeman who were in Haymarket
  square keeping the peace.
• Many people died.
• Haymarket affair - Wikipedia, the free
  encyclopedia

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Samuel Gompers

• Sam was a leader in the AFL and powerful voice in
  early labor unions
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Gompers
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_of_labor

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Eugene V. Debs

• Eugene V. Debs - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• One of Americas first union leaders
• Influential in the Pullman strike
• Views became socialist after reading the works of
  Karl Marx

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A debate ensues

• Social Darwinism or regulation of industry and
  the economy.
• Social darwinism survival of the fittest
  (meaning let the most successful companies
  dominate and let the others die out)
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherman_Antitrust_Act

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WORKING CONDITIONS

• http//www.explorepahistory.com/cms/pbfiles/Projec
  t1/Scheme34/ExplorePAHistory-a0j4c0-a_349.jpg

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2. inventions
3. Increase industrial jobs
Corrupt / inefficient Pres.
2. factories
4. Increased immigration
5b. ghettos
2. Free slaves
5a.. Dangerous workplaces
6c. Political machines
1. END OF RECONSTRUCTION
6a.Public outrage
6b. unions
REFORM