Warm Up Define robber baron and captain of industry. Define robber baron and captain of industry.

The 99% What was life like for the American worker?What was life like for the American worker?

What’s the worst thing you’ve ever had to do at work? Discuss with your partner.Discuss with your partner.

For each picture, write a word that describes it.

The Working Class Treated extremely poorly Treated extremely poorly Worked 6 days a week for hours a day Worked 6 days a week for hours a day Made $1 a day Made $1 a day Worked in factories completing same task over and over. Worked in factories completing same task over and over.

“Safety” in the Workplace Workers were given no protective gear. Workers were given no protective gear. Bosses did not pay when someone was injured on the job. Bosses did not pay when someone was injured on the job. Workers afraid to complain for fear they would lose their jobs to immigrants. Workers afraid to complain for fear they would lose their jobs to immigrants.

Child Labor Had to work to support family Had to work to support family Bosses were happy to hire them because they made less money Bosses were happy to hire them because they made less money Children as young as six worked in factories Children as young as six worked in factories Could squeeze in between machinery Could squeeze in between machinery

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair Written in 1906 to expose hardship of workers in the meatpacking industry Written in 1906 to expose hardship of workers in the meatpacking industry

Discussion I will divide you into groups. I will divide you into groups. With your group, take turns reading aloud the excerpts from The Jungle. With your group, take turns reading aloud the excerpts from The Jungle. Discuss the questions together. Discuss the questions together.

Your turn… Compose a 2 paragraph long letter to the president as an immigrant worker in the Smithfield plant from Food, Inc. Compose a 2 paragraph long letter to the president as an immigrant worker in the Smithfield plant from Food, Inc. Describe your working conditions Describe your working conditions Compare those working conditions to The Jungle and “Who Makes your iPhone?” Compare those working conditions to The Jungle and “Who Makes your iPhone?” Think of at least TWO things you would change about your workplace. Think of at least TWO things you would change about your workplace.

Warm Up What are some problems that laborers faced in the workplace? What are some problems that laborers faced in the workplace? Why is this time period referred to as the “Gilded Age”? Why is this time period referred to as the “Gilded Age”?

The Rise of Labor Unions What are labor unions and why do they exist?What are labor unions and why do they exist?

What “rights” should you have at your job? Share your ideas with a partner.Share your ideas with a partner.

What was life like for workers? Long hours Long hours Little pay Little pay Dangerous conditions Dangerous conditions Individuals had little power to make change themselves Individuals had little power to make change themselves

What is a labor union? A group of workers organized to protect the interests of its members A group of workers organized to protect the interests of its members Focused on getting higher wages, shorter hours, and better working conditions Focused on getting higher wages, shorter hours, and better working conditions Members would go on strike if they didn’t get what they wanted Members would go on strike if they didn’t get what they wanted

Early Unionizing Before the Civil War, there were several local unions. Before the Civil War, there were several local unions. Began to realize that they had more power when they worked together. Began to realize that they had more power when they worked together.

Knights of Labor Membership open to all workers, regardless of race, gender, or skill. Membership open to all workers, regardless of race, gender, or skill. Wanted an 8 hour work day and equal pay for men and women. Wanted an 8 hour work day and equal pay for men and women. Preferred collective bargaining (negotiations between employers and employees) to strikes. Preferred collective bargaining (negotiations between employers and employees) to strikes.

American Federation of Labor (AFL) Open to people of all trades Open to people of all trades President: Samuel Gompers President: Samuel Gompers Preferred to strike to get what they wanted Preferred to strike to get what they wanted Much more successful than the Knights of Labor Much more successful than the Knights of Labor

Modern Labor Unions Take a few minutes and use your phones to research whether there is a labor union for the job that you plan to do after high school/college graduation. Take a few minutes and use your phones to research whether there is a labor union for the job that you plan to do after high school/college graduation. What are their goals? What are their goals?

Labor Union Simulation You will be divided into two groups: the labor team and the management team. You will be divided into two groups: the labor team and the management team. You will each be given a list of 12 demands that you want for your side. You must decide as a group which 6 are most important. You will each be given a list of 12 demands that you want for your side. You must decide as a group which 6 are most important. You will negotiate with the other group so that each group has its top demand in a “contract” that both groups agree to. The goal is to achieve a “win-win” situation, not a “win-lose” situation. You will negotiate with the other group so that each group has its top demand in a “contract” that both groups agree to. The goal is to achieve a “win-win” situation, not a “win-lose” situation.

Exit Ticket What are some of the reasons labor unions exist? What are some of the reasons labor unions exist?

Warm Up What is collective bargaining? What is collective bargaining?

Simulation Debrief What were some advantages of collective bargaining? What were some advantages of collective bargaining? What were some disadvantages of collective bargaining? What were some disadvantages of collective bargaining? Why do you think that some people would be more willing to strike than to participate in collective bargaining? Why do you think that some people would be more willing to strike than to participate in collective bargaining?

With a partner… Describe a time when you were unhappy with certain conditions— at home or work. Describe a time when you were unhappy with certain conditions— at home or work. How did you try to change those conditions? How did you try to change those conditions? Were you successful? Why or why not? Were you successful? Why or why not?

Workers Take Action Were early strikes successful?Were early strikes successful?

Railroad Strike of 1877 Workers for Baltimore and Ohio Railroad went on strike to protest second wage cut in two months Workers for Baltimore and Ohio Railroad went on strike to protest second wage cut in two months Shut down over 50,000 miles of railroads for a week Shut down over 50,000 miles of railroads for a week Strike shut down by federal troops Strike shut down by federal troops

Haymarket Affair Protest in Chicago against police who had fired at striking workers the day before Protest in Chicago against police who had fired at striking workers the day before Someone threw a bomb at police and police fired into the crowd Someone threw a bomb at police and police fired into the crowd 7 police officers and several workers died 7 police officers and several workers died Public began to turn against the unions Public began to turn against the unions

Homestead Strike Strike began after company president Henry Frick decided to cut wages Strike began after company president Henry Frick decided to cut wages Hired guards from Pinkerton Detective Agency to protect strikebreakers (called scabs) while they worked Hired guards from Pinkerton Detective Agency to protect strikebreakers (called scabs) while they worked Several died and strike lasted for five months Several died and strike lasted for five months

Pullman Strike Employees lived in town (Pullman) owned by the railroad company Employees lived in town (Pullman) owned by the railroad company Company fired half of its workers and cut wages up to 50% but didn’t lower rent Company fired half of its workers and cut wages up to 50% but didn’t lower rent Workers went on strike; got so violent federal troops had to shut it down Workers went on strike; got so violent federal troops had to shut it down

Management fights back Forced workers to sign “yellow-dog contracts” swearing that they would not join a union. Forced workers to sign “yellow-dog contracts” swearing that they would not join a union. Union members were blacklisted so they could not get a job Union members were blacklisted so they could not get a job Sherman Antitrust Act made it harder for workers to strike, claiming that it endangered interstate commerce. Sherman Antitrust Act made it harder for workers to strike, claiming that it endangered interstate commerce. Overall, were labor unions successful during this time period?Overall, were labor unions successful during this time period?

You Be the Reporter… You are a reporter on the scene of the Homestead Strike. Write a newspaper article about the strike. You are a reporter on the scene of the Homestead Strike. Write a newspaper article about the strike. Answer the following questions: Answer the following questions: When did the strike happen? When did the strike happen? Who was involved in the strike? Who was involved in the strike? Who were they striking against (what company)? Who were they striking against (what company)? What caused them to strike? What caused them to strike? What happened at the strike? What happened at the strike? Was the strike successful? If not, what happened after the strike? Was the strike successful? If not, what happened after the strike? DO NOT USE WIKIPEDIA!!! Better sources: pbs.org, history.com DO NOT USE WIKIPEDIA!!! Better sources: pbs.org, history.com

Rubric for Homestead Strike Title (2 points) Title (2 points) Answers the questions (5 points each): Answers the questions (5 points each): When did the strike happen (give me a specific date)? When did the strike happen (give me a specific date)? Who was involved in the strike? Who was involved in the strike? Who were they striking against (what company)? Who were they striking against (what company)? What caused them to strike? What caused them to strike? What happened at the strike? What happened at the strike? Was the strike successful? If not, what happened after the strike? Was the strike successful? If not, what happened after the strike? A quote from someone who witnessed the event (5 points) A quote from someone who witnessed the event (5 points) TOTAL: 37 points TOTAL: 37 points