Impact of Industrialization By 1900, the United States had surpassed Great Britain, France, and Germany as the leading industrial power in the world because of: An abundance of natural resources. A growing population (aided by immigration) = more workers and more consumers. Development of new technologies. Results: The rich get richer. Expansion of the middle class (white-collar America). More working women. Emergence of labor unions and struggle between workers leaders of industry. The urbanization of America-growth of American cities.
Labor Unions The main goals of labor unions were to get higher wages, a shorter workday, and a safer workplace. Difficult to unionize workers because of frequent job changes and a constant stream of new immigrants - cheaper source of labor who could replace those on strike. Some wanted political action, while others wanted to strike, boycott, or use slowdowns Employers used blacklists, scabs, and lockouts to break unions. Law enforcement and the government supported the employer against the workers.
Labor Unions (cont.) Knights of Labor (1869) - founded by Terrence Powderly, the Knights of labor was the second national union that existed in secret until Sought the abolition of child labor, trusts and monopolies. Wanted to solve issues through collective bargaining rather than striking. Collective Bargaining – process of negotiations between employers and a group of employees aimed at reaching agreements to regulate working conditions American Federation of Labor (1886) - founded by Samuel Gompers, the AFL was the country’s largest union. Gompers instructed workers to walk-out until a better contract was negotiated through collective bargaining.
Labor Unions (cont.) American Railway Union (1893) - founded by Eugene V. Debs, the ARU was first industrial union. International Ladies Garment Workers Union (1909) - founded by 16-year old Pauline Newman (had worked in the industry for 8 years), the IRLGWU was an organization for women textile workers. Fire at Triangle Shirtwaist Factory demonstrated the unsafe working conditions of the textile industry.
Sea Pig
Key Strikes The Haymarket Square Riot (1886) May Day (May 4) meeting to organize workers for shorter workday. During rally, seven police officers were killed by a bomb. Police responded by opening fire on crowd - 4 killed, many more wounded. American public starts to view unions negatively.
Key Strikes (cont.) Homestead Strike (1892) Carnegie cut wages by 20% and workers at steel plant in Pittsburg went on strike. Workers locked out and strikebreakers and private guards were used to deny jobs to workers. Violence - three guards and nine workers killed, PA National Guard called in. Steelworkers would not be able to unionize again until the 1930s.
Key Strikes (cont.) Pullman Strike (1894) Pullman cut wages and fired union members. ARU went on strike-Debs ordered workers not to handle trains that had Pullman cars. Federal government used injunction (court order) ordering workers to stop the strike because they interrupted the mail service. Failure to comply led to the jailing of leaders (Debs), Supreme Court ruled that the government could use injunctions against strikes. Violent repression of the Union and radicalization of the Union movement.
Jacob Riis - How the Other Half Lives