Reforming the workplace

Reforming the Workplace EventKey Players InvolvedIssues / Problems Safety in the mining industry Safety in the factory workplace Political Machines Women’s Suffrage Tenement Housing

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 Many children are forced to work during the 1800’s Due to low wages for parents Due to low wages for parents Children made on average $2.40 a week Children made on average $2.40 a week How much does that break down to an hour??? 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 More than 1.75 million children 15 and under worked full time in the year and 1919, Congress passes federal child labor laws 1916 and 1919, Congress passes federal child labor laws The Supreme Court rules this unconstitutional as being a state right The Supreme Court rules this unconstitutional as being a state right

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

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

Labor Organizations Union membership grows from 800,000 in 1900 to 5 million in 1920 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 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 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 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 Progressive women fought for higher education, voting rights, and temperance reform Helped lead to the passage of the 18 th ammendment Helped lead to the passage of the 18 th ammendment Prohibition Prohibition Helped lead to the passage of the 19 th ammendment Helped lead to the passage of the 19 th ammendment Women’s right to vote Women’s right to vote

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

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