INDUSTRIALIZATION AND PROGRESSIVISM UNIT 2 STANDARD: AH.HI.C11

STANDARD: AH.HI.C11 The rise of industrialization led to a rapidly expanding workforce. Labor organizations grew amidst unregulated working conditions and violence toward supporters of organized labor.

EXPANDING WORKFORCE Urbanization caused a demand for more workers in cities Immigration rates rose to fill the demand for jobs Migration to urban areas occurred within the United States to find work in industrial areas

ELLIS ISLAND

WORKING CONDITIONS Long hours with low wages (14 hour days, 6 days a week) Work places were poorly lit and very dirty No government aid for injury or disability Many children worked to provide for their families instead of attending school

LABOR UNIONS Were formed as a result of the changing nature of work Labor union - legally recognized as representatives of workers in many industries in the United States Sought to address issues such as working conditions, wages and terms of employment.

AMERICAN RAILWAY UNION The largest labor union of its time and was one of the first industrial unions All railway workers were required to join the union Fought wage cuts by many railroad companies in the late 1800s

GREAT RAILROAD STRIKE Railroad workers had wages cut nearly 7 cents per hour worked Railroad companies tried to replace workers with “strikebreakers” 11 workers were killed during the strike

PULLMAN STRIKE Strike between the American Railway Union and the Pullman Company Most workers lived in a community run by the industrial company Workers were laid off and wages were cut but rent prices remained the same Strike imposed a boycott on all Pullman Railway materials

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR Founded in Columbus, Ohio branching from the national Knights of Labor Were upset with the leadership of the Knights of Labor Union dues were 6 cents per year established in 1886 Fought mainly for higher wages and a shorter work day

INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE WORLD An international union which promoted the idea of “one big union” Pushed to abolish capitalism and wage labor Wanted to establish a workplace democracy

UNITED MINE WORKERS OF AMERICA Worked to improve working safety for coal miners Wanted to provide coal miners with collective bargaining power

HAYMARKET RIOT Began as a peaceful rally supporting strikers wanting an 8 hour work day An unknown person threw a bomb at police officers killing 11 total people and wounding several others Occurred in Chicago in May of 1886

HOMESTEAD STRIKE Occurred in Pittsburgh against Andrew Carnegie steel companies One of the most organized union strikes of its time Considered a failure nearly bankrupting the steel union forcing many workers end their memberships

Question for Thought Discuss the working conditions leading to the formation of labor unions. How have labor unions helped improve the working environment in the United States?