Labor During the Industrial Age By: Jodie David, Jill Szczepanski and Scarlett Bekus

SuccessesFailures Revolutionized Working Attempt at Workers Unions Hostility in Labor Class Background- *The industrial ages brought many new and diverse workers into America *Greatly impacted America’s social, political and economical structure Labor based work became standard for the lower and middle class, while the upper class controlled laborers

Success Farm to Factory Agriculture in fields to metal in factories Greater output of economic necessities (clothes, transportation) Advanced ways to work : Introduction of Assembly lines  employed more people Farmers out of bankruptcy

Success Diversified American Labor People from all around the world come to US to work American thought of as an opportunity for a new life ($ and family)

Success Union Groups Created: Knights of Labor National Labor Union American Federation of Labor

Failures -Low wages *Avg male worker made $400 to $500/yr as opposed to livable $600/yr *Women are paid lesser rates than men and avg female makes $314/yr -Loss of Control *Workers had managers above them so no authority/responsibility *Immigrant workers were used to having their own shops, but lost private ownership to factory work -”Boom &Bust” Economy *Changing economy led to poverty and loss of jobs

Failures -Horrible working conditions *Filthy, dark factories *Workers are barefoot and spreading diseases *Extremely high death rates- disease and accidents -Child labor *Children work up to 14 hr days and are at high risk of work related injury or fatality -Failed Unions *Unions did not do much for poor work conditions or help workers *Hostility towards unions (Molly Maguires)

Failures Companies preferred Immigrant Workers- *Immigrants were hired over middle-class Americans because they were willing to work in worse conditions & for less $ *This Caused hostility between the new immigrant workers and the “American’s” who were there before them (African-/Anglo- Americans) *Since companies could get away with terrible working conditions, dangerous, unhealthy conditions became standard