1. Labor Movements

2. Social Darwinism
The theory that people are subject to the same laws of Darwin's Natural Selection, specifically, the survival of the fittest.
The poor are poor because they are not as fit to survive and prosper
Used as an argument against social reforms to help the poor
Used to justify the ruthless tactics used by Robber Barons to suppress worker’s rights

3. Plight of Workers
As the Robber Barons grew richer, their workers suffered.
Low wages
12+ hour days, 6-7 days/week
No vacation, sick leave, unemployment compensation, or workers compensation for injuries
Repetitive, mind-numbing tasks
Increase in child labor (decrease in education)
Unskilled laborers worked in sweatshops in tenements (small apartments) that were not regulated by US labor laws

4. Early Labor Organizing
– National Labor Union (NLU)
1st national labor union
Persuaded Congress to legalize an 8 hour workday
Colored National Labor Union (CNLU) formed in response to NLU’s refusal to accept black members
– Noble Order of the Knights of Labor
“An injury to one is the concern of all.”
Open to all industries, races, sexes, skill level
Advocated for equal pay for the sexes, shorter work day, and arbitration rather than striking

5. Different Types of Labor Activism
Craft Unionism
Industrial Unionism
Included skilled workers from more than one industry (all with similar skills, ex: carpentry, painting, engineering, etc)
Ex: Samuel Gompers president of American Federation of Labor (AFL) used collective bargaining (negotiations) and strikes to raise wages for skilled workers.
Included skilled and unskilled workers in the same industry
Ex: Eugene V. Debs’ American Railway Union (ARU) included unskilled workers to skilled engineers, used strikes to raise wages.

6. Socialism and Labor Activism
Socialism – an economic and political system based on government control of business/property and equal distribution of wealth.
Eugene Debs would run for POTUS 5 times with the Socialist party.
Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)
Founded by Debs and William Haywood
AKA the “Wobblies” – all races, skill levels
Foundations in socialism – government control of businesses and equal distribution of wealth was appealing to poor and overworked laborers

7. Labor Activism in the West
Sugar Beet and Farm Laborers’ Union
Japanese and Mexican immigrants working in sugar-beet fields organized a successful strike in California
Wyoming State Federation of Labor supported a union of Chinese and Japanese miners wanting equal pay and treatment as other union miners.

9. Strikes Turn Violent Great Strike of 1877 Haymarket Riot (1886)
Railroad workers in Ohio stopped working for more than a week
Governor cited “disruption of interstate trade” and POTUS Hayes sent fed troops to end the strike
Haymarket Riot (1886)
Police killed a striker  unionists gathered in Haymarket Square in Chicago to protest police brutality
Bomb thrown at police line  police opened fire on crowd
Over 10 people killed (7 police)
8 people convicted of inciting a riot (4 hung, 1 committed suicide)
Public opinion turned against labor activism

10. Strikes Turn Violent Homestead Strike (1892) Pullman Strike (1894)
Carnegie Steel Company in PA
Protesting wage cuts
Several strikers and guards killed
Pullman Strike (1894)
Pullman, IL; during the Panic of 1893
Pullman laid off ½ employees and cut wages BUT didn’t lower cost of rent
Debs’ ARU tried to negotiate but was forced to strike, turned violent
POTUS Cleveland sent fed troops to end strike, Debs jailed

11. Women Organize
Many women participated in labor activism, but were banned from unions.
Mary Harris Jones
AKA Mother Jones
Organized the United Mine Workers of American
Faced jail and death threats
Led 80 children with labor related injuries on a march on DC  persuaded Congress to pass child labor laws

12. Women Organize 1909 - International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union
Advocated for better working conditions in garment factories
1911 – Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
NYC, doors locked to prevent theft, no sprinkler system, fire escape broken
146 women died
Jury acquitted factory managers of manslaughter  public outraged  NY set up task force to investigate working conditions

13. Management and Government Pressure Unions
Management grew to resent unions  forbade meetings, fired union members, “yellow-dog” contracts (won’t join union).
Industrialists actually used the Sherman Antitrust Act (originally disliked and ignored) against unions by requesting that fed troops be sent to break up boycotts, strikes, or protests  “interfering with interstate trade”
Despite pressures, unions remained popular and active throughout the early 20th century.