1. Balancing Capital and Labor Part I- The Industrialists
The Gilded Age
Balancing Capital and Labor Part I- The Industrialists

2. Tenement Life Crowded conditions Alcohol abuse High Mortality rates
Few jobs
Reformers see the problems of the slums, want to help

3. Exploiting the poor
Machines used saloons as informal headquarters to get voters in poor precincts
to support machine candidates.

4. Failed Reform- Dumbbell Tenements
The Tenement House Act of 1879 was a response to an earlier law that had required windows in each room, but made no provision for outside space for the windows. James Ware’s award-winning design provided for airshafts for windows to open on to, while keeping buildings narrow for maximum profit. He also provided for indoor plumbing.

5. Overhead view of airshaft

6. Airshaft from street level

7. Why Does it Fail? Flawed architectural plan Flawed implementation
Greed/corruption
Fear of authority/fear of poverty

8. Part III: Unionization

9. Large disenfranchised population
Labor Unites
Industrialization
Urbanization
Immigration
Leads to…
Large disenfranchised population
Populist Movement: First attempt of the people to reform capital and labor relationship.

10. Unionization in 20th Century America
An organized association of workers formed to protect and further their rights and interests. From the Latin unus 'one.'
In 1900, 1 in 12 workers unionized.
Bricklayers Union, PA, 1900

11. The Growth of Unions
In 1882, on average, 675 laborers were killed in work-related accidents each WEEK!

12. Labor Strikes Back Haymarket Affair
Unions considered a threat to capitalism by business and government.
Unionists considered anarchists and even communists.
Haymarket Affair
May 4, 1886 – Workers convene to protest police brutality at an earlier strike rally on May 1st (May Day).
Rally turns violent after a bomb is thrown, police open fire on protesters
Eight anarchists convicted even though evidence doesn’t support their involvement
Becomes a rallying cry for unionists
Pullman Strike
1894- National strike- public opinion against the strikers prevails

13. The Supreme Court Upholds Laissez-faire
Lochner v. New York – 1905
New York state passed the “Bakeshop Act” limiting the hours a bakery employee could work in one week to 60.
Lochner, a bakery owner, was fined for allowing employees to exceed limitation.
He sued protesting the constitutionality of the law under the 14th Amendment and his liberty of contract.
Supreme Court overturned his conviction stating:
…this law interfered "with the right of contract between the employer and employees.“ To the Court, the right to buy and sell labor through contract was a "liberty of the individual" protected under the 14th amendment .