1. American History Chapter 6: The Expansion of American Industry
IV. The Great Strikes

2. Bellringer
Your employee has just told you that you must work 5 hours extra a week or you are fired. You will not get paid for these hours.

3. Objectives
Discover the impact of industrialism on the gulf between rich and poor.
Find out the goals of the early labor union in the US.
Learn why Eugene V. debs formed the American Railway Union.
Study the causes and outcomes of the major strikes in the late 1800s.

4. A) Gulf Between Rich and Poor
1890 – 9% of Americans held 75% of the wealth
Workers became politically active
Socialism: economic and political philosophy that favors public instead of private control of the means of production
Society should run the wealth – and distribute it equally
In 1848, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote Communist Manifesto
Most Americans opposed socialism – even the poor

5. B) The Rise of Labor Unions
Early labor unions failed because of depressions NTU and NLU
Knights of Labor – allowed men women and African Americans – fought for equal pay for equal work, 8 hour work day, no child labor – a violent strike ended the union

6. AFL started by Samuel Gompers
19) Craft Union: only skilled workers – not all workers
No African Americans and women – drive wages down – main goal was wages
Collective bargaining: process in which workers negotiate as a group with employers
Wanted a closed shop – no workers not union members

7. Employees took steps to end unions
Forbid union meetings
Fired union organizers
Forced workers to sign “yellow dog” contracts – couldn't join union
No collective bargaining during strikes
Refused to recognize unions
Quote on page 249 bottom

8. C) Railroad Workers Organize
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 – B and O Railroad cut wages because of a depression twice – workers strike – militia called in to break strike – riot spread throughout US – Hayes called in federal troops to put it down – government takes side of business
Some unions peaceful – Eugene Debs American Railway Union
Industrial union: Union that organizes workers from all crafts in a given industry

9. D) Strikes Rock the Nation
Scabs – negative term for a worker called in by owner to replace striking laborers)
Anarchists: radicals who oppose all government

10. a) Haymarket Riot
Strike at Chicago McCormick reaper factory – got violent when scabs were sent in – police intervened – several dead
Protest rally called at Haymarket Square – bomb thrown into police killing one – police fired into crowd – killing many
8 people convicted 4 – hanged – one suicide – 3 pardoned later

11. b) Homestead Strike of 1892
At Carnegie Steal plant in Homestead Pennsylvania
Carnegie in Europe – partner was Henry Frick
Frick tried to cut wages – strike
Frick called in the Pinkerton private police force – shootout – several dead
Anarchist not involved tried to assassinated Frick
Public opinion turned sour – Strike called off.

12. c) Pullman Strike of 1894 Built rail cars Pullman built a whole town
Cut wages 25% but kept prices of everything else the same
Eugene Debs and the ARU got involved – national train stoppage – delayed mail
President sent in troops – strike over
Government again protected business

13. Review
What impact did industrialization have on the gulf between rich and poor?
What were the goals of the early labor unions in the US?
Why did Eugene Debs organize the American Railway Union?
What were the causes and outcomes of the major strikes in the late 1800s?