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Published byDennis Simmons Modified over 9 years ago
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How could the emergence of corporations & the idea of fewer controlling more stifle free competition? What would you do if you were the government?
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Read Section from packet 1890 Sherman Antitrust Act made it illegal to form a trust that interfered with free trade between states or with other countries. Why would it be difficult to enforce this? No clear definition of TRUST Companies could simply reorganize into a single corporation
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Not really, why? Devastated economy from Civil War North owned railroad companies High transportation costs High tariffs on raw materials & imported goods
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Why do you think laborers began to form unions? Worked 12 or more hours a day, 6 days a week No vacation, sick days reimbursement for injuries on job. Injuries happened in dangerous factories 1882 an average of 675 labors were killed each week Low Wages Women in workplace doubled from 1890-1910 Children, some as young as 5, worked full-time jobs What did these children sacrifice to help provide their family?
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Union: Worker organization aimed to improve working conditions & wages Strike: Laborers refuse to work until their demands are met. Arbitration: Workers & owners agree that another person/persons hear both sides of the dispute and make impartial decision. Lockout: Workers are ordered out of a business factory and the business is shut down. Collective Bargaining: Negotiation between reps from labor & management to reach written agreements on wages, hours, and working conditions.
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NLU & CNLU National Labor Union & Colored National Labor Union Formed in 1866 by William H. Sylvis Persuaded government to legalize 8 hour workday Focused on linking unions In 1869, Uriah Stephens Organized the Noble Order of the Knights of Labor “An injury to one is the concern of all” Accepted workers of all race, gender & degree of skill “Equal pay for men & women” Viewed strikes as a last resort, advocated arbitration
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Craft Unionism: Skilled workers from one or more trades AFL (American Federation of Labor) 1886 formed by Samuel Gompers AFL focused on collective bargaining AFL utilized strikes to earn higher wages & shorter work weeks Industrial Unionism: Unions include all laborers, skilled & unskilled in specific industry. American Railway Union (ARU) led by Eugene V. Debs won a strike in 1894 for higher wages
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Socialism- Government control of business and property & equal distribution of wealth. Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) Wobblies Headed by William “Big Bill” Haywood Miners, lumberers, cannery & dock workers
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Great Strike of 1877: Workers for Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) Protest second wage cut in 2 months Spread to other railroad lines covering 50,000 miles After a week of stoppage, federal troops ended the strike
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Haymarket Affair: May 4, 1886 3,000 people gathered at Chicago’s Haymarket Square to protest police brutality As crowd dispersed, a bomb was thrown at the police. Police fired on the protestors 7 police officers & several laborers were killed Public began to turn against labor movements, why?
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Homestead Strike: June 29, 1892 workers call for strike Frick hires Pinkertons to protect plant to hire scabs Scabs: Strikebreakers to keep plant operating. Workers forced Pinkertons out and kept mill closed until… July 12, Pennsylvania National Guard arrived
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The Pullman Company Strike: 1894 Why? 3,000 workers laid off Wages cut by 25-50% Pullman refused arbitration Result? ARU began boycotting Pullman trains Pullman hired Scabs, resulting in violence President Grover Cleveland sends in Federal Troops Pullman fires most of strikers and blacklists them from getting railroad jobs
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Although barred from many unions, supported better working conditions, equal pay, an end to child labor Mary Harris Jones: “Mother Jones” Organized United Mine Workers of America (UWM) Led 80 mill children on a march to President Theodore Roosevelt’s home in 1903 Pauline Newman: Garment worker since 8 years old At 16 organized International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU) Remember the fire at Triangle Shirtwaist factory in NYC on March 25, 1911? One door was left unlocked, no sprinkler system, single fire escape collapsed 146 women died Factory owners acquitted of any wrongdoing
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Management refuses to recognize unions: Forbade union meetings Fired union members Forced employees to sing “yellow-dog contracts” Yellow-dog contracts- Swearing they wouldn’t join union Government Pressure: Turn the Sherman Antitrust Act on unions Strikes & boycotts interfere with interstate trade State or Federal government issued injunctions against the labor action Despite these actions, workers continued to see unions as a powerful tool.
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Were unions an effective tool during the end of the 19 th century into early 20 th century? Explain! Are unions necessary today? Explain!
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