1. Challenges to Big Business: Henry George: Progress and Poverty Edward Bellamy: Looking Backward

2. Socialism 1870’s Socialist Labor Party 1870’s Socialist Labor Party By 1901 American Socialist Party By 1901 American Socialist Party By 1912 All three parties denounced Socialism By 1912 All three parties denounced Socialism

3. Unions First real labor victory in American History: First real labor victory in American History: Shoe workers in Lynn, Mass. Shoe workers in Lynn, Mass. 10,000 walked off of the job and demanded: 10,000 walked off of the job and demanded: Wage increase & union recognition Wage increase & union recognition

4. 1866 The National Labor Union Founder: Sylves Founder: Sylves Included many reform groups Included many reform groups Excluded women Excluded women 640,000 members at peak 640,000 members at peak Died with the Panic of 1873 Died with the Panic of 1873

5. 1869 Knights of Labor Secret organization at first under Stephens Secret organization at first under Stephens 1878 Powderly took it out in the open 1878 Powderly took it out in the open Open to all EXCEPT professionals Open to all EXCEPT professionals Short term goals: 8 Hour Day, end child labor Short term goals: 8 Hour Day, end child labor Long term goal: replace wages with a cooperative system Long term goal: replace wages with a cooperative system

6. Knights of Labor Continued By 1886 700,000 members By 1886 700,000 members 1880’s unsuccessful strikes 1880’s unsuccessful strikes Became associated with violence, anarchy Became associated with violence, anarchy No public sympathy No public sympathy Government sided with big business Government sided with big business By 1890 down to 100,000 then died By 1890 down to 100,000 then died

7. The AFL Skilled Labor Skilled Labor Founder: Gompers Founder: Gompers Goals were political; not social: Goals were political; not social: 8 Hour Day 8 Hour Day Higher Wages Higher Wages Better conditions Better conditions Equal pay for women (why?) Equal pay for women (why?)

8. AFL sponsored legislation for: Abolition of child labor Abolition of child labor Restriction of immigration Restriction of immigration Restriction of the use of injunction in labor disputes Restriction of the use of injunction in labor disputes

9. The Strikes 1886 Haymarket Square Riots (Chicago) 1886 Haymarket Square Riots (Chicago) 1892 The Homestead Strike (Penn.) 1892 The Homestead Strike (Penn.) 1894 The Pullman Strike (Chicago) 1894 The Pullman Strike (Chicago)

10. No public sympathy Unions will become associated with anarchy Unions will become associated with anarchy Collective bargaining sounded communistic Collective bargaining sounded communistic

11. May 1,1886 Haymarket Square Riots 5-1-1886 The AFL called for a national strike for an 8 hour day 5-1-1886 The AFL called for a national strike for an 8 hour day The day before, 4 strikers were killed during a strike outside of the McCormick Harvesting Co. The day before, 4 strikers were killed during a strike outside of the McCormick Harvesting Co. May 1 st A bomb was thrown into a very large protest/gathering May 1 st A bomb was thrown into a very large protest/gathering 7 policemen killed, 67 others injured 7 policemen killed, 67 others injured Police fired into the crowd, 4 more killed Police fired into the crowd, 4 more killed

12. Haymarket Square Continued Local anarchists were rounded up Local anarchists were rounded up One was executed One was executed 1892 liberal Illinois governor, Altgeld, pardoned the others who were still in jail 1892 liberal Illinois governor, Altgeld, pardoned the others who were still in jail

13. 1892 The Homestead Strike Carnegie Steel Plant in Pennsylvania Carnegie Steel Plant in Pennsylvania Carnegie and plant manager, Frick, hated unions Carnegie and plant manager, Frick, hated unions At Homestead plant: The Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers Union was affiliated with the AFL At Homestead plant: The Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers Union was affiliated with the AFL 1890-92 serious wage cuts 1890-92 serious wage cuts 1892 another wage cut and denied the union’s right to negotiate 1892 another wage cut and denied the union’s right to negotiate

14. Homestead Strike Continued Workers occupied plants Workers occupied plants Pinkerton’s called in to remove strikers and to protect scabs Pinkerton’s called in to remove strikers and to protect scabs Pinkerton’s approached by river Pinkerton’s approached by river Workers poured oil into the river and set it on fire Workers poured oil into the river and set it on fire All hell broke loose All hell broke loose

15. Homestead continued 8,000 National Guard sent to protect Steel plant and replacement workers 8,000 National Guard sent to protect Steel plant and replacement workers Frick was shot and wounded Frick was shot and wounded Public opinion against strikers Public opinion against strikers By 1891 down to 24,000 members By 1891 down to 24,000 members By 1901 less than 7,000 By 1901 less than 7,000 AFL just barely survived AFL just barely survived

16. 1894 The Pullman Strike Winter 1892-93 Pullman Company cut wages by 25% Winter 1892-93 Pullman Company cut wages by 25% Did not reduce rents, store prices in its town Did not reduce rents, store prices in its town 1893 Eugene Debs organized the American Railway Workers Union (ARU) 1893 Eugene Debs organized the American Railway Workers Union (ARU) Called for a nation-wide strike against Pullman Co. in July of 1894 Called for a nation-wide strike against Pullman Co. in July of 1894 60,000 walked off of the job 60,000 walked off of the job

17. Pullman Strike continued Illinois Governor Altgeld sympathized with strikers and would not interfere on behalf of Pullman Co. Illinois Governor Altgeld sympathized with strikers and would not interfere on behalf of Pullman Co. Cleveland sent his Attorney General, Olney Cleveland sent his Attorney General, Olney Olney placed a mailbag on the train and charged strikers with violation of the Sherman Anti-trust Act Olney placed a mailbag on the train and charged strikers with violation of the Sherman Anti-trust Act Big battle in Chicago Big battle in Chicago

18. Pullman Strike continued Injunction issued Injunction issued Cleveland sent federal troops Cleveland sent federal troops Eugene Debs jailed Eugene Debs jailed Converted to Socialism (Helen Keller) Converted to Socialism (Helen Keller) Ran for president for the Socialist Party 5 times Ran for president for the Socialist Party 5 times

19. The Molly McGuires 1865-77 Irish coal miners in Penn Irish coal miners in Penn Destroyed mining co. property Destroyed mining co. property Killed mine superintendents Killed mine superintendents Infiltrated by Pinkertons Infiltrated by Pinkertons 19 strikers executed in the end 19 strikers executed in the end

20. 1905 The IWW Big John Haywood Big John Haywood Militant Militant The Wobblies The Wobblies Organized miners, immigrants, itinerant farm workers Organized miners, immigrants, itinerant farm workers Violent Violent Government repression, deportation Government repression, deportation

21. ALSO… The Women’s Trade Union League: worked to improve working conditions for women and children The Women’s Trade Union League: worked to improve working conditions for women and children National Consumers’ League: worked for above at the state level National Consumers’ League: worked for above at the state level

22. Federal Reform Attempts The Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890): every contract, combination, or conspiracy in restraint of trade is illegal Was intended to restrain the power of monopolies Was intended to restrain the power of monopolies BUT was more often used against strikers BUT was more often used against strikers (Pullman) & NOT against monopolies (E.C. Knight case & 14 th Amendment)

23. Another Federal Reform Attempt: The Interstate Commerce Act (1887): said RR rate discrimination was illegal said RR rate discrimination was illegal and established the ICC: a 5-member non- partisan board to take RR’s to court for violations of the ICA and established the ICC: a 5-member non- partisan board to take RR’s to court for violations of the ICA BUT also did not work: rebates, the ICC, and the Court BUT also did not work: rebates, the ICC, and the Court