1. Chapter 6 section 4

2. The Rise of Labor Unions The Great Strikes
Chapter 6 section 4
The Rise of Labor Unions
The Great Strikes
The National Trades Union
The Great RR Strike of 1877
The National Labor Union
The Haymarket Square Riot
The Homestead Strike
The Knights of Labor
The American Federation of Labor
The Pullman Strike
The Industrial Workers of the World

3. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS THE BIG IDEA
What impact did industrialization have on the gulf between rich and poor?
What were the goals of the early labor unions in the United States?
Why did Eugene V. Debs organize the American Railway Union?
What were the causes and outcomes of the major strikes in the late 1800s?
THE BIG IDEA
In the late 1800s, workers organized labor unions
to improve their wages and working conditions.
Chapter 6 section 4

4. 3. Collective Bargaining 4. “closed shop” 5. “yellow dog” contracts
Chapter 6 section 4
KEY TERMS:
Socialism
National Trades Union
3. Collective Bargaining
4. “closed shop”
5. “yellow dog” contracts
6. The American Railway Union
7. Scabs
8. Anarchists
KEY PEOPLE:
Eugene V. Debs
Pinkertons

5. Gulf between Rich and Poor
How did poor families respond to the unequal
distribution of wealth between rich and poor?

6. Gulf between Rich and Poor
How did poor families respond to the unequal
distribution of wealth between rich and poor?
Some suffered
in silence,
tomorrow
would be
better.
Others became
politically active to
try to improve their
lives.
A few were drawn
to the idea of
socialism

7. Gulf between Rich and Poor
Definition of Socialism –
Explain the Socialist view of wealth. a. b.

8. Gulf between Rich and Poor
– is an economic and political philosophy that favors public instead of private control of property and income.
Definition of Socialism
Explain the Socialist view of wealth.
They believe that society at large, not just private individuals, should take charge of a nation’s wealth.
That wealth should be distributed equally to everyone. a. b.

9. Gulf between Rich and Poor
Explain how each of the following responded to socialism.
Most Americans
Most
Workers
Wealthy
Americans
Politicians

10. Gulf between Rich and Poor
Explain how each of the following responded to socialism.
Most Americans
Opposed
socialism
Most
Workers
Saw it as a threat
to American ideas
of private property,
free enterprise, &
individual liberty
Wealthy
Americans
Saw it as a threat
to their fortunes
Politicians
Saw it as a threat
to public order

11. The Rise of Labor Unions
The Knights
Of Labor
The American
Federation of Labor
Industrial Workers
Of The World
Year
Formed
Organized/
Membership
Leader
Goal(s)
Tactics
Lost
Support

12. The Rise of Labor Unions
The Knights
Of Labor
The American
Federation of Labor
Industrial Workers
Of The World
Year
Formed
1886
1905 Chicago
Philadelphia
men, women, skilled
& unskilled, farmers
& factory workers
African Americans
Craft union. only skilled
Workers. No Women.
African Americans
not welcomed.
Unskilled workers,
Women, immigrants
African Americans
Organized/
Membership
Big Bill Haywood
Leader
Terence Powderly
Samuel Gompers
Promote worker
solidarity, end the wage
system, over throw
the employing class
broad social reforms
equal pay for equal
work 8 hr. workday,
end child labor
Workers’ wages, hours,
and working conditions.
Bread-and-butter unionism
Goal(s)
Not to strike
political activity &
education.
Economic pressure –
Strikes and boycotts
Strikes, boycotts,
and violence
Tactics
Violent strikes &
promoting strikes
during war.
Failed strikes, some
of them violent.
Lost
Support

13. The Rise of Labor Unions
Industrialization caused great inequalities in wealth in the late 19th century. Big business owners grew wealthy while workers toiled for low wages.
1. How did workers try to improve their wages and working conditions?
2. Explain why you think workers resented the wealth of business owners.
3. Early labor unions began by providing help for their members in bad times, but soon became the means for expressing workers’ demands to employers. What were these early demands?

14. The Rise of Labor Unions
Industrialization caused great inequalities in wealth in the late 19th century. Big business owners grew wealthy while workers toiled for low wages.
1. How did workers try to improve their wages and working conditions?
2. Explain why you think workers resented the wealth of business owners.
3. Early labor unions began by providing help for their members in bad times, but soon became the means for expressing workers’ demands to employers. What were these early demands?
Some became socialists or anarchists. Far more workers chose to
work within the system by forming labor unions.
Answers will vary. The gulf between rich and poor. The unequal
distribution of wealth created a wide gulf in the standard of living
between the industrialists and working class.
Shorter workdays, higher wages, and better working conditions.

15. The Rise of Labor Unions
4. Explain how socialism and labor unions were different approaches to solving the problems of workers.
5. Explain how socialism and anarchism promised to improve workers’ lives but ran counter to some American ideals.
6. What did labor unions do to address workers’ problems?

16. The Rise of Labor Unions
4. Explain how socialism and labor unions were different approaches to solving the problems of workers.
5. Explain how socialism and anarchism promised to improve workers’ lives but ran counter to some American ideals.
6. What did labor unions do to address workers’ problems?
Socialists hoped to see all Americans share equally in the nation’s wealth.
The labor movement worked mostly within the free market system,
attempting to attain fair treatment for workers and owners.
Socialism and anarchism believed that society at large, not just private
individuals, should take charge of a nation’s wealth. They believed
that people should cooperate, not compete, in producing goods.
These beliefs are in stark contrast to the American ideals of private
property, free enterprise, and individual liberty.
Try to help their members through political activity, education, and
Economic pressure, such as strikes and boycotts.

17. The Rise of Labor Unions
7. Describe the public reaction to the strikes.
8. What steps did employers take to fight labor unions?
9. What pattern of events did the Pullman Strike set in motion?

18. The Rise of Labor Unions
7. Describe the public reaction to the strikes.
8. What steps did employers take to fight labor unions?
9. What pattern of events did the Pullman Strike set in motion?
The American public came to associate unions in general
with violence and radical ideas. They would not support the
Violent activities of unions.
They disallowed union meetings
Fired union organizers
Forced new employees to sign yellow dog contracts
Refused to bargain collectively or recognize unions as workers’
legitimate representatives.
Lockout
blacklist
In the years ahead, factory owners appealed frequently for court orders
against unions. The federal gov’t regularly approved these appeals,
denying unions recognition as legally protected organizations.
This limited union gains for more than 30 years.

19. Strikes Rock The Nation
Haymarket
Riot
Homestead
Strike
Pullman
Strike
Who
What
When
Where
Why
How

20. Strikes Rock The Nation
Haymarket
Riot
Homestead
Strike
Pullman
Strike
George Pullman, striking
workers, A.R.U. Debbs,
Att. Gen. Olney, President
Cleveland, fed. troops
Groups of striking workers,
Scabs, anarchists, police-
officers
Striking Carnegie steel
workers, Henry Frick,
Pinkertons
Who
A fight between strikers &
Scabs. Police caused
injuries. Protest, bomb,
gun fire, deaths
Cut wages, strike,
Pinkertons try to break
the strike, gun fire,
deaths
Depression 1893, laid off
workers, cut wages, fired
workers, boycott, fed.
troops sent
What
July 1 – Nov. 20, 1892
May July 1894
When
May 1st – May 4th 1886
Chicago’s McCormick
Reaper factory & Chicago’s
Haymarket Square
Chicago, a boycott of
Pullman cars throughout
the country.
Carnegie Steel Plant
Homestead, PA
Where
Laid off workers, cut
wages, fired workers,
striking workers, Sherman
Antitrust Act, fed. troops
A national demonstration
for an 8hr. Workday
A protest rally.
Wage cuts and the
Pinkertons
Why
Frick wanted to defeat
the union. Hired the
Pinkertons.
How
Someone threw a bomb
into a police formation
The strike interfered with
the nation’s mail

21. Homestead Steel Strike-1892 15:01

22. The Rise of Labor Unions
10. Why do you think the federal government was friendly to the industrialists even when much of the public did not support them?
11. How did the emergence of beliefs in social Darwinism and/or socialism reflect the new challenges facing American society in the late 1800s?
12. What challenges did labor unions have to overcome in order to achieve their main goals?

23. The Rise of Labor Unions
10. Why do you think the federal government was friendly to the industrialists even when much of the public did not support them?
11. How did the emergence of beliefs in social Darwinism and/or socialism reflect the new challenges facing American society in the late 1800s?
12. What challenges did labor unions have to overcome in order to achieve their main goals?
Because of their contributions to the rising wealth of the country and
the political power/influence wielded by many of the industrialists.
Social Darwinism reflected free enterprise and laissez faire.
Socialism emphasized the problems of wealth and the desire for its equal
distribution to all, preserving the greater good rather than individual success.
a. They had to overcome their differences in order to remain united;
b. Deal with hostile employers who attempted to stop all union activity;
c. Face disapproval by the federal government.

24. As a team, discuss the following question and be ready to share your answer with the class.
How successful were labor unions at the end of the century?
Labor unions had only limited success at that time. They brought many
of labor’s pressing issues to light, but often met with violence and
government opposition during strikes.

25. The Great Railroad Strike of 1877

26. Unions and The Railroads: Reform of Labor Laws
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877
(3:03)

28. Homestead Strike 1892
(2:39)