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The Rise of Labor Unions in America: Struggles, Strikes, and Progress

Explore the labor movement in the late 19th century America as workers fought for better wages, conditions, and rights in the face of powerful industrialists. Learn about key figures, significant strikes, and the ongoing battle for workers' rights.

marny-anderson
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The Rise of Labor Unions in America: Struggles, Strikes, and Progress

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  1. The Rise of Labor Unions

  2. Rich versus Poor • By 1890, the richest 9% of Americans held nearly 75% of the national wealth • Many workers began to resent the lavish lifestyles of their rich owners, & began to organize in an effort to establish a better work system

  3. What Did Workers Want? • Shorter workdays • Higher wages • Better working conditions • End child labor • Collective Bargaining – negotiate as a group w/ employers

  4. The Knights of Labor • National Union • Recruited Skilled & Unskilled Workers • Included Women & African Americans • Emphasized Education & Social Reform

  5. The American Federation of Labor (AFL) • Led by Samuel Gompers • Skilled Workers Only • Used Collective Bargaining as a Strategy

  6. Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) • Unskilled Workers • Radical Socialist Leaders • Violent Strikes

  7. Karl Marx—German Philosopher who wrote Communist Manifesto Denounced capitalism Socialism

  8. Socialism • Economic & political philosophy that favors public instead of private control of property & income. • Socialists believe that society, not private individuals, should control a nation’s wealth. That wealth should be distributed equally to everyone.

  9. Reaction of Employers • forbid union meetings • fired union organizers • forced new employees to sign “yellow dog” contracts, making them promise never to join a union or participate in a strike

  10. Reaction of Employers • refused to bargain collectively when strikes occurred • refused to recognize union representatives

  11. The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 • Workers protested wage cuts & unsafe conditions • Violent & Unorganized • Pres. Hayes sent federal troops to put down the strike • Employers relied on federal & state troops to repress labor unrest

  12. Haymarket Strike 1886 • National strike of all workers calling for an 8-hour workday • During a demonstration in Chicago’s Haymarket Square a bomb exploded • Rioting broke out & dozens were killed • 4 anarchists were hanged • The public began to associate unions w/ violence, anarchy & radicalism

  13. Homestead Strike 1892 • Carnegie Steel cut wages in Homestead, PA • Mngr. Henry Frick called in private guards to protect the plant • Daylong gun battle ended w/ several strikers dead • Again, the public condemned strikes & denounced unions as violent

  14. Pullman Strike 1894 • Strike of Pullman Palace Car Factory Workers • Tried to stop railroads from running • Courts ruled illegal b/c it disrupted mail delivery • The courts now supported owners as well

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