The Expansion of American Industry The Great Strikes Chapter 5

Objectives Summarize the growing gap between rich business owners & poor workers. List some early labor unions & their activities. Describe the causes & outcomes of the major strikes of the late 1800s.

Rich & Poor 9% of Americans held 75% of wealth. Socialism – Econ & political philosophy that favors public control of property & income, NOT private control. Wealth distributed evenly. Karl Marx Wealthy, politicians, American workers saw it as a threat to the way of life. Karl Marx – Communist Manifesto

The Rise of Labor Unions Trade Unions The Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers legal Strikes Shorter workdays Higher wages Better conditions American Federation of Labor – AFL Collective Bargaining Closed Shop Skilled labor Employer Reaction Forbade union meetings Fired union organizers “Yellow Dog” contracts Refuse to recognize unions as reps of workers Cordwainers were shoemakers. Closed Shop only union members would be hired. Yellow Dog Contracts – never join a union or strike.

Worker Strikes Haymarket Riot, 1886 Homestead, 1892 Railroad Strike – 1877 10% wage cuts “Double Headers” Violence Federal Troops 1881 – 1900 24,000 strikes Scabs – workers called in by employer to replace striking workers. This keeps employers operating w/o bargaining w/ workers. Haymarket Riot, 1886 Chicago – McCormick Reaper Factory 8 hour workday 7 officers killed Anarchists – oppose gov Homestead, 1892 Carnegie Steel – Cut $$ Pinkertons – private police Shootout Attempt on Frick Union loss Baltimore & Ohio RR announce 10% wage cuts in midst of depression. This was the second wage cut in 8 months. Double Headers – run 2 engines with more cars causing risks of accidents & worker layoffs. President Hayes sent in Federal troops – 1st time in history. Carnegie Steel – Carnegie in Europe Henry Frick cut wages Carnegie approved of stikes with no violence.

Pullman Strike - 1894 George Pullman 1894 – Workers protest, 3 fired. Sleeping car Chicago Built town Schools, banks, water, gas systems, & houses Panic 1893 Cut wages 25% Kept costs the same 1894 – Workers protest, 3 fired. Strike Plant Shutdown Railway Union Strikes Boycott Pullman cars Interrupted mail & traffic Court forbid unions activities – 30 years. Sherman Antitrust Act Sherman Antitrust Act – outlawed any combination of companies that restrained interstate trade or commerce.