American History Chapter 6: The Expansion of American Industry IV. The Great Strikes

Bellringer Your employee has just told you that you must work 5 hours extra a week or you are fired. You will not get paid for these hours.

Objectives Discover the impact of industrialism on the gulf between rich and poor. Find out the goals of the early labor union in the US. Learn why Eugene V. debs formed the American Railway Union. Study the causes and outcomes of the major strikes in the late 1800s.

A) Gulf Between Rich and Poor 1890 – 9% of Americans held 75% of the wealth Workers became politically active Socialism: economic and political philosophy that favors public instead of private control of the means of production Society should run the wealth – and distribute it equally In 1848, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote Communist Manifesto Most Americans opposed socialism – even the poor

B) The Rise of Labor Unions Early labor unions failed because of depressions NTU and NLU Knights of Labor – allowed men women and African Americans – fought for equal pay for equal work, 8 hour work day, no child labor – a violent strike ended the union

AFL started by Samuel Gompers 19) Craft Union: only skilled workers – not all workers No African Americans and women – drive wages down – main goal was wages Collective bargaining: process in which workers negotiate as a group with employers Wanted a closed shop – no workers not union members

Employees took steps to end unions Forbid union meetings Fired union organizers Forced workers to sign “yellow dog” contracts – couldn't join union No collective bargaining during strikes Refused to recognize unions Quote on page 249 bottom

C) Railroad Workers Organize The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 – B and O Railroad cut wages because of a depression twice – workers strike – militia called in to break strike – riot spread throughout US – Hayes called in federal troops to put it down – government takes side of business Some unions peaceful – Eugene Debs American Railway Union Industrial union: Union that organizes workers from all crafts in a given industry

D) Strikes Rock the Nation Scabs – negative term for a worker called in by owner to replace striking laborers) Anarchists: radicals who oppose all government

a) Haymarket Riot Strike at Chicago McCormick reaper factory – got violent when scabs were sent in – police intervened – several dead Protest rally called at Haymarket Square – bomb thrown into police killing one – police fired into crowd – killing many 8 people convicted 4 – hanged – one suicide – 3 pardoned later

b) Homestead Strike of 1892 At Carnegie Steal plant in Homestead Pennsylvania Carnegie in Europe – partner was Henry Frick Frick tried to cut wages – strike Frick called in the Pinkerton private police force – shootout – several dead Anarchist not involved tried to assassinated Frick Public opinion turned sour – Strike called off.

c) Pullman Strike of 1894 Built rail cars Pullman built a whole town Cut wages 25% but kept prices of everything else the same Eugene Debs and the ARU got involved – national train stoppage – delayed mail President sent in troops – strike over Government again protected business

Review What impact did industrialization have on the gulf between rich and poor? What were the goals of the early labor unions in the US? Why did Eugene Debs organize the American Railway Union? What were the causes and outcomes of the major strikes in the late 1800s?