Would You Strike

1. What was the problem in 1890? 9% of Americans held 75% of the wealth

2. What did some poor people suggest the answer was? Socialism: favors public rather than private control of property and income

3. Why were most Americans SO opposed to this idea? Wealthy saw it as a threat to their fortunes; politicians saw it as a threat to public order; threatened American ideals

4. How did workers address their concerns to owners? They united to form labor unions

5. What were their concerns?  Shorter workdays  Higher wages  Better working conditions

6. Name three national unions in the late 19 th century.  Knights of Labor  American Federation of Labor  Industrial Workers of the World

7. Who did the Knights of Labor unionize and what were they yelling about? Members Included: working men and women, skilled and unskilled including African Americans Goals: 1. equal pay for equal work 2. 8 hour work day 2. 8 hour work day 3. end of child labor 3. end of child labor Tactics: political activity and education; tried not to use the strike but did use it to force RR owner Jay Gould to give up wage cut

8. Who did the American Federation of Labor unionize and what were they yelling about? Members included: Skilled workers So what type of union were they: craft union Who was excluded from the union: African American and women Goals: 1. workers’ wage 2. better hours 2. better hours 3. better working conditions 3. better working conditions Tactics: Economic pressure- strikes, boycotts; tried to force employers into collective bargaining; closed shops

9. Who did the wobblies unionize and what were they yelling about? Official Name: Industrial Workers of the World Members included: Unskilled workers So what type of union were they: radical union Philosophy: socialistic Tactics: strikes- became violent

10. What did employers have to say about all of this?  Forbid union meetings  Fired union organizers  Forced new employee to sign “yellow dog” contract  Refused to bargain collectively when strikes occurred  Refused to recognize union as their workers’ legitimate representatives

11. What prompted the Railroad Strike of 1877?  Steep cut in wages during depression  Unsafe working conditions  Increased likelihood of layoffs  Employers relied on federal and state troops

12. Who was Eugene V. Debs? What did he create? What was it a result of?  Debs- a leader in a “brotherhood” (craft union)  Created an industrial union for all Railway workers that was a result of violent 1877 strike  Industrial unions organize workers from all crafts in an industry

13. What led to the Haymarket Riot? What was the end result?  May 1,1886- demonstrated for 8 hr. workday  May 3- police break up fight beat strikers and scabs- many wounded  Union leaders call for protest rally; Anarchists joined strikers  Anarchist encourage resentment felt by strikers-work up fervor  Riot starts after police officer killed by a bomb

14. What led to the Homestead Strike? What was the end result?  H. Frick tried to cut wages at Carnegie Steel  Frick calls in Pinkertons  Pinkertons shot at workers, several killed and wounded

15. What were the benefits and drawbacks of Pullman’s town?  Benefits:  Clean  Safe  Comfortable to live in  Drawbacks:  Strict rules of behavior  Uncharitable behavior of Pullman during panic of 1893

16. What led to the Pullman Strike? What did the strikers do? What was the end result?  1893 Pullman laid of workers and cut wages but kept prices high  Fired union leaders who protested  Union goes on strike  No bargaining for Pullman- Close shop  American RR Union boycotts all Pullman cars  Western RR traffic and mail delivery disrupted  RR turns to federal government- illegal trust formed stopping mail  Attorney General wins in court-forbids strikes that would interrupt rail traffic  President Cleveland- sent troops  Set precedent- all owners/employers can seek court order to stop union activity