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APUSH- / /
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What is being asked in the question? What kind of information did you need to answer this question? Choose TWO of the following organizations and explain their strategies for advancing the interests of workers. To what extent were these organizations successful in achieving their objectives? Confine your answer to the period from 1875 to 1925. Knights of Labor American Federation of Labor Socialist Party of America Industrial Workers of the World
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The Changing American Labor Force
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Plight of the American Worker Around 14 million people immigrated to the U.S. between 1860 to 1900.Around 14 million people immigrated to the U.S. between 1860 to 1900. The government had encouraged immigration during the Civil War when workers were scarce.The government had encouraged immigration during the Civil War when workers were scarce. On top of immigration, 8-9 million Americans moved to the cities during the late 1800s to look for work.On top of immigration, 8-9 million Americans moved to the cities during the late 1800s to look for work. By 1860, most states had established a ten hour work day, but it was rarely enforced.By 1860, most states had established a ten hour work day, but it was rarely enforced. Most laborers worked twelve hours a day, six days a week- even more when they had to meet production goals.Most laborers worked twelve hours a day, six days a week- even more when they had to meet production goals.
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Working Conditions cont. Some industries paid worker by what they produced, not hours worked- called piece work.Some industries paid worker by what they produced, not hours worked- called piece work. Most piece work was produced in sweatshops.Most piece work was produced in sweatshops. Those that didn’t work in sweatshops were subjected to new “scientific” advancements to help increase worker productivity- which could lead to layoffs.Those that didn’t work in sweatshops were subjected to new “scientific” advancements to help increase worker productivity- which could lead to layoffs. As a result of division of labor techniques, workers would do the same small task again and again, never seeing the finished product. As a result, workers were viewed as interchangeable parts.As a result of division of labor techniques, workers would do the same small task again and again, never seeing the finished product. As a result, workers were viewed as interchangeable parts. Workers were ruled by the clock, endured long hours along with strict discipline.Workers were ruled by the clock, endured long hours along with strict discipline. Work places were not safe. The noise could be deafening, Lighting and ventilation was poor. Fatigue, faulty equipment, and careless training resulted in frequent fires and accidents.Work places were not safe. The noise could be deafening, Lighting and ventilation was poor. Fatigue, faulty equipment, and careless training resulted in frequent fires and accidents. Laboring in factories or mines and performing dangerous work was unhealthy for all workers, but most threatening to children.Laboring in factories or mines and performing dangerous work was unhealthy for all workers, but most threatening to children. Workers turned to two different options to solve their problems- socialism and unions.Workers turned to two different options to solve their problems- socialism and unions.
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Management vs. Labor “Tools” of Management “Tools” of Labor “scabs” P. R. campaign Pinkertons lockout blacklisting yellow-dog contracts court injunctions open shop boycotts sympathy demonstrations informational picketing closed shops organized strikes “wildcat” strikes
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A Striker Confronts a SCAB!
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The Socialists Eugene V. Debs
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Socialism Socialism In 1890, the richest 9% of Americans held 75% of the nation’s wealth. In the best years, workers could only earn only a few hundred dollars a year. Some suffered in silence, while others were politically active.In 1890, the richest 9% of Americans held 75% of the nation’s wealth. In the best years, workers could only earn only a few hundred dollars a year. Some suffered in silence, while others were politically active. Socialism is an economic and political philosophy that favors public instead of private control of the means of production.Socialism is an economic and political philosophy that favors public instead of private control of the means of production. Socialists believe that society at large, not just private individuals, should take charge of the nations wealth.Socialists believe that society at large, not just private individuals, should take charge of the nations wealth. Wealth should be distributed equally to everyone.Wealth should be distributed equally to everyone. Most Americans opposed socialism. The wealth saw it as a threat to their fortunes. Politicians saw it as a threat to public order. Americans, in general, even workers, saw it as a threat to deeply rooted American ideals of private property, free enterprise, and individual liberty.Most Americans opposed socialism. The wealth saw it as a threat to their fortunes. Politicians saw it as a threat to public order. Americans, in general, even workers, saw it as a threat to deeply rooted American ideals of private property, free enterprise, and individual liberty.
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Socialist Ideas Inspire Americans Men like Karl Marx, inspired writers like Henry Demarest Lloyd, Edward Bellamy, and Henry George to apply socialist values to American society.Men like Karl Marx, inspired writers like Henry Demarest Lloyd, Edward Bellamy, and Henry George to apply socialist values to American society. The popularity of these men’s books indicate the trend towards monopoly were worrying many Americans.The popularity of these men’s books indicate the trend towards monopoly were worrying many Americans. These men were not encouraging violent revolution to effect change, but they felt could be accomplished with little serious inconvenience to any individual or class.These men were not encouraging violent revolution to effect change, but they felt could be accomplished with little serious inconvenience to any individual or class.
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Knights of Labor Terence V. Powderly An injury to one is the concern of all!
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Goals of the Knights of Labor ù To pursue social reform- Equal pay for equal work, Eight-hour workday, end of child labor ù To organize skilled and unskilled labor ù To organize men and women. ù Didn’t want to use strikes as a tool, but instead educational and political reform. ù To actively recruit African Am. labor. ù Equal pay for men and women. ù Safety codes in the workplace. ù Prohibition of contract foreign labor.
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The American Federation of Labor: 1886 Samuel Gompers
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How the AF of L Would Help the Workers ù Catered to the skilled worker. ù Represented workers in matters of national legislation. ù Maintained a national strike fund. ù Would use economic pressure, along with strikes and boycotts to get what they wanted.. ù Focused on “bread and butter unionism”- increasing workers wages, decreasing hours, and bettering conditions. ù Mediated disputes between management and labor through collective bargaining. ù Pushed for closed shops.
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International Workers of the World (“Wobblies”)
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“Big Bill” Haywood of the IWW Violence was justified to overthrow capitalism.
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IWW- International Workers of the World Believed in constant struggle between “working class” and “employing class” and abolition of wage system; IWW Charter: “Between these two classes a struggle must go on until the workers of the world unite as a class, take possession of the earth and the machinery of production, and abolish the wage system.” Supported the use of the strike, particularly the general strike, and direct action. Appealed to class-consciousness among workers. Supported workers’ revolution; denounced capitalism; wanted workers to control means of production and eventually
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Labor Unrest: 1870-1900
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The Tournament of Today: A Set-to Between Labor and Monopoly
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The Great Railroad Strike of 1877
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When: 1877When: 1877 Where: Started in W. Virginia, then moved to Chicago, St. Louis, Pittsburg, etc.Where: Started in W. Virginia, then moved to Chicago, St. Louis, Pittsburg, etc. Who: Baltimore and Ohio RR vs. Workers.Who: Baltimore and Ohio RR vs. Workers. What: B and O announced a 10% reduction of wages in a depression. To cut costs, they had implemented dangerous cuts that could harm workers.What: B and O announced a 10% reduction of wages in a depression. To cut costs, they had implemented dangerous cuts that could harm workers. Rioting workers and protesters attacked RR property and state governors asked for federal support.Rioting workers and protesters attacked RR property and state governors asked for federal support. Rutherford B. Hayes sent in the military to restore order.Rutherford B. Hayes sent in the military to restore order. Why: ( Significance)- From 1877, employers now relied on the federal government and state troops to repress labor unrest.Why: ( Significance)- From 1877, employers now relied on the federal government and state troops to repress labor unrest. A new and violent era of labor relations began.A new and violent era of labor relations began.
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Anarchists Meet on the Lake Front in 1886 When: May 1-4, 1886When: May 1-4, 1886 Where: Chicago’s McCormick reaper factory.Where: Chicago’s McCormick reaper factory. Who: Workers mounted a national demonstration for an 8 hour work day.Who: Workers mounted a national demonstration for an 8 hour work day. What: On May 3, police broke up a fight between scabs and strikers. It led to several causalities. So on May 4 th, a group of anarchists joined the strikers. Someone threw a bomb, killing seven officers. 8 anarchists were put on trial.What: On May 3, police broke up a fight between scabs and strikers. It led to several causalities. So on May 4 th, a group of anarchists joined the strikers. Someone threw a bomb, killing seven officers. 8 anarchists were put on trial. Why: ( Significance)- now Americans began to associate unions with violence. Led to the end of the Knights of Labor.Why: ( Significance)- now Americans began to associate unions with violence. Led to the end of the Knights of Labor.
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Haymarket Riot (1886) McCormick Harvesting Machine Co.
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Haymarket Martyrs
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Homestead Steel Strike (1892) The Amalgamated Association of Iron & Steel Workers Homestead Steel Works
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Homestead Strike When: Summer of 1892When: Summer of 1892 Who: Workers v. Carnegie Steel– Henry FrickWho: Workers v. Carnegie Steel– Henry Frick Where: Homestead, PAWhere: Homestead, PA What: Workers went on strike. Frick had been left to negotiate a contract. He wanted to defeat the union. So he called in the Pinkertons to break it up. It lead to the death of several workers, along with an assassination attempt on Frick’s life.What: Workers went on strike. Frick had been left to negotiate a contract. He wanted to defeat the union. So he called in the Pinkertons to break it up. It lead to the death of several workers, along with an assassination attempt on Frick’s life. Strike was eventually stopped in Nov. 1892, and the plant was opened under militia control.Strike was eventually stopped in Nov. 1892, and the plant was opened under militia control. Why: ( Significance)- Violence is continued to be associated with strikes and Carnegie refused to acknowledge unions until the 1930s.Why: ( Significance)- Violence is continued to be associated with strikes and Carnegie refused to acknowledge unions until the 1930s.
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The Corporate “Bully-Boys”: Pinkerton Agents
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Attempted Assassination! Henry Clay Frick Alexander Berkman
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A “Company Town”: Pullman, IL A “Company Town”: Pullman, IL
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Pullman Strike Who: George Pullman and his workersWho: George Pullman and his workers Where: Outside of ChicagoWhere: Outside of Chicago When: May 1894When: May 1894 What: Pullman laid off workers and reduced wages 25%, but kept prices in his town high. Three men that went to protest were fired. So the local union went on strike. Pullman refused to bargain and shut down the plant. The strike escalated and the workers called on Eugene V. Debs and the American Railway Union for help.What: Pullman laid off workers and reduced wages 25%, but kept prices in his town high. Three men that went to protest were fired. So the local union went on strike. Pullman refused to bargain and shut down the plant. The strike escalated and the workers called on Eugene V. Debs and the American Railway Union for help. By June of 1894- 260,000 railway workers had joined the Pullman strike.By June of 1894- 260,000 railway workers had joined the Pullman strike. The strikers eventually, as a strike technique and stopped the U.S. mail. President Grover Cleveland sent in 2,500 troops to break the strike.The strikers eventually, as a strike technique and stopped the U.S. mail. President Grover Cleveland sent in 2,500 troops to break the strike. WHY: Significance- This strike set an important pattern- factory owners now appealed to the courts for support.WHY: Significance- This strike set an important pattern- factory owners now appealed to the courts for support. The official government opposition to unions helped limit union gains for 30 years.The official government opposition to unions helped limit union gains for 30 years.
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Government Reacts to Big Business…sort of… Munn v. Illinois ( 1877) -- Overturned by Wabash v. Illinois ( 1886)Munn v. Illinois ( 1877) -- Overturned by Wabash v. Illinois ( 1886) Interstate Commerce Act ( 1887) leads to ICC- IneffectiveInterstate Commerce Act ( 1887) leads to ICC- Ineffective Sherman Anti-Trust Act ( 1890)- vaguely worded and rarely enforcedSherman Anti-Trust Act ( 1890)- vaguely worded and rarely enforced U.S. v. E.C. Knight and Co. ( 1895) - shows the ineffectiveness of Sherman Anti-Trust Act.U.S. v. E.C. Knight and Co. ( 1895) - shows the ineffectiveness of Sherman Anti-Trust Act.
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Thesis Statement Assignment Thesis Statement Assignment Bases on what you have read and content you have heard in this lecture, create a thesis statement on the note card I have just handed to you for the question below:Bases on what you have read and content you have heard in this lecture, create a thesis statement on the note card I have just handed to you for the question below: Choose TWO of the following organizations and explain their strategies for advancing the interests of workers. To what extent were these organizations successful in achieving their objectives? Confine your answer to the period from 1875 to 1925. Knights of Labor American Federation of Labor Socialist Party of America Industrial Workers of the World
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