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

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. refused to bargain collectively when strikes occurred
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 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