● 5:4 Two types of workers in the U.S. In the 1800's –

Craft Workers

: specialized skill and training –

Common Laborers

: few skills and lower wages As Industrialization began (1830's),

Trade Unions

began forming

5:4 ●

Industrial Unions

● United all workers of one particular industry ● Business leaders viewed unions as conspiracies and a violation of private property – Created a “

blacklist

” (list of “troublemakers”)

5:4 ●

Marxism

● Developed by Karl Marx ● Capitalism = class struggle (rich v poor) ● Workers would eventually seize control and overthrow the government ● ● Government would own all private property All wealth would be distributed evenly

● 5:4 U.S. Labor Force and Marxism ● ● Many labor leaders and supporters agreed with Marx – But did not believe in a violent overthrow of government Anarchists – Believe society does not need government – Believes violence is an acceptable way to overturn government – Very few labor supporters were Anarchists

● 5:4 The Struggle to Organize ●

Panic of 1873

(severe economic downturn) ● B&O Railroad cut wages ● Railroad workers across the country walked off the job ● Tracks torn up, equipment smashed ● 100 people dead

● 5:4

Knights of Labor

(1869) ● ● ● Opposed strikes Used “boycotts” instead Supported “

arbitration

” – A third party tries to help employers and workers reach an agreement

● 5:4

Haymarket Riot

(1886) (Chicago) ● Nationwide strike on May 1 ● In support of the eight-hour workday

● 5:4 Homestead Strike (p204) ● Pullman Strike (p204) ● “

Injunction

” - a formal court order directing the union to stop the boycott (strike)

● 5:4

American Federation of Labor

(AFL) ● The dominate union in the late-1800's ● Created when several unions joined together to create one large union ●

Samuel Gompers

-president of AFL ● 3 main goals of the AFL – – Recognize the unions right to exist “Closed Shops” (could only hire union members) – 8-hour workday

5:4 ●

IWW

● “Industrial Workers of the World” ● ● ● More radical than AFL – Socialists Wanted all workers united as one, regardless if “skilled” or “unskilled” Had limited success ●

WTUL

● Women's Trade Union League – 8-hour workday – Minimum wage – Abolition of child labor