Transcript 5:4 - Eastern Upper Peninsula ISD
● 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