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Challenges to Big Challenges to Big BusinessBusiness::
Henry George:Henry George:ProgressProgress and Poverty and Poverty
Edward Bellamy:Edward Bellamy:Looking BackwardLooking Backward
SocialismSocialism1870’s Socialist Labor 1870’s Socialist Labor
PartyPartyBy 1901 American By 1901 American
Socialist PartySocialist PartyBy 1912 All three parties By 1912 All three parties
denounced Socialismdenounced Socialism
UnionsUnionsFirst real labor victory in First real labor victory in
American History:American History:Shoe workers in Lynn, Mass.Shoe workers in Lynn, Mass.10,000 walked off of the job 10,000 walked off of the job
and demanded: and demanded: Wage increase & union Wage increase & union
recognitionrecognition
1866 1866 The National Labor The National Labor UnionUnion
Founder: SylvesFounder: Sylves Included many reform Included many reform
groupsgroupsExcluded womenExcluded women640,000 members at peak640,000 members at peakDied with the Panic of 1873Died with the Panic of 1873
1869 1869 Knights of LaborKnights of Labor
Secret organization at first under Secret organization at first under StephensStephens
1878 Powderly took it out in the open1878 Powderly took it out in the open Open to all EXCEPT professionalsOpen to all EXCEPT professionals Short term goals: 8 Hour Day, end Short term goals: 8 Hour Day, end
child laborchild labor Long term goal: replace wages with a Long term goal: replace wages with a
cooperative systemcooperative system
Knights of Labor Knights of Labor ContinuedContinued
By 1886 700,000 membersBy 1886 700,000 members 1880’s unsuccessful strikes1880’s unsuccessful strikes Became associated with violence, Became associated with violence,
anarchyanarchy No public sympathyNo public sympathy Government sided with big businessGovernment sided with big business By 1890 down to 100,000 then diedBy 1890 down to 100,000 then died
The AFLThe AFL
Skilled LaborSkilled Labor Founder: GompersFounder: Gompers Goals were political; not social:Goals were political; not social:
8 Hour Day8 Hour DayHigher WagesHigher WagesBetter conditionsBetter conditionsEqual pay for women (why?)Equal pay for women (why?)
AFL sponsored AFL sponsored legislation for:legislation for:
Abolition of child laborAbolition of child laborRestriction of immigrationRestriction of immigrationRestriction of the use of Restriction of the use of
injunction in labor injunction in labor disputesdisputes
The StrikesThe Strikes
1886 1886 Haymarket SquareHaymarket Square Riots (Chicago)Riots (Chicago)
1892 1892 The Homestead The Homestead StrikeStrike (Penn.) (Penn.)
1894 1894 The Pullman StrikeThe Pullman Strike (Chicago)(Chicago)
No public sympathyNo public sympathy
Unions will become Unions will become associated with anarchyassociated with anarchy
Collective bargaining Collective bargaining sounded communisticsounded communistic
May 1,1886 Haymarket May 1,1886 Haymarket Square RiotsSquare Riots
5-1-1886 The AFL called for a national 5-1-1886 The AFL called for a national strike for an 8 hour daystrike for an 8 hour day
The day before, 4 strikers were killed The day before, 4 strikers were killed during a strike outside of the during a strike outside of the McCormick Harvesting Co. McCormick Harvesting Co.
May 1May 1stst A bomb was thrown into a very A bomb was thrown into a very large protest/gatheringlarge protest/gathering
7 policemen killed, 67 others injured7 policemen killed, 67 others injured Police fired into the crowd, 4 more killedPolice fired into the crowd, 4 more killed
Haymarket Square Haymarket Square ContinuedContinued
Local anarchists were Local anarchists were rounded uprounded up
One was executedOne was executed 1892 liberal Illinois governor, 1892 liberal Illinois governor,
Altgeld, pardoned the others Altgeld, pardoned the others who were still in jailwho were still in jail
1892 The Homestead 1892 The Homestead StrikeStrike
Carnegie Steel Plant in PennsylvaniaCarnegie Steel Plant in Pennsylvania Carnegie and plant manager, Frick, Carnegie and plant manager, Frick,
hated unionshated unions At Homestead plant: The Amalgamated At Homestead plant: The Amalgamated
Association of Iron and Steel Workers Association of Iron and Steel Workers Union was affiliated with the AFLUnion was affiliated with the AFL
1890-92 serious wage cuts1890-92 serious wage cuts 1892 another wage cut and denied the 1892 another wage cut and denied the
union’s right to negotiateunion’s right to negotiate
Homestead Strike Homestead Strike ContinuedContinued
Workers occupied plantsWorkers occupied plants Pinkerton’s called in to remove Pinkerton’s called in to remove
strikers and to protect scabsstrikers and to protect scabs Pinkerton’s approached by riverPinkerton’s approached by river Workers poured oil into the river Workers poured oil into the river
and set it on fireand set it on fire All hell broke looseAll hell broke loose
Homestead continuedHomestead continued
8,000 National Guard sent to 8,000 National Guard sent to protect Steel plant and protect Steel plant and replacement workersreplacement workers
Frick was shot and woundedFrick was shot and wounded Public opinion against strikersPublic opinion against strikers By 1891 down to 24,000 membersBy 1891 down to 24,000 members By 1901 less than 7,000By 1901 less than 7,000 AFL just barely survivedAFL just barely survived
1894 The Pullman Strike1894 The Pullman Strike
Winter 1892-93 Pullman Company cut Winter 1892-93 Pullman Company cut wages by 25%wages by 25%
Did not reduce rents, store prices in its Did not reduce rents, store prices in its towntown
1893 Eugene Debs organized the 1893 Eugene Debs organized the American Railway Workers Union (ARU)American Railway Workers Union (ARU)
Called for a nation-wide strike against Called for a nation-wide strike against Pullman Co. in July of 1894Pullman Co. in July of 1894
60,000 walked off of the job 60,000 walked off of the job
Pullman Strike Pullman Strike continuedcontinued
Illinois Governor Altgeld sympathized Illinois Governor Altgeld sympathized with strikers and would not interfere with strikers and would not interfere on behalf of Pullman Co.on behalf of Pullman Co.
Cleveland sent his Attorney General, Cleveland sent his Attorney General, OlneyOlney
Olney placed a mailbag on the train Olney placed a mailbag on the train and charged strikers with violation of and charged strikers with violation of the Sherman Anti-trust Actthe Sherman Anti-trust Act
Big battle in ChicagoBig battle in Chicago
Pullman Strike Pullman Strike continuedcontinued
Injunction issuedInjunction issued Cleveland sent federal troopsCleveland sent federal troops Eugene Debs jailedEugene Debs jailed Converted to Socialism (Helen Converted to Socialism (Helen
Keller)Keller) Ran for president for the Ran for president for the
Socialist Party 5 timesSocialist Party 5 times
The Molly McGuires The Molly McGuires 1865-771865-77
Irish coal miners in PennIrish coal miners in PennDestroyed mining co. propertyDestroyed mining co. propertyKilled mine superintendentsKilled mine superintendents Infiltrated by PinkertonsInfiltrated by Pinkertons19 strikers executed in the end19 strikers executed in the end
1905 The IWW 1905 The IWW
Big John HaywoodBig John Haywood MilitantMilitant The WobbliesThe Wobblies Organized miners, immigrants, Organized miners, immigrants,
itinerant farm workersitinerant farm workers ViolentViolent Government repression, deportationGovernment repression, deportation
ALSO…ALSO…
The Women’s Trade Union The Women’s Trade Union LeagueLeague: worked to improve : worked to improve working conditions for women working conditions for women and childrenand children
National Consumers’ LeagueNational Consumers’ League: : worked for above at the state worked for above at the state levellevel
Federal Reform AttemptsFederal Reform Attempts
The Sherman Anti-Trust ActThe Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890): (1890): every contract, combination, or every contract, combination, or conspiracy in restraint of trade is conspiracy in restraint of trade is illegal illegal
Was intended to restrain the power of Was intended to restrain the power of monopoliesmonopolies
BUT was more often used against BUT was more often used against strikersstrikers(Pullman) & NOT against monopolies (Pullman) & NOT against monopolies (E.C. Knight case & 14(E.C. Knight case & 14thth Amendment) Amendment)
Another Federal Reform Another Federal Reform Attempt:Attempt:
The Interstate Commerce Act The Interstate Commerce Act (1887): (1887): said RR rate discrimination was said RR rate discrimination was
illegal illegal and established the ICC: a 5-member and established the ICC: a 5-member
non-partisan board to take RR’s to non-partisan board to take RR’s to court for violations of the ICAcourt for violations of the ICA
BUT also did not work: rebates, the BUT also did not work: rebates, the ICC, and the CourtICC, and the Court
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