THE LABOR MOVEMENT

What changes do you think American workers wanted to see by 1900?

With your partner:

Goals of the Labor Movement Better wages Shorter hours Better working conditions More power

The Pullman Town – an example Created 1882 in Chicago to house workers in

railroad car factories “We are born in a Pullman house, fed from the

Pullman shops, taught in the Pullman school, catechized in the Pullman Church, and when we die we shall go to the Pullman Hell.”

1894: wages cut; rents and prices stay the same Why is this a problem for workers?

Lochner v. New York (1905) New York law restricted working hours for bakers Lochner argued that the law took away liberty of

contract under 14th Amendment Held: “The general right to make a contract in

relation to his business is part of the liberty of the individual protected by the Fourteenth Amendment”

Restricted state labor laws until 1937

Tactics of the Labor Movement

Collective bargaining – negotiating a contract for all workers represented by the union

Strike – refusing to work until demands are met

Other tactics: sit-down strike, slowdown/work-to-rule, picket, sabotage

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 July 1877: pay cuts lead to

railroad strike in WV Spreads across states and

industries Why did it fail?

Lack of unity among workers Weak economy State and federal troops

What should labor do next?

The Knights of Labor Founded 1869 Broadly inclusive – African

Americans, women, unskilled workers

Aimed for social reform – eight-hour work day, banning child labor, equal pay

The American Federation of Labor Founded 1886 Most important leader:

Samuel Gompers Concrete goals: wages,

hours, collective bargaining Primarily white, American-

born, male skilled workers

The Industrial Workers of the World

Founded 1905 “The Wobblies” “One big union” Often supported violence

and sabotage Ultimate goal: socialism

The Specter of Socialism Socialism (also Communism… it’s complicated):

belief that government, not private individuals, should own means of production

Who might think this is a good idea? Reformers; labor unions; workers Immigrants

Who might think this is a bad idea? Employers Nativists – people opposed to immigration

PPIH What’s the

message here?

Fear of Socialism Many labor unions (especially the IWW)

accused of supporting socialism Arguments against socialism:

It takes away liberty (think about Lochner) It’s un-American

Strong association between nativism and socialism

Breaking Strikes Intimidation, firing, threats Sabotage and infiltration Strikebreakers – aka

“scabs” Hired to replace striking

workers Often immigrants or African

Americans Pinkerton guards

The Haymarket Affair May 1, 1886: general strike in Chicago May 3: police kill two union members while

breaking up a fight May 4: bomb thrown at rally to protest police

violence in Haymarket Square Mass arrests of anarchists and labor activists,

including many immigrants Rising anti-labor sentiment; destroyed the

Knights of Labor

What does this show us about the effects of rapid industrialization?

Recap: