Turn of the Century LaborTurn of the Century Labor

Mr. Bach’s

United States History

Child LaborChild Labor

Workers’ ConditionsWorkers’ Conditions

Terrible conditions – hot, noisy, and polluted air.

Dangerous machines – no workers’ compensation.

Low pay.Long hours – 13+ hour days.

Two New IdeasTwo New Ideas

Communism– Developed by Karl

Marx– Political theory in

which the workers take control of the factories

– Class, national, and religious divisions are destroyed

– Wealth is evenly-distributed

Social Darwinism– “Survival of the

Fittest”– The rich are rich

because they are the best

– Led to Eugenics Theories

Established beliefs about inferior and superior races

Rise of Labor UnionsRise of Labor Unions

Knights of Labor– Wanted 8 hour work

day– Opposed child labor– Did not racially

discriminate– Destroyed by

accusations of communism

American Federation of Labor (AFL)– Organized by Samuel

Gompers– Charged union dues to

build up cash for strikes

– Organized women as well as men

Samuel GompersSamuel Gompers

Management’s Reaction to Management’s Reaction to Labor UnionsLabor Unions

Spying on union officials

Bribery of union officials

Physical violence– Intimidating the

workers on the job– Hired thugs

The Strike!The Strike!

Workers only way to battle management

Management cannot make money because there is no product being made

Strikebreakers/Scabs– Non-union employees

brought in to work and break the strike

Haymarket Square RiotHaymarket Square Riot

Chicago 1886 Group of anarchists called a

demonstration to demand an 8-hour work day.

A bomb exploded killing 7 policemen and 4 demonstrators

8 anarchists were convicted, and 4 were hanged.

Discredited the Knights of Labor who were tied to the event

Pullman – The Company Pullman – The Company TownTown

The IdeaThe Idea

Pullman sought to build a model town for his workers to cure the evils of the big city– No alcohol allowed– No crime

Workers had own homes Theater and hotel Park areas

The problems– Workers could not

modify their homes without management’s approval

– Workers were often paid in tokens which could only be used in company stores

George Pullman’s House on George Pullman’s House on Prairie AvenuePrairie Avenue

The Pullman StrikeThe Pullman Strike

During the depression of 1893, Pullman raised the rent on his workers’ houses, but did not raise their wages.

Workers went on strike. Other railroad unions went on a sympathy strike.

Crippled the railroad industry. Washington called in federal troops to break the strike.

Soldiers fired into a crowd of workers – killing four.

Demonstrated the power of national labor unions.

Pullman’s GravePullman’s Grave