STRIKE ONE! { Learning Target: I can describe the working conditions that an individual faced when working in factories and why Unions were created to help workers.
I-The Age of Industry A-People began mass producing objects about 1875 1-Clothing was among the first of the major industries in America 2-Called the Gilded Age because of the new group of rich people who came into being 3-Resources were discovered and exploited 4-These business men called Captains of Industry and Robber Barons
I-The Age of Industry A) Steel (Andrew Carnegie) B) Oil (John D. Rockefeller) 1) First Billionaire C) Meat Packing (Gustave Swift & Phillip Armour) D) Coal Mining (Marcus Alonzo Hanna) E) Lumbering F) Railroad (James J. Hill) G) Banking (J.P. Morgan) H) Newspaper (William Randolph Hearst
II-Who are the workers? A-Many immigrants began coming to America about 1870 1-Why come? A) Famine in their country B) Money C) Better way of life D) Oppression (religious, political) 2-Why hire: A) Cheaper than people born in the U.S. because they did not know the language 1) They could not communicate and find out they were being paid less
II-Who are the workers? B-Women 1-Cheaper than men C-Children 1-Cheaper than adults 2-began working at 5 or 6 years old
II-Who are the workers? D-Minorities 1-African American A) Cheaper than White Americans but more expensive than immigrants 2-Chinese A) Came to build the transcontinental railroad in 1850 s B) Worked for less C) did most dangerous work through the mountains D) Laws passed limiting (then banning) Chinese immigration
III-Working Conditions A-Owners did not care about the workers 1-building were old and dilapidated 2-buildings were hot in summer, cold in winter 3-rooms were crowded 4-pay was cheap 5-long hours (12-16 hours per day) 6-worked 6 days a week (Sunday off for church)
III-Working Conditions B-Benefits (or lack of benefits) 1-no fringe benefits 2-no sick leave (lost job if called in sick) 3-no overtime 4-no health insurance 5-if you were hurt on the job, it was too bad A) lost job if went to doctor during work!
III-Working Conditions C-Quest for Efficiency 1- Frederick Winslow Taylor A) Created basis of Scientific Management of Business B) Used shops and large factories as models to promote his ideas C) Wrote books on scientific management
IV-Help for the Worker A-Knights of Labor 1-First formation of a labor union in America 2-Existed: 1869-1886 3-Advocated an 8-hour work day 4-Included both skilled and unskilled workers 5-owner s reaction: fired worker if they found out you belonged to a union
IV-Help for the Worker B-American Federation of Labor (AFL) 1-formed in 1881 by Samuel Gompers 2-included only skilled workers 3-discriminated against minorities 4-became a union for unions 5-owner s reaction: fired worker if they found out you belonged to a union
IV-Help for the Worker C-The Grange 1-Advocacy group for farmers 2-Tried to get laws that regulated prices of agriculture goods 3-Problem: Big business believed they were a form of Union D-Many owners believed that unions were illegal 1-Courts agrees with the owners at this time (later changed)
V-Strikes A-Great Railroad Strike of 1877 1-Pay cuts caused strikes to occur throughout the country 2-Workers of Baltimore & Ohio Railroad went on strike after a second pay cut 3-President Hayes used federal troops to restore order after workers were killed
V-Strikes B-Haymaker Strike: 1885 1-happened at the McCormick Harvester Works Company in Chicago 2-President of company cut wages of all workers 10% except molders. They were cut 15%! 3-after 3 months, workers asked for wages to be restored---owners said no 4-Molders went on strike A) most were Irish 1) Irish were a minority in the factory B) Most workers were German, Swedish or Norwegian
V-Strikes B-Haymaker Strike: 1885 5-Company hires scabs to replace strikers 6-Pinkertons hired to keep peace A) did not hire police because many police were Irish and the belief was they supported the strikers 7-Molders won, but were soon replaced with machines 8-Molders convince other workers to form a union 9-New union members take of strike A) before strike could happen, owners closed the plant B) called a lock out
V-Strikes B-Haymaker Strike: 1885 10-owner re-opens with only non-union workers 11-Strike spreads to other businesses in Chicago 12-Strike culminates with riot in Haymarket Square 13-Someone throws a bomb at police 14-Four leaders were arrested and convicted of murder A) All four were executed by hanging B) Some say this was one of the most unfair trials in U.S. History
V-Strikes C-Homestead Steel Strike: 1892 1-Against Carneigie s Homestead Steel Plant 2-Carneigie locked out workers 3-Hires 300 Pinkertons to keep workers out 4-Police arrested strikers
V-Strikes C-Homestead Steel Strike: 1892 1-Against Carneigie s Homestead Steel Plant 2-Carneigie locked out workers 3-Hires 300 Pinkertons to keep workers out 4-Police arrested strikers
V-Strikes D-Anthracite Coal Strike: 1902 1-Heat & electricity produced by coal 2-strikers asked for safer conditions and more money 3-Strike began late April/early May 4-Strikers wanted to negotiate, owners said no A) Strikers later offered arbitration, owners said no
V-Strikes E-Strikes against Great Northern Railway and Pullman Palace Car Company 1-led by Eugene V. Debs A) created American Railway Union B) ran for President FIVE times as Socialist candidate 2-received all demands in GNR strike 3-Pullman company cut wages 28% 4-President Cleveland sent in troops claiming strike was illegal since it stopped US Mail (trains would carry mail) 5-Debs was arrested for illegal strike (Supreme Court affirmed this)