Economic and Social Change----The Labor Movement

The Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 was inspired

by the Standard Oil trust and jailed people guilty of creating monopolies

The Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 and the Interstate Commerce Act

Demonstrated an attempt by the government to regulate big businesses

Populism

A movement designed to help poor farmers by using government policies and programs. Framers organized into the Grange, Farmer’s Alliance, and the Populist Party as a farm output increased and prices dropped.

Populist supported: an income tax, free coinage of silver, an eight-hour workday, and government ownership of railroads

Farmed wanted

Subsidies or the government pay them for their losses due to overproduction

The Farmers Alliance developed a politic party (the People’s Party supported:

• A national graduated income tax

• Government ownership of the transportation and communication industries

• Direct election of US senators by popular vote

• An 8-hour workday

• Limiting the president to one term in office

• Restrictions on immigration

• The secret ballot

Populists believe

Currency reform (bimetallism) would solve the US economic problems. Bimetallism is the practice of backing money with gold and silver. US currency was worth more which meant American farmers had to repay loans with money that was worth more than the amount of the debt.

William Jennings Bryan

Made a speech (cross of gold) supporting bimetallism

Populist joined

The Farmer’s Alliance, wanted free silver money, were rural people and farmers, and formed in the late 19th century or 1800s

Labor unions

Organizations of workers and grew to help employees resist being treated poorly by big business ownersd

During strikes

Workers refuse to go to work until their employer meets certain demands. (Higher wages or better working conditions)

The Knights of Labor

Wanted to organize all working men and women into one Union. They supported social reforms, such as equal pay for equal work, the 8 hour workday, and an end to child labor

The Great Railway Strike of 1877

Caused President Rutherford B. Hayes to send in federal troops to end the strike. Anarchists were blamed for the violence of the strike

The Haymarket Riot

Turned violent when someone threw a bomb at policeT

The Homestead Strike

Occurred at Carneige Steel plant. The Pinkertons were used to put down the strike. An anarchist tried to assassinate a Carneige boss, Henry Frick

The Pullman Strike

Set a precedent for employers turning the courts for injunctions

The American Federation of Labor (AFL)

Unionized skilled workers, opposed immigration, and focused on wages and working hours and conditions

Collective bargaining

Required Union and management officials to meet to discuss terms of a new contract

The US Government

Supported big business over the interest of the lower class

Populist

• Farmer’s alliance

• Bimetallism

• Rural Farmer

• Late 19th Century

Progressives

• Early 20th Century

• Muckrakers

• Upton Sinclair

• Urban, Industrial