Labor Unions & Social Issues in the Gilded Age

Consumerism

The belief that economic growth and personal satisfaction are driven by purchasing goods and services, encouraged by mass production and advertising.

Anarchy

A condition in which no effective government authority exists, often associated with political extremism or disorder.

Urbanization

The movement of populations from rural areas to cities, driven largely by industrial job opportunities.

Industrialization

The shift from an agricultural economy to one based on factories, mechanization, and mass production.

Knights of Labor

A broad labor union that sought to unite all workers—skilled, unskilled, women, and African Americans—to improve wages and working conditions.

National Labor Union

The first national labor federation in the U.S., advocating for the eight‑hour workday and labor reforms.

Molly Maguires

A secret Irish‑American labor organization accused of using violence to protest harsh mining conditions.

Strikebreakers

Workers hired to replace striking employees, often heightening conflict and violence during labor disputes.

Great Railroad Strike of 1877

The first major nationwide labor strike, triggered by railroad wage cuts and ended by federal troop intervention.

Haymarket Riot (1886)

A Chicago labor protest that turned violent after a bomb exploded, weakening public support for unions.

Homestead Strike of 1892

A violent strike at Carnegie’s Homestead Steel Plant over wage cuts and anti‑union policies.

Pullman Strike of 1894

A railroad strike caused by wage cuts and high rents in company housing, ended by federal troops.

Homestead Steel Strike

Another name for the Homestead Strike of 1892 involving Carnegie Steel.

Andrew Carnegie

Steel industrialist who used vertical integration and promoted philanthropy through the “Gospel of Wealth.”

J.P. Morgan

Influential banker and financier who consolidated industries and stabilized financial markets.

John D. Rockefeller

Founder of Standard Oil who used horizontal integration and trusts to dominate the oil industry.

George Westinghouse

Inventor and businessman who promoted alternating current (AC) electrical systems.

Alexander Graham Bell

Inventor of the telephone, transforming communication.

Thomas Edison

Prolific inventor who developed the light bulb and direct current (DC) electrical systems.

Henry Bessemer

Inventor of the Bessemer Process, which made steel production faster and cheaper.

Samuel Gompers

Founder of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), focusing on skilled workers and practical goals like higher wages and shorter hours.

Robber Baron vs. Captain of Industry

Competing interpretations of industrialists—either exploiters of workers and consumers or innovators who advanced the economy and philanthropy.

Progressive Movement

Reform movement (1890s–1920s) aimed at addressing problems caused by industrialization, including corruption, unsafe working conditions, and inequality.