APUSH - units 6-7, lessons 4-6

collective bargaining

negotiation between workers and employees for better wages, hours, and conditions

Knights of Labor

early labor union open to all workers led by Powderly (except Asians), advocating for broad social reforms

Terrence Powderly

leader of Knights of Labor, pushed for the settling of disputes over strikes and social change

Haymarket Riot

(1886) Chicago protest for an 8-hour workday, a bomb went off and violence commenced which discredited labor movements ENDING THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR

AFL

American Federation of Labor, union of skilled workers led by Gompers, split into craft unions for practical goals like wages/conditions

Samuel Gompers

Founder of AFL with craft unions

pure and simple unionism

focus on economic goals (higher wages, shorter hours) through collective bargaining, not political reforms (bread and butter tactics)

skilled vs. unskilled workers

skilled workers have specific trades that are hard to replace, while unskilled workers assemble stuff and are more vulnerable

Great Railroad Strike

nationwide strike over wage cuts, with violent clashes especially in Pittsburg, President Hayes sent troops where violence escalated, breaking unions

Homestead Strike

steelworkers for Carnegie’s Homestead planted protested wage cuts, with a violent battle against Pinkertons (agents stopping unions), troops ended in union defeat

Pullman Strike

Pullman workers protesting wage cuts but in high rents, led by Debs, President Cleveland sent troops, violence broke out, troops ended in union defeat

Eugene Debs

Leader of Pullman Strike, founder of American Railway Union, prominent socialist

Looking Backward

(1888) Utopian novel by Edward Bellamy, envisioned a future with economic equality

Progress and Poverty

book by Henry George criticizing wealth inequality and proposing a single tax on land

Horatio Alger

author of Rags to Riches, stories promoting individual efforts and moral character for success

nativism

favoritism toward native-born Americans, opposing immigration and viewing immigrants as threats

new immigrants

post (1860) immigrants from Southern/Eastern Europe and Asia who faced discrimination

Chinese Exclusion Act

first federal law to restrict immigration, specifically for the Chinese

Gentleman’s Agreement

US-Japan agreement to limit Japanese immigration in exchange for equal and fair treatment of Japanese Americans (the US didn’t really follow this)

Emergency Quota Act

Limited immigration to 3% of each nationality’s population in the US from 1910

National Origins Act

reduced immigration quotas, adopting American customs and values

melting pot

concept of blending different cultures into a single unified American identity

cultural pluralism (salad bowl)

idea that diverse groups should retain their unique cultural identities and coexist in society (modern take)

patronage

political parties give positions and jobs based on loyalty/to supporters

Pendleton Act

(1883) established a merit-based system for federal jobs through civil service exams to reduce patronage and corruption

Sherman Antitrust Act

(1890) outlawed monopolistic practices and restrained trade, initially weak enforcement but eventually became a precedent to regulate big business

McKinley Tariff

(1890) raised tariffs to protect US, angering consumers

Wilson-Gorman Tariff

(1894) lowered tariffs slightly, including a controversial income tax provision

Dingley Tariff

(1897) increased tariffs to the highest levels, yet continued protectionist policies

Grange

patrons of husbandry, organization for farmers to advocate for collective economic action and fight railroad monopolies leading to the Granger Laws

Granger Laws

state laws regulating railroad and grain elevator rates to protect farmers from exploitation

Munn vs. Illinois

the supreme court upheld state regulation of private businesses affecting public interest, such as railroads

Wabash Case

limited states’ power to regulate interstate commerce leading to FEDERAL oversight

Interstate Commerce Act

established Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to regulate railroads and ensure fair rates

farners alliances

regional groups advocating for cooperative farming and economic reforms to combat agricultural hardships

Mary Lease and Ignatius Donnelly

fiery speaker promoting populist causes and a populist leader and writer advocating for reforms like free silver and public ownership of railroads

Populist Party

a political movement for farmers and laborers, pushed for free silver, government regulation of railroads, and direct election of senators

free silver

populist backed policy advocating unlimited coinage of silver to inflate currency and aid debt-ridden farmers

Panic of 1893

economic depression triggered by railroad bankruptcies leading to high unemployment and intensified calls for reform

Coxey’s Army

protest march of unemployed workers to Washington, demanding public works jobs during the Panic of 1893

Cross of Gold

William Jennings Bryan’s speech advocating for free silver, arguing against the gold standard that was oppressive to farmers and workers

William Jennings Bryan

populist-leaning democratic candidate in 1896 who supported free silver and gave the Cross of Gold speech