History slides 31-49

Arbitration

To discuss with labor (labor unions) and management (owners) and find common ground. Negotiate.

What were Labor Unions and what were their 3 key goals?

Organizations that workers formed to improve their conditions. The 3 key goals are: better pay, safer working conditions, and reduced work hours.

Who were the Knights of Labor and their leader?

A labor union that didn’t like immigrants, included both skilled and unskilled workers, supported 8 hour work day, equal pay for equal work for all, arbitration, and strikes as last resorts.

Terrence Powderly was their leader and he wanted black people and woman in his labor union.

Which white supremacist group was the deadliest of this time?

The White League

What was the American Federation of Labor?

A federation of different unions made up of skilled workers like carpenters, cigar-makers, shoemakers etc. They didn’t allow black people or woman. Didn’t like immigrants. Their goals were: higher pay, 8 hour work day, better working conditions, and a “closed shop” policy

Lead by Samuel Gompers

It was the largest union made

What does “closed shop” policy mean?

The employer promised to hire only union members

What is socialism?

An economic and political system based on government control of business and property and equal distribution of wealth

Who were the Industrial Workers of the World? (IWW)

A labor union formed in 1905 that was organized by radical unionists, socialists and included African Americans. They were nicknamed the “Wobblies” and were viewed as a threat by the federal government because of its opposition to the war.

What is the Espionage Act of 1917?

Federal law passed on June 15 that criminalizes gathering, sharing, or mishandling sensitive national defense information to aid a foreign nation or harm the United States

What was the Great Strike of 1877 and it’s overview

This strike occurred because farmers were asking for the U.S. to use silver as their currency. In July, the workers for the B&O railroad protest their 2nd wage cut in 2 months. The strike ends up spreading to other lines ending in 50,000 miles impacted. President Rutherford B. Hayes intervenes and sends federal troops to end the strikes.

What was an outcome of the Great Strike?

The U.S. passed the Bland-Allison Act in 1878 in which the government has to coin/print 1-2 million silver coins each month instead of gold. This benefitted the farmers.

What was the Haymarket Riot of 1886 and its overview

A rally called in by Anarchist leaders. At the rally police ordered the crowd to disperse, suddenly a dynamite bomb was thrown at the police, killing 1 of them instantly. Police then proceeded to open fire at the crowd. 10 people die from their wounds. To the public, unions became associated with anarchism and violence, so the Knights of Labor were accused and were destroyed.

Who are the anarchists?

The ones who don’t believe in the government: dont like socialists.

What was the Homestead Strike of 1892 and its overview

Andrew Carnegie and Henry C. Frick broke the union in their steel mill. The workers expected a pay raise since Carnegie always gave them one but then he stopped all of a sudden and the workers went on strike. Frick then hired the Pinkerton detectives to break the strikers. The strikers defeated the Pinkertons and state militia was called out to protect. An assassination attempt against Frick increased public sympathy for the company and against the union. Members of the union were blacklisted.

What was the Pullman Strike of 1894 and its overview

This strike was triggered by the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890. George M. Pullman invented the sleeping cars as well as a town for his employees, named Pullman Illinois, where he owned everything. However, prices and rent were not reduced in this town. He didn’t allow woman to have guy friends and vice versa. Also didn’t allow drinking or smoking. The American Railway Union (ARU) led by Eugene V. Debs called his members not to handle any trains with the Pullman cars during the strike. The government also used an injunction to stop the strike. President Cleveland sent in federal troops to end the strikes. Known as one of the worst strikes in American History.

What did the Pullman Strike of 1894 do to the ARU and Eugene V. Debs?

This strike destroyed the American Railway Union and Eugene was sent to prison for 6 months where he will become a socialist. The strike then collapsed in July 1894. It increased public debate.

What are some advantages of labor unions?

Collective bargaining, mutual aid society, strikes, and closed shop.

What is collective bargaining?

When workers act together in negotiating new contracts for improved conditions. It is essentially the same idea as arbitration.

What is the mutual aid society?

When unions save money for emergencies, so they would use it for when the workers would go on strike.

What are some tactics of management that are used?

Lockout, strike breakers “scabs”, blacklisting, yellow-dog contract, pinkertons, and injunctions.

What is a lockout?

When companies would close down a factory or mill after negotiating with the workers so that they can’t work there

What are strike breakers “scabs”

Temporary workers who fill jobs during a strike, often from a different ethnic group than most of the strikers. (Use racism/prejudice to go against the strikes)

what is a yellow-dog contract

Forcing workers to sign an agreement not to unionize

What is ideology

A system of beliefs about society and government

What is capitalism

A market based economic system in which individuals or corporations privately own the means of production

what is communism?

Ideology calling for revolution by workers (proletariat) to overthrow the owners (bourgeoisie) and establish a classless society

What is social Darwinism?

Belief that humans, like the other forms of life, compete for survival. Those that are naturally superior will meet with the greatest success.

what is the panic of 1873

Caused by railroad over expansion, banking collapse/overexposure, and global economic tension. Caused a depression and increased unemployment. It will cause a 20 year recession

what was the impact of the panic of 1873

Businesses that relied on loans from banks were forced to shut down, thousands of companies went bankrupt, railroad construction came to a stop, unemployment skyrocketed up to 20-25% rates

Inflation vs. deflation

Inflation: farmers (helped them sell crops), populist party, and Silverites

Deflation: wealthy industrialists and gold bugs

What was the panic of 1893?

One of the most devastating economic crises in U.S. history known as the Great Depression. The causes of this panic are railroad overbuilding, banking system, and falling gold reserves. Caused widespread unemployment, political upheaval, and shifts in national economic policy.

What was the crisis of the panic of 1893?

Over 500 banks and 15,000 businesses failed. Steel and railroads collapsed. About 20% of the workforce was unemployed. 6 of the largest railroad companies went bankrupt. Employers and consumers of steel, coal, and lumber triggered a broader industrial collapse.