Lecture Notes - Day 5

The lecture will address how workers responded to industrial growth and the origins and the significance of populism.
The great economic wealth was created by new innovation and invention, the volatile economic climate affected many.
Examine the social changes that accompanied the economic shifts of the era.
Social Darwinism influenced ideas about who would succeed or fail in society.

Began in Martinsville, Virginia, and West Virginia due to a second wage cut in six months for Baltimore and Ohio Railroad workers.
Workers refused to work until the wage cut was reinstated.
Managers called in the mayor, who was ineffective, leading to the governor calling President Rutherford B. Hayes, who sent in federal troops.
The press coverage inspired other workers; a train depot in Baltimore was set on fire.
President Hayes sent in federal troops to stop the riot.
The strike spread to Pittsburgh, where Pennsylvania Railroad workers, led by Gus Harris, went on strike due to double headers (12-16 hour shifts).
Troops from Philadelphia were called in, leading to violence and deaths.
The strike resulted in widespread destruction, including burning buildings.
By the end of the summer, approximately 100 people were dead, 1,000 jailed, and 100,000 workers had gone on strike, shutting down over half of the nation's 75,000 miles of track for three weeks.
Cities began building National Guard armories in response.
Some railroads made concessions, such as withdrawing wage cuts, but also strengthened police forces.
Industries hired detectives to monitor union activity.
Media outlets like The Atlantic and The New York Times commented on the strike, with varying perspectives.
The strike highlighted the government's willingness to protect business owners.
The strike shows that national power could and would be used to protect private properties.

Increased mechanization led to deskilling and lower wages for some workers.
AI is seen as a potential threat to displace workers, drawing parallels to historical trends.
40% of industrial workers worked over ten hours a day, with some working up to twelve to sixteen hours.
The average male worker made less than $500$ a year (approximately 13,000 - $14,000 in today's money), which is below the poverty line.

Immigration patterns shifted, with more immigrants coming from Eastern and Southern Europe, as well as other regions.
Nativist sentiments were prevalent, with concerns about immigrants' assimilation, political corruption, and emotional reactions like xenophobia.
The Chinese Exclusion Act was supported by both parties and workers who feared job competition.
The cartoon depicts communism as a destructive force brought by immigrants.

Negative definition of freedom, known as liberty of contract, emphasized the freedom of individuals to enter into contracts.
Courts ruled against labor laws that would interfere with this freedom.
Social Darwinism supported the idea of freedom of contract.

Labor unions emerged to represent workers' interests.
The Knights of Labor, founded in 1878, was a significant manifestation of labor organizing.
Unlike trade guilds, it aimed to organize workers across various industries.
They advocated for an 8-hour workday, no child labor, and the establishment of bureaus of labor statistics.
They also called for laws to protect people in the workplace.
They were critical of land grants to railroads.
The Knights of Labor allowed farmers to join, leading to mixed assemblies.
They organized activities during Mardi Gras.

A rally at Haymarket Square in Chicago on May 4 involved various groups, including members of the Knights of Labor, socialists, anarchists, and communists.
A bomb was thrown into the crowd of police officers, resulting in deaths and injuries.
Radical speakers were blamed for the violence, leading to arrests and executions.
The Haymarket Affair led to the weakening of the Knights of Labor and increased fears of radicalism.

The American Federation of Labor replaced the Knights of Labor in prominence. It was a different kind of union.

The late 19th century was a volatile economic period with recessions and depressions.
Coxey's Army, led by Jacob Coxey, marched on Washington in 1894 to protest the plight of the unemployed.
The army consisted of unemployed men, including Civil War veterans.

Populism refers to a political party that emerged in the 1890s, largely a movement of farmers.
Farmers were upset about railroad practices and economic volatility.
They organized to share information and fight corruption among railroads.
Both black and white farmers organized, though black farmers formed their own organizations due to Jim Crow laws.
Farmers formed the populist party (People's Party) and were joined by industrial workers.
The populist party sought reform of the economy and government intervention.
They opposed national banks and advocated for women's suffrage.