American Labor History

Question 1

Prior to 1800, unions did not exist. However, there were small _____, which were joint associations of employers and craftsmen.

Answer 1

guilds

Question 2

______ were joint associations of employers and craftsmen. They pressed for professional standards, restriction of outside competition, and were usually designed to benefit both employees and employers.

Answer 2

Guilds

Question 3

During the 1850s and 1860s, the U.S. factory system developed. This extended a company beyond a loyal area and was an important step leading to unionism.

Answer 3

unionism

Explanation:

This extended a company beyond a local area, which led to potential competition between locations. Organized labor began to develop to take wages out of competition.

Question 4

The ___________ strategy is one union philosophy. The philosophy is based on the idea that employment is jointly governed by unions, employers, and the government.

Answer 4

corporatist

Explanation:

The corporatist philosophy is based on maintaining a stable labor relations climate. Unions, employers, and the government govern employment. The government generally has the controlling role and oversees the relationship between unions and employers.

Question 5

The ______ unionism strategy focused on social issues. One of its main aims was to improve conditions for the working class.

Answer 5

uplift

Explanation:

Uplift unionism refers to a union philosophy that focuses on improving society as a whole. It is generally aimed at improving conditions for the working class.

Question 6

_____________ unionism is a union philosophy based on the idea that workers should own the major means of production.

Answer 6

Revolutionary

Question 7

In terms of socialist theory, ________ is the only one which establishes an integral link between trade unionism and the social revolution. Revolutionary unionism is a union philosophy where the union seizes the major means of production.

Answer 7

Marxism

Question 8

________ unionism is a union philosophy where the focus is on short-term objectives such as wages, working conditions, and job security.

Answer 8

Business

Question 9

According to business unionism philosophy, objectives are typically achieved via ___________ bargaining, where the union negotiates improved conditions for all employees.

Answer 9

collective

Question 10

Predatory unionism is a union philosophy where the union preys on both employees and employers, generally for its own _________ gain.

Answer 10

financial

Explanation:

Predatory unionism exists when a union operates for its own gain. It typically involves unions profiting from union dues paid by members, while also extorting payments from employers in return for negotiating favorable contracts.

Question 11

The Molly Maguires were a group of union organizers who were prosecuted and either executed or imprisoned after an 1875 strike against anthracite mine owners in ____________ failed.

Answer 11

Pennsylvania

Explanation:

The Molly Maquires were a secret society of Irish Catholic immigrants intent on seeking social justice during the 1860’s and 70s. They were accused of industrial sabotage, armed robberies, physical assaults, and at least 16 murders.

Question 12

The goals of the Knights of Labor were largely established due to their objections to operations and industrial organizations established during the American _____ war.

Answer 12

civil

Explanation:

The development of mass production during the Civil war was largely opposed by workers and employers due to the loss of a sense of personal accomplishment and pride. The goals of the Knights of Labor were based on these objections.

Question 13

The initial members of the Knights of Labor maintained this as a ______________ until 1882 because participation in a labor organization could lead to dismissal by their employers.

Answer 13

secret society

Explanation:

At this early stage of development of the organization, the members did not yet have protection from unfit dismissal. Employers recognized the potential for workplace disruption by these groups and would take action to avoid such problems. For these reasons, the Knights of Labor was a secret society from 1869 to 1882.

Question 14

Powderly believed that the decisions of congress were influenced by _______ and owners of gold, who he considered the true villains of industrial society.

Answer 14

bankers

Question 15

Led by ___________, the Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor was formed in 1869 as a secret society and remained secret until 1881. It sought to include all workers in one big union and campaigned for economic and social reform, including codes for safety and health.

Answer 15

Terence Powderly

Question 16

The Knights of Labor was arranged according to geographical areas rather than _________ classification. The group had three organizational units consisting of local assemblies, district assemblies, and the General Executive Board.

Answer 16

employee

Explanation:

The local assembly was responsible for the education of members on the principals of the organization as well as serving as the members’ bargaining agent.

Question 17

The Knights of Labor (KOL) included both skilled and unskilled workers in the same union and opened their doors to blacks and _____.

Answer 17

women

Explanation:

The KOL sought to exclude from their ranks doctors, bankers, lawyers, liquor producers and gamblers.

Question 18

The implementation of successful ______ action allowed tremendous growth of the Knights of Labor, but the organization suffered an abrupt demise. This failure has been attributed to their assumption that employees and employers shared common interests.

Answer 18

strike

Question 19

The Knights of Labor encouraged both employers and employees to join the organization, maintaining that both parties were being duped by ___________ and could come together to improve society. They didn’t appreciate that each group would be motivated by self-interest. The group’s assumption that employers and employees would share common interests is considered one of the main reasons the Knights of Labor failed.

Answer 19

financiers

Question 20

The _________ Riot arose in Chicago during the late 1800s between strikers supporting the reduction of the workday to eight hours and the police sent to monitor this meeting.

Answer 20

Haymarket

Explanation:

The strike against a ten-hour workday began peacefully but resulted in violence and death in Haymarket Square in Chicago. Supporters believed that the shorter workday would result in more people working and help to reduce levels of unemployment.

Question 21

The Haymarket riot, which occurred in Chicago in 1886, was blamed on the ________________.

Answer 21

Knights of Labor

Explanation:

During an 1886 labor demonstration in Chicago’s Haymarket Square, a bomb exploded, killing police. Many blamed the incident on the influence of radicals within the union movement and propagandists claimed that unions were subversive forces.

Question 22

In 1886, following expulsion from the Knights of Labor, some union members formed an outgrowth of the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions of the United States and Canada. The new union was named the ________ Federation of Labor.

Answer 22

American

Explanation:

Many of the members of the Knights of Labor (KOL) were losing faith in the leadership’s social reform policy and were unimpressed by the action taken by them during strikes involving cigar makers. The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was formed by expelled members of the Knights of Labor.

Question 23

The American Federation of Labor was largely in support of the existing __________ system of capitalism and was skeptical about other organizations that acted against it.

Answer 23

industrial

Question 24

The AFL (American Federation of Labor) was founded in a supportive role to the capitalist society of the time despite the initial socialist attitude of ___________, one of the major founders of the organization.

Answer 24

Samuel Gompers

Question 25

In his leadership role within the American Federation of Labor, Samuel Gompers promoted the objectives of the party as representing pure and simple ________.

Answer 25

unionism

Explanation:

The labeling of the AFL as representing pure and simple unionism was first assigned by the organization’s critics in response to the AFL’s goal of wanting to improve the material conditions of members through the existing capitalist system.

Question 26

______________ tended to focus on practical matters such as higher wages and shorter workdays.

Answer 26

Samuel Gompers

Explanation:

While many other union activists were preoccupied with utopian and socialist philosophies, Samuel Gompers of the American Federation of Labor, focused his energies on more pragmatic issues such as higher pay and improved working conditions.

Question 27

One of the major strategies of the American Federation of Labor relied on their belief that the ______ should be considered as a viable collective bargaining tool for employees to receive their fair share from employers.

Answer 27

strike

Explanation:

Unlike the Knights of Labor, the AFL did not consider the community of interests to represent complete employer-employee agreement on all issues. They realized that employees may have to pressure employers to achieve their objectives and saw the strike as an effective means to do so.

Question 28

The American Federation of Labor believed that separate unions should represent different crafts and as such the organizational structure was based on _________ jurisdiction in addition to decentralized authority.

Answer 28

exclusive

Question 29

The AFL avoided the one big union concept of organization, which was an _____________ approach for the Knights of Labor. The decision for exclusive jurisdiction was based on the principles that each trade had different working conditions and interests, and that combining members of these trades in one union would compromise these interests.

Answer 29

ineffective

Question 30

The ________ Incident was an extremely violent episode in labor history, resulting from the employer controlled lockout of employees following wage negotiations.

Answer 30

Homestead

Explanation:

Although sometimes referred to as a strike, it has been reported that no strike vote was ever taken by union members and it was the employer who was preventing work. Only a few employees were later reinstated following this incident and the company profited significantly.

Question 31

The Pullman Strike resulted from employees contesting layoffs and wage cuts following the Panic of 1893, a collapse of the ____________.

Answer 31

stock market

Explanation:

The Pullman company had been forced to lay off almost half of its 5800 employees in addition to cutting wages. At this time, Pullman owned all company housing where workers lived. The rents remained the same on this housing, resulting in near poverty wage conditions. The Pullman Strike occurred to contest the situation.

Question 32

Members of the ________________ Union refused to allow any train with a Pullman car to move. The railroads used strikebreakers (scabs) and troops to break the strike.

Answer 32

American Railway

Explanation:

In order to break the strike, the railroads needed help from federal troops. Getting their assistance, however, was a difficult task. The railroads could only get help from federal troops if the President agreed. President Grover Cleveland said that he would only send the aid of government troops if a governor requested them.

Question 33

The _______ Anti Trust Act was used to break a strike by the American Railway Union.

Answer 33

Sherman

Explanation:

The Pullman Strike (1894) against the Great Northern Railway of Chicago was broken within a week after President Grover Cleveland ordered 2,500 federal troops to the strike zone. The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, which authorized federal action against any “combination in the form of trusts or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade,” was used as a blanket injunction against labor.

Question 34

The Industrial Workers of the World was formed in 1905 and had the initial goal of overthrowing the existing __________ system in view of the fact that employers and employees really shared no common interests.

Answer 34

capitalist

Explanation:

The IWW’s initial goal was to overthrow the existing capitalistic system by any means, since it felt employers and employees had nothing in common. The Wobblies, as they were known, believed in socialist or communist ideology and some advocated whatever means necessary to effect change, including sabotage and violence.

Question 35

The Industrial Workers of the World was organized by William “Big Bill” Haywood as an alternative to the ___________________ of Labor.

Answer 35

American Federation

Question 36

William “Big Bill” Haywood invented the goals of the IWW at a convention where he outlined that the aims should be to put the _______ class in possession of the economic power and the means of life.

Answer 36

working

Question 37

The approach of the Industrial Workers of the World was in opposition to that of the American Federation of Labor, in that it acted to remove any group within the society that was in support of ________.

Answer 37

capitalism

Explanation:

Opposing the AFL, the IWW was in agreement with the Knights of Labor in that they both believed the wage and profit system needed adjustment. The IWW was much more forceful by adopting any method they believed would help quickly destroy capitalism.

Question 38

The demise of the Industrial Workers of the World resulted from a number of sources including organizational differences within the group. The members were divided into radical and ____________ factions.

Answer 38

conservative

Explanation:

The leaders of the IWW could not reach agreement on the type of organizational structure that was best suited to the group. The conservatives believed the IWW should have members join the AFL and teach them the negatives of capitalism, while the radicals followed Haywood’s philosophy more closely and disagreed with the use of energy for less effective measures.

Question 39

Nicknamed the _________, the IWW actively recruited immigrants, nonwhites, women, unskilled, and migrant workers.

Answer 39

Wobblies

Explanation:

The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) was a powerful movement that engaged both socialists and anarchists in the early years of the 20th century, especially in the English-speaking world.

Question 40

The American Federation of Labor grew considerably during World War I, resulting largely from the provisions made for the enforcement of trade _____ standards in all government contracts.

Answer 40

union

Explanation:

During the war, the government recognized the necessity for uninterrupted production and as a result attempted to keep labor happy. Labor representatives were appointed in all government agencies.

Question 41

Following the war was a dismal period for labor where total union memberships dropped significantly. This reduction was attributed in part to the aggressive counteractions by employers, and the __________ sentiment gaining popularity among potential members.

Answer 41

anti-union

Explanation:

The dramatic popularity gained by trade unions during the war was concerning to employers who could foresee the problems that would arise once the war was over. It was important for their cause to take immediate and drastic action to halt the progress of the unions.

Question 42

The ________ Plan was established by employers and promoted the idea that employees be given the choice of joining unions. However, industrial spies were hired to determine employees who considering unionization. These employees were subsequently fired and blacklisted, in which their names were given to other employers to prevent their finding work again.

Answer 42

American

Explanation:

The American Plan that employers promoted insisted employees uphold American values of rugged individualism rather than the foreign principles of unions. Giving the employees the option was more about the employers recognizing those who would not adhere to this belief

Question 43

In another attempt to fight unionism, many companies adopted practices which included providing free lunches, vacations, and employee counseling. This was referred to as employer ___________.

Answer 43

paternalism

Explanation:

This idea of paternalism was that the employer had the best interests of employees at heart as well as superior wisdom. Employees of these companies would not be as attracted to unions because the employer was providing for the needs of employees.

Question 44

The Committee for Industrial Organization (CIO) was formed in 1935 as a result of the ________________ Labor rejecting the concept of industrial unionism.

Answer 44

American Federal

Explanation:

The stated purpose of the CIO was to educate and advise, but in action it promoted unionization in mass production industries. The AFL leaders were opposed to unions.

Question 45

The leader of the American Federation of Labor ordered the Committee for Industrial Organization to ________ or leave the AFL. The situation intensified and the industrial unionism issue resulted in the formation of a completely independent labor organization known as the Congress of Industrial Organizations.

Answer 45

dissolve

Explanation:

At the time the CIO split from the AFL, union memberships in the CIO sharply increased. However, during the 1930s the AFL grew more steadily by comparison and this is believed to be due to a preference by employers for the more conservative, reliable organization.

Question 46

The Congress of Industrial Organizations was largely formed and subsequently led by _____________.

Answer 46

John L. Lewis

Explanation:

Although one of a group of leaders, John L. Lewis was the key factor in initiating the split of the CIO from the AFL.

Question 47

Union membership began a steady decline in ____ which continued until 1933.

Answer 47

1920

Explanation:

After major strikes in 1921-23 (including an unsuccessful attempt to organize the steel industry), trade unions were unable to exercise direct pressure on employers for almost a decade, until the passage of the Wagner Act in 1935, which promoted unionization and collective bargaining.

Question 48

The Congress of Industrial Organization was responsible for the invention of the ________ strike in which employees stayed inside the plant rather than forming a picket line outside.

Answer 48

sit-down

Explanation:

This mnaethod of striking proved effective, as employers were not keen to physically remove the staff from the site in case of equipment damage resulting from the confrontation.

Question 49

The success of the Congress of Industrial Organizations could be largely attributed to the change in employee’s attitudes following the ________________. They realized the severity of the threat towards job security and appreciated that unions could help provide stability in this area.

Answer 49

Great Depression

Explanation:

Prior to the Depression, many employees held a negative attitude toward organized labor. This attitude was significantly altered following the Great Depression as workers became desperate and began to consider the positive qualities of the unions and the potential for unions providing material benefits.

Question 50

Following World War II, unions increased their collective bargaining efforts in an attempt to ensure the ____________ of members despite the possibility of technological advances.

Answer 50

job security

Explanation:

At this important time in history, the unions recognized the significant threat technology in general and automation in particular posed towards member’s jobs. The unions also recognized the necessity to demand wages that would compensate for inflation.

Question 51

Another significant positive advancement in post war union development was the merger of the ___ and CIO in 1955.

Answer 51

AFL

Explanation:

Despite the previous intense rivalry between these two organizations, the change of leadership of the two groups allowed for the opportunity to merge without either president losing face.

Question 52

The president of the now amalgamated AFL-CIO, George Meany, believed this action would enable the unionization of more employees and allow for greater _________ influence.

Answer 52

political

Explanation:

Prior to merging, both unions had been competing for members in a counterproductive process of union raiding. The merger meant that they could make a coordinated effort in recruiting new members and act together on a political front.

Question 53

The organized labor of the present day shares many similarities with that which existed at the end of World War II. Organized labor remains a minor movement within society but one which is considered to be ___________ to economical and political issues.

Answer 53

influential

Explanation:

It is widely appreciated in today’s society that union negotiations are well publicized and settlements within a corporation will have an effect on negotiations occurring in other companies. Even on the political stage, it would be rare for present day politicians to announce an anti-union sentiment.

Question 54

An issue facing organized labor of the modern day is the difficulty in achieving _________ among unions and members. This is highlighted through memberships of younger employees who may not appreciate the hardships suffered by the founding fathers of the unions and who are demanding action.

Answer 54

consensus

Question 55

In any organization, it is difficult to have all members in agreement. The ________ gaps that exist within companies sometimes mean that different groups within the organization may have different values. This makes it more difficult to achieve consensus.

Answer 55

generation

Question 56

Despite being seemingly influential, labor unions of today still have to contend with negative ______________. Attention has been drawn to these organizations during cases of excessive wage demands and publicity regarding wealthy union leaders.

Answer 56

public opinion

Explanation:

Labor is no longer considered the underdog of American society and has raised concern among workers. People are aware of the negative involvement of some unions and some groups remain hesitant to show support.