industrial growth and economic change

Question 1

summary

2 points

Answer 1

1. american economy fluctuated wildly during period

2. changes had considerable impact on position of union and labour rights

Question 2

economic growth
the gilded age 1870-1890 (industrialised)
7 points

Answer 2

1. growth in demand for workers
2. workers win some concessions
3. increased demand for unions particularly among unskilled workers whose numbers increased with mass production and development of heavy industry
4. union membership grew to 500,000 by 1890 fact check
5. craft unions saw developments as threat to their position
6. unwilling to allow unskilled workers to join their unions creating divided labour movement
7. unskilled workers often unable to gain recognition or rights

Question 3

economic growth - 1920s

4 points

Answer 3

1. growth in demand for consumer goods after ww1
2. real wages rose
3. more workers taken on
4. employers refuse to recognise unions or establish system of welfare capitalism which could be seen as limiting workers rights

Question 4

economic growth - 1950s

8 points

Answer 4

1. economic boom after ww2
2. workers buy more consumer goods
3. rise in real wages
4. raising prosperity =
   many not interested in union activity
   did not want to risk their economic gain
5. unions suffered due to decline in blue collar workers.
6. those employed in new high tech industries less likely to join unions
7. some workers in service industries and government sector forced to sign non-union agreements
8. increasing number of working women damaged union membership as women showed less inclination to join

Question 5

Labour rights in periods of depression - 1930s

2 points

Answer 5

1. workers vulnerable because of high rates of unemployment
2. government desperate to get people back to work
   major impact on union rights

Question 6

economic change and impact on unions

8 points

Answer 6

1. mass production
   threatened position of skilled workers
   greater divisions in labour movement
2. new technology and automation in 50s
   decline in number of blue-collar workers who had been traditional union members
3. growth in number of white-collar workers in 50s and increasing number of women workers
   added to decline in union membership

pattern continued in 70s and 80s due to

1. continued growth of high-tech industries and white-collar jobs
2. rising unemployment
3. relocation of industries and smaller enterprises - workforce more scattered and less unionised
4. skilled workers highly paid and unwilling to support unions
5. economic changes of last part of period weakened position of unions