Labour Unions Flashcards
Gilded Age (1877-1900)
Problems Workers Faced
What were the main problems industrial workers faced in the Gilded Age?
Long hours (12-16 per day), low wages, child labour, unsafe working conditions, no job security.
Why was child labour common in the Gilded Age?
No child labour laws; families needed extra income; employers paid children less.
Major Labour Unions
Which major labour union was open to all workers, including unskilled labourers?
Knights of Labor (1869), led by Terence V. Powderly.
What was the main goal of the American Federation of Labor (AFL)?
Higher wages, shorter hours, better working conditions.
Why did the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) stand out?
Radical; wanted to overthrow capitalism; known as the Wobblies.
Major Strikes & Outcomes
What caused the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, and what was the result?
Wage cuts; federal troops crushed the strike, 100+ workers killed.
Major Strikes & Outcomes
What was the Haymarket Affair (1886), and why was it important?
A bomb exploded at a labour protest; unions were blamed, turning public opinion against them.
Major Strikes & Outcomes
What was the result of the Homestead Strike (1892)?
Pinkerton guards clashed with strikers; Carnegie’s steelworkers lost the battle.
Major Strikes & Outcomes
How did the government respond to the Pullman Strike (1894)?
Federal troops sent in; violence erupted, and the strike failed.
Why Did Unions Struggle?
Why did the government side with businesses instead of workers?
Business leaders had political influence; courts saw strikes as illegal under the Sherman Antitrust Act.
What were “scabs”?
Replacement workers used to break strikes.
How did racial and gender divisions weaken the labour movement?
Many unions excluded women, Black workers, and immigrants, reducing unity.
Impact of the Gilded Age on Labour Rights
What progress did workers make during the Gilded Age?
Union membership grew; awareness of worker exploitation increased.
What challenges did labour unions face by 1900?
Strikes were crushed, unions remained weak, and workers had little legal protection.
Labour Unions (1865-1992)
Early Labour Unions (1865-1900)
What was the first major national labour union in the U.S.?
Knights of Labor (1869), led by Terence V. Powderly.
What were the main goals of the Knights of Labor?
8-hour workday, end of child labour, equal pay for all workers.
Why did the Knights of Labor decline?
Blamed for the Haymarket Affair (1886), leading to public distrust.
What labour union was founded in 1886 and focused on skilled workers?
American Federation of Labour (AFL), led by Samuel Gompers.
How did the government react to major strikes in the Gilded Age?
Used troops and court injunctions to break strikes (e.g., Pullman Strike, 1894).
Labour Unions in the Progressive Era & Early 20th Century (1900-1930s)
What union was known for radical, socialist ideas and welcomed all workers?
Industrial Workers of the World (IWW, 1905), aka the “Wobblies.”
What 1911 disaster led to major workplace safety reforms?
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire – 146 women died in unsafe conditions.
What effect did World War I have on labour unions?
Temporary increase in wages & union influence, but post-war strikes led to government crackdowns.
What happened during the 1919 labour strikes?
Over 4 million workers went on strike, but most failed due to anti-union sentiment.
Why did the 1920s see a decline in union power?
“Welfare capitalism” (better wages & benefits to prevent unionisation) and Red Scare fears (anti-communism).
Labour Unions in the New Deal & WWII (1930s-1940s)
What 1935 law gave unions the legal right to organise?
Wagner Act (1935), part of FDR’s New Deal.
What was the biggest industrial union formed in the 1930s?
Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO, 1935), led by John L. Lewis.
How did World War II impact unions?
Unions agreed to no-strike pledges, and wages increased due to wartime production.
What act in 1947 weakened unions by banning closed shops?
Taft-Hartley Act (1947) – made it harder for unions to strike.
Labour Unions in the Post-War Era & Civil Rights Movement (1950s-1970s)
What was the peak period for union membership?
1950s, with over 1/3 of U.S. workers in unions.
What role did unions play in the Civil Rights Movement?
Some unions (e.g., United Auto Workers, A. Philip Randolph’s BSCP) supported Black workers’ rights.
