Multiple Choice Flashcards
What percentage of factory workers were children?
In the 1800s, children were 5% of factory labor.
Florence Kelley
- Passed laws prohibiting child labor
* Leader of National Consumers’ League (NCL)
Social Darwinism
- Providing aid to those unemployed would result in laziness
* Based on Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution in which the strong survive and the weak struggle
Families in need
•Relied on private charities
- No unemployment insurance
- No government assistance
Working in a factory
12 hour day/ 6 days a week
Production goals: Paid by piece work (paid for what they produced)
Sweat shop
Long hours in poor conditions for low wages
Increased efficiency led to layoffs
Work environment
Strict discipline •Ruled by the clock •Fired for talking or being late Children also worked in factories •1880s: 5% of factory labor •1 in 5 between 10-16 were employed •Most left school at 12-13
Gulf between rich and poor
1890: 9% held 75% national wealth
Workers resented factory owners
Poor drawn to socialism
Socialism
Def: an economic and political philosophy that favors public (or social) instead of private control of property and income
- German philosopher Karl Mary
- Wealthy and politicians saw it as a threat
Employers respond to socialism
They were feared and disliked by unions.
They tried to stop it by:
1. Forbidding union meeting
2. firing union organizers
3. Yellow dog contracts (Cannot join unions)
4. Refusing to bargain collectively
5. Refusing to recognize unions as representatives of the workers
Great Railroad strike of 1877
Baltimore and Ohio RR announce 10% wage cut
-Second wage cut in 8 months
Workers in Martinsburg, VA went on strike
-Clashed with local militia
-Violence spread to Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Saint Louis
-Attacked RR property
President Rutherford B Hayes sent infederal troops
Early labor unions
National Trades Union lasted a few years, until the depression. When it rose again, it resulted in a poor economy.
The Nights of Labor
They wanted everyone to form a union (skilled, unskilled, men, and women). Everyone would work the same amount of hours, and get paid the same amount.
The American Federation of Labor
-men only
-few African Americans
-economic pressure
-250,000 workers
They needed people who were skilled.
The Wobblies
-many different people
-unskilled
They were convicted of promoting strikes during World War I
Eugene V. Debs
Leader of Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
Spoke against 1877 strike
-advocated nonviolent strikes
Proposed an industrial union for RR workers
-Industrial Union: Organized all workers in an industry
-American Railway Union
