The rise of organised labour 1877-1890

Question 1

The national railroad strike 1877

• Causes

Answer 1

The owners of Baltimore and Ohio Railroad announced pay cut

Question 2

The national railroad strike 1877

• What happened

Answer 2

Violence in Pittsburgh

5,000 workers fought 650 federal troops in a pitched battle.

Question 3

The national railroad strike 1877

• Workers’ reaction

Answer 3

The workers laid waste to the railroad yard, burning more than 500 cars and 39 buildings.

Question 4

The national railroad strike 1877

• Atrocities

Answer 4

25 people were killed when they fired into the rioting crowd.

Question 5

The national railroad strike 1877

• Impact

Answer 5

The strike destroyed more than $10 millions worth of property

Question 6

Impact of economic depression in 1873 on labour union

Answer 6

The economic depression of 1873 drove millions of worker into unemployment and out of their unions.

Question 7

Early unions

• The National Labour Union 1866

Answer 7

It was form in 1866 with 77 delegates representing 60,000 workers gathered at Baltimore

Question 8

Early unions
• The National Labour Union 1866
What did they demand?

Answer 8

To adopt a platform focused on securing legislation protecting the eight-hour day.

Question 9

The Knights of Labour 1869

• Aims

Answer 9

1) Sought to build a comprehensive organisation uniting workers of all races, genders, ethnicities and occupations.
2) Sought to build more cooperative labour-management relations

Question 10

The Knights of Labour 1869

• Method of achieving their aims

Answer 10

1) They lobbied government for the eight-hour day and child labour restrictions.
2) They aimed for industries governed by councils of workers and mangers within genuinely democratic and collectively-owned enterprises

Question 11

Successes of the Knights of Labour 1869

Answer 11

Within a year, 750,000 workers were united under the umbrella of it

In 1885, the Wabash Railroad was forced to negotiate with its workers because the entire Southwest System was paralysed.

Question 12

Impact of the Haymarket bomb outrage 1886

Answer 12

Largely due to the Haymarket bomb, the eight-hour movement was a substantial failure.

Question 13

American Federation of Labour 1885

• Aimes

Answer 13

1) The federation focused only on achieving higher wages and shorter workdays for its member.
2) To secure agreements from employers by collective bargaining.

Question 14

American Federation of Labour 1885

• Methods of achieving success

Answer 14

1) It admitted only skilled white men

2) It levied a tax on member unions to create a strike fund and maintain a secretariat.