TU Gilded Age Flashcards
1
Q
Positive View
A
- The changing economy and economic growth (7% p.a.) and growing union movement meant this era saw some significant progress
- Typically a more right-wing, free-market capitalist perspective (More focused on economic performance than equality)
2
Q
Negative View + Quote
A
- Workers were exploited by their employers
- Lived in very poor conditions
- No right to unionise or strike
- Typically a more socialist/ left-wing view
- “The African American would be put back; the strikes of white workers would not be tolerated; the industrial and political elites… would take hold of the country” - Zinn
- “Unchecked industrialisation led to deteriorating living conditions for urban labor and the working poor” - Shackel and Roller
3
Q
Overall
A
- Period of regression with few gains
- The anti-union stance of the government
- Almost all strikes failed
- Movement weakened by internal divisions, attitudes of the fed, discrimination of employers
4
Q
Role of AFL (+ve)
A
- Established in 1886
- First successful national labour federation
- Wanted to link all unions
- Some businesses were willing to work with it and establish mechanisms by which business and workers could negotiate
500,000 members by 1900
5
Q
KOL membership and Wabash Railroad strike (+ve)
A
- In 1885, there was a successful strike at Wabash Railroad by the KOL to force wage cuts and recognition of their union which forced Jay Gould (owner of the Wabash Railroad) to change his anti-union stance- This was the first victory of its kind in American Industry history and led to a massive increase in KOL membership
- KOL went from a membership of 20,000 in 1881 to 700,000 in 1886 and included both women and NAs.
6
Q
KOL membership and Haymarket Affair (-ve)
A
- The violence of strikes, which began with the Haymarket Affair in 1886, did much damage to the reputation of the KOL and its membership collapsed.
- Haymarket Affair- 1 police officer “Degan” died from a bomb after violence erupted. Media published horrific stories of the rallies.
- 1886: 700,000 members
- 1890s: 100,000 members
7
Q
Impact of 1873 Slump (+ve and -ve)
A
- Trade Unions became important so membership grew
BUT: - Panic of 1873 and the ensuing economic slump led to workers being laid off- this offset the gains made between the 1860s and the 1880s.
- In 1873 89 of the country’s 364 railroads went bankrupt
- A total of 18,000 businesses failed between 1873 and 1875.
- Unemployment reached 14% by 1876
- By 1877, around ⅕ of the nation’s working men were unemployed.
8
Q
Wage Rises
A
Wages rose by up to 60% owing to the economic boom as the US overtake Britain as the world’s leading economy - 7% economic growth/year.
BUT: Primarily for skilled workers
9
Q
Inequality in wealth and wages
A
- Huge disparity between skilled and unskilled workers - skilled bricklayers could be paid $3/day in the 1870s but southern millworkers only got $0.84/day - workers were also split severely racially
- Inequality grew - top 2% of the population owned 30% of the wealth
- Wages of unskilled workers were roughly 30% of skilled workers
10
Q
Federal attitudes in this period (-ve)
A
- Lack of protective legislation as a result of “do nothing” Presidents
- The government’s ‘laissez-faire’ policy encouraged large corporations and meant that there was no protective legislation for the workforce.
- President Hayes crushed 1877 Great Railroad strike
- President Cleveland sent in Federal troops to crush the 1894 Pullman Strike
- The courts also supported the employers and issued injunctions to end strikes.
- In re Debs (1895) ruled that the federal government had a right to issue injunctions against strikers.
BUT: - President Harrison passes the Sherman Antitrust Act (July 1890)
11
Q
Sherman Antitrust Act
A
1890
- Attempts to try to hold up big business by restricting monopolies by which large companies were able to control a trade. Not specifically about trade unions but does help them by outlawing anti-competitive agreements.
12
Q
Benefits of the prosperity of this period
A
- Sickness clubs, to which workers would contribute, were set up at this time. Eval: Compensation was limited
- Wealthy industrialists reinvested a lot of their profits into social welfare projects, education and culture
- Wages rose by 60%
13
Q
Divisions in this period
A
- Ethnic divisions remained ever-present in the union movement - National Negro Labor Union not allowed in other unions
- Divisions between these groups:
- Skilled vs. Unskilled
- Whites vs. AAs
- Whites vs. New immigrants
14
Q
Molly Maguires
A
- Molly Maguires (1873-77)- Strike put down by Pinkerton agent James Mcparland- Led to execution of 10 men- Led to wage cut and decline in union membership in the mining industry.
15
Q
Great Railroad Strike
A
- Great Railroad Strike of 1877- Strike lasted 95 days and paralysed ⅔ of the rail network and was triggered by a 10% wage cut following the 1873 economic scare. But was crushed by President Hayes using federal troops and collapsed in 45 days
