Great Railroad Strike Dbq Impact on Workers

Great Railroad Strike Dbq
In the late eighteen hundreds, machines started to take place of people in industries. Work became
unskilled labor, or labor that requires zero to little experience. Not soon after, the economy crashed
and left millions out of work. Workers who got to continue working had their wages cut. By 1877,
railway workers had enough of the wage inequity and went on strike. This was known as the Great
Railroad Strike. From Pennsylvania to California, railroad systems had workers leave their posts.
Not long after the strikes, state governments started calling for Federal troops to take down the
activity. Though the majority of the middle class agreed with the strikers motivations and reasoning,
they were disappointed in the damage that occurred.
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How Did Industrialization Change In The End Of The...
Towards the end of the nineteenth century (1860–1900), America's economy had gone through a
transformation, where industries were developed. The rapid growth of industrialization was caused
by many factors, including: abundant natural resources, educated labor force, and the
encouragement of technological innovation. Because of new technological innovations, new
machines were created for "easier" mass production. The new economy in which industrialization
created, resulted in wealth in many Americans; however, there were many downsides to this;
factories polluted the air, workers labored in dangerous conditions, and long hours. Because of these
downsides to industrialization, labor unions developed: The Knights of Labor, the Industrial
Workers of the World, and the American Federation of Labor. With industrialization, manufacturing
became more mechanized and efficient. New technological innovations were invented such as
machines which helped with mass production. Workplaces had changed with this advancement
because highly skilled workers were now replaced with machines. By 1870, machines were so
advanced that they were capable of producing items by the millions. For example, the sewing
machine mass produced clothing and linens (Shi and Tindall 622). Typewriters and sewing
machines changed how businesses operated. This innovation allowed more women to be in the
workforce because they had more dextile fingers, which was needed for these machines. Because of
machines, more

Analyze the impact of various events on the American...
I. Background information on industry and workers
A. Between the period of 1865–1900, industry exploded in growth
B. There were many contributors that included government action, labor unions, immigration, and
technological changes.
1. Government action tried to help the workers by decreasing corporations ' control over employees
2. Labor unions tried to increase benefits and make working easier
3. Immigration helped by having a cheap, abundant labor source for businesses to use
4. Technological changes both helped and hurt workers by making it easier to work but making it
harder by causing a need for skilled labor.
C. All of these affected workers, but in some more than others, however, labor unions and
technological changes had ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
B. Inventions like the Bessemer process, railroads, and the production plant all affected jobs and the
economy.
C. The Bessemer process allowed steel to be created at a much faster rate.
1. This called for more workers in order to maximize production
(a) Most workers were immigrants that worked two 12–hour shifts, seven days a week.
2. The Bessemer process greatly affected the worker by providing more jobs, but at a lower wage,
lower benefits, and higher hours, a negative effect.
D. In the 1860 's, the government finally commissioned the first transcontinental railroad.
E. Then from the 1860 's to about 1893, four more transcontinental railroads were created.
1. These transcontinental railroads stimulated industry greatly, creating more jobs in both industry

and working on the rails.
F. The invention and development of the production plant affected the worker greatly.
1. There were now more jobs due to the openings in factories.
(a) Machines replaced skilled workers in factories
G. Technological changes often replaced workers, however, it often created more jobs in the long
run.
IV. Summarizing the effects of labor unions and technological changes
A. Both labor unions and technological changes greatly affected the Industrial worker in the period
of 1865–1900.
B. Labor unions tried to provide greater benefits for workers and mostly positively affected workers.
1. They were mostly successful in

Richard Jones And The 'Knights Of Labor'
After losing her family to yellow fever epidemic, Jones returned back to Chicago to her
dressmaking business. But within next 4 years, she lost all her hard earned money, possessions and
house to the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. After practically losing everything, she devoted her life to
bigger causes. She supported the labor movement and became a part of the 'Knights of Labor' and
gave inspiring speeches to the striking workers. From 1873–1877, Jones actively supported laborers
in achieving their demands. She used to travel to various strike sites and instill more passion into
their strikes. She helped the coal miners' strike in Pennsylvania and railroad workers. After the
Haymarket Riot of 1886, 'Knights of Labor' started to breakdown and

The Rise Of The Big Business Transformed Rural America
The rise of the Big Business transformed rural America to an industrialized urban nation that
became to be known as the Gilded Age. During this time most Americans worked 10 to 16 hour
shifts, 6 days out of the week with a wage that was below the poverty line. Even though they
worked extremely inhumane hour shifts, it was barely enough for them and their families to survive.
During this era men, women, and children performed harsh labor in factories and mills until their
bodies could bear no more. Throughout the age of the big business, children as young as 8 years old
were put to work and were denied the chance to go to school, there was no benefits, no medical
coverage, and if the workers became injured while on the job it was overlooked and was seen as if
nothing had happened and were fired and replaced by someone else. Workers were being taken
advantage of, but they realized something had to be done in order for change to occur, so they
unionized. An important factor they acknowledged was that there were more workers than owners
so unions were created. During this period of time unions were extremely needed in order to
improve working conditions, protect workers, and fight for higher wages. Likewise, Unions were
successful, because during this time the seed was planted toward unity and as of today we can
appreciate safer working conditions, higher wages, and more opportunity. Although Unions did not
sprung overnight, they slowly grew stronger as the time went by. As

Knights Of Labor Dbq
After the civil war finished American economy went through a period of extra industrial growth.
People had started moving into the cities from rural areas, in hopes of finding work in the factories.
As a result Population of New York & Chicago went over a million residents.(Rosenzweig, Pg 23).
But in these newly established industries, the owners were looking into maximizing their profits
anyway they could, so they cut the workers' wages as low as they could. The American dream of
"Artisan Republicanism", basically meant that through one's perseverance and handwork, someday
you could become your own master. But American workers realized that this dream of theirs was
quickly fading away because working in these factories meant that they could ... Show more content
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They held several successful protests across the country, demanding the "8–Hour workday".
However an employer counteroffensive began in the aftermath of the Haymarket bombing in 1886
and stopped the Knights march by the end of 1880s (Rosenzweig, Pg 91). The Haymarket incident
stunned the society & created fear in the hearts of people about radicals, mobs and labor
movements. The government strengthened there stance against the labor movement with increasing
the presence of police, militia and the US Army. The workers learned about the power of capital and
had experienced firsthand the role of government in labor–capital conflict. Another stain on the
Knights of Labor was that they blatantly discriminated against the Chinese by promoting the
Chinese Exclusion Act in the early

How Social Reformers Influenced Edward Bellamy, Henry...
How did social reformers such as Edward Bellamy, Henry George, and the Knights of Labor
conceive of liberty and freedom differently than the proponents of the liberty of contract and
laissez–faire like Herbert Spencer and Andrew Carnegie? Which of these groups was successful in
imposing their vision on the larger society in the years before the turn of the century? Why?
Introduction
Liberty and freedom was conceived differently by the social reformers and the proponents of the
liberty of contract and laissez–faire. The difference actually emanated in the manner in which the
two groups interpreted the suitability of the operation of the economy. While the economy can
operate on the basis of capitalism where individualism and private property are the basis of creating
wealth, it can also operate on the basis of collectivity, where communism and pooling of the labor
and output together forms the basis of wealth accumulation for the society. In this respect, the social
reformers such as Edward Bellamy, Henry George, and the Knights of Labor conceived the freedom
and liberty to entail the rights of the laborers to earn better wages, work for a few hours and have a
legal tender mechanism from the government that was not under the control of the banks . On the
other hand, the proponents of the liberty of contract and laissez–faire like Herbert Spencer and
Andrew Carnegie conceived the liberty and freedom to entail individualism and private property
ownership as the basis of

Knights of Labor Essay
to be or not to be, that is the question. When one meets Gould for the first time, one witnesses a
tremendous power: no one can question his charisma and compelling personality. But under the
facade, behind the mask of great glory and munificence lies the true Gould, the Gould who desires
to enslave the working man, to nullify his basic rights, and crush every bit of resistance against
injustice. The duplicity of the magnate is not always obvious, but it is evident in his dealings with
the Knights of Labor. speak softly but carry a big stick, and you will go far. No other union had
come into such heated conflict with Gould as did the Knights, as no other union had been strong
enough to challenge Gould himself. But in the end, even the ... Show more content on
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Hoxie, believing that the strike was a direct violation of the agreement reached between Gould's
Missouri Railroad Company and the Knights during the Wabash strike not to strike before
arbitration was attempted on any issue, began a violent campaign against the Knights of Labor,
firing its members and recruiting new workers. The Knights of Labor were eventually forced into a
desperate state. In fact, the later strike was not instigated by Powderly, but by one of his officers
Martin Irons, who chose to defy the authority of Powderly when a man named Hall was discharged
by the Texas and Pacific Railroad. The strike, an indirect effect of a mass influx of uninformed
newcomers to the union, marked the beginning of unorganized struggle of the union and the end of
Powderly's influence. The outcome of the strike was so disastrous for the labor union that it caused
even the United States government to fear Gould's autocratic power; the president himself had urged
Gould not to stand in the way of arbitration. In a later encounter between Powderly and Gould,
Gould–seeming a mediatory man– appears to yield to Powderly's demands by agreeing to order
Hoxie to readmit workers regardless of union affiliation (but he had in fact written the telegram so
that it implied that Hoxie continue with his policies). When the newspapers leaked out the
information, Gould responded by informing Powderly that he had no power to

Standard Oil Myser In Spindletop
During the 19th century there was a rapid growth in industrialization and change in America. "The
iron and steel industry spawned new construction materials, the railroads connected the country and
the discovery of oil provided a new source of fuel" (John D. Rockefeller, 2015). The discovery of an
oil geyser in Spindletop was a paramount cause for the rapid growth of the oil industry. Within a
year, oil became the primary fuel in America and became an integral part of the economy. "This
state of things is made possible, and is obtaining, solely by and under the power and use of
machinery; first in the hands of individual capitalists; then in the hands of companies; and, lastly, by
corporations" (Moody, 1883). Industry leader John Rockefeller, was able to build an empire during
this period of time and established his company the Standard Oil ... Show more content on
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Rockefeller, 2015) and had a monopoly on fuel in America. "In order to exploit economies of scale,
Standard Oil did everything from build its own oil barrels to employ scientists to figure out new
uses for petroleum by–products" (John D. Rockefeller, 2015). With the rapid growth in factories and
industries, there became a need to change how the American workers were being treated. Labor
unions were created to help improve the working class with job–related complications such as low
pay, unsafe or unhealthy working conditions, and exceptionally long hours. Andrew Carnegie, an
industrial giant in the steel industry, ran his companies with a "dictatorial hand; his factories
operated around the clock and workers were burdened with long hours" (Engelman, 2015). Labor
unions like the famous American Federation of Labor and the Knights of Labor were able to
improve working conditions for Americans by establishing laws within the government and
business, sometimes using strikes as a tool to bring about these changes. Many times

The's Benevolent Association, The Knights Of Labor And The...
The Screwmen's Benevolent Association, The Knights of Labor and the Farmers Alliance are a few
of the leading labor organizations in Texas. Developed as the political and human resource
representation for many of Texas' post civil war laborers, these organizations invested considerable
time and funding in advocating for the concerns of the working class. Established socialist
communities were natural supporters for unionization based on their beliefs in cooperation for the
greater good. Within a transformative decade for Texas workers, the Knights of Labor reached the
pinnacle of its influence, failed a railroad strike in 1886 and eventually transformed into an agrarian
and mechanics' organization. (A&M and Reid 2009) The growing influence of the Knights of Labor
improved the standing of socialists by extension. In reality, the union was not socialist organization
by definition. However, Texas socialists support and political gamesmanship contributed heavily to
the growth and development of the Knights of Labor. (Texas A&M University Press 2010)
Advocacy for Texas laborers and support for the civil rights movement became the focus of
proponents of socialist political policies. Labor strikes and litigation against Texas based businesses
routinely failed, illustrating the economic entrenchment of corporations and their accompanying
judicial and legislative alliances. As the political clout of the Knights of Labor waned, the weight of
political influence regarding

The Working Unions Of The Knights Of Labor In America
Working unions all across the country give working opportunities to the people who want to work.
Then the Knights of Labor came and brought help to the working–class people of America from
improved wages and better working conditions. Millions of people America benefited by what the
Knights of Labor brought to them. During the Industrial Revolution the Knights of Labor were
prompted to bring justice to blue collar America. The Knights of Labor was unions formed to
prevent unfair wages and working conditions. The Knights of Labor was once a secret society of
tailors that allowed fair job opportunities to come available to those who were seeking jobs.
("Knights of Labor" history.com) Strikes began to happen because unions were unhappy about their
working conditions and their wages. The Knights came into play to stop the unions from striking, to
achieve this they gave them fair wages and fair working conditions. In 1879 Terence Vincent
Powderly took office and the Knights flourished under his leadership. More than seven hundred
thousand members had joined the Knights after Powderly became leader. The Knights were known
for allowing different sexes and races to work. "On the other hand, the Knights strongly supported
the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Contract Labor Law of 1885; like many labor leaders at
the time, Powderly believed these laws were needed to protect the American work force against
competition from underpaid laborers imported by unscrupulous

American Unions: Willpower And Success
American Unions: Willpower and Success Labor unions were believed to be weak throughout the
nineteenth century and never seemed to include more than two percent of the total labor force, or
even more than ten percent of industrial workers (Brands, 241). Many American workers viewed
union as "foreign," radical, or out of step with the American tradition of individual improvement
(Brands, 421). Craft, ethnic, and other differences broke up the labor force, and it's said that its
extraordinary mobility made organization a difficult task (Rise of Unions). The Knights of Labor
and the American Federation of Labor were two union groups who sought for similar ideas and
regulations regarding their work place, but differed in how they tried to go about ... Show more
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For many American workers unions were just "foreign," radical, or out of step with American
traditions and various differences broke up the labor force (Brands, 421) After the research
conducted in this paper, there are three main aspects on how each group differs from the other. The
Knights of Labor is said to be more Radical, while the American Federation of Labor is classified as
Moderate (Rise of Unions). As the Knights were inclusive and welcomed and encouraged
practically everyone to join their organization, the AFL felt that opening their union to unskilled and
minorities would only weaken it, so they believed exclusion was the better option for them (Knights
of Labor). While the AFL was launched and supported by socialist Samuel Gompers in 1886, the
Knights of Labor was traced back as a small secret union created by Uriah Stephens more than
fifteen years before in 1869 (Brands, 241). On the other hand, both of these well driven
organizations shared common grounds like aspiring to improving working conditions, by increasing
the worker's' wages and shortening the hours each individual worked (Rise of Unions). Both of
these union groups used strikes at some point in their existence. The AFL generally resorted to
strikes and boycotts as their main tactics; however, when it was the Knights of Labor's last resort
they

The Knights Of Labor During The Civil Era
As Napoleon Hill once said, "Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed
of an equal or greater benefit". This holds true to the Knights of Labor in their endeavor to increase
solidarity and unity, by encouraging opposing communities to work together, thus improving the
lives of workers and their families during the diminutive period of time when the Knights of Labor
were active. The Knight's tackled the monopolists and fought for the justices they knew to be theirs,
in strong efforts to improve societal inequalities – organizing groups of workers throughout different
classes of sex, race, and skill. The major impacts that the Knights of Labor had on society during
their peak, as well as in the future, can be illustrated by 3 principal criteria that this paper will be
centralized around. Firstly, the Knights of Labor were dreamers – they encouraged people to look
forward and take action against poor circumstances and lack of power; because of this, they were
ahead of other labour organizations during this time as the Knights fought against what others said
to be unalterable. Second, the Knights of Labor brought disparate groups together, forging the way
to a progressive society in the height of an otherwise racist and sexist one. Lastly, the Knights of
Labor drew a significant expansion of wage earnings across North America – providing many
people with secure jobs and a culture in which they were protected by unity.
The Knights of Labor were

The Pros And Cons Of Organized Labor
Organized labor began to rise as the business tycoons and big business owners, "...took advantage of
this lawless environment to build fortunes, destroy reputations, exploit both workers and the
environment, and gouge consumers" (Shi &Tindall 620). Such acts by the business tycoons
prompted many workers to demand higher wages, better working hours, and safer working
conditions. As the turn of the 20th Century approached, factories started emerging, and
technological innovations since, "The U.S. patents office, which had recorded only 276 inventions
during the 1790's, registered almost 250,000 new patents in the 1890's" (Shi &Tindall 622). The
inventions led to the advancement of machines in factories as they reduced labor costs, lowered the
production costs of certain goods, and essentially creating a widespread mass production of goods.
As most individuals began to notice, unfairness among their workplace, they included themselves in
certain labor unions including the Knights of Labor (KOL), Industrial Workers of the World (IWW),
and the American Federation of Labor (AFL). All three groups had different beliefs: the Knights of
Labor included all members whether skilled or unskilled in their group; the AFL rejected Capitalism
and focused on working conditions–as they were successful in organized labor; and lastly, the IWW
strived for strong industrial unions or Unionism.
The Knights of Labor (KOL) a labor group consisting of tailors, focused on perfecting the goals of

The Knights of Labor Essay
The Knights of Labor represented the pinnacle of the up lift labor movement. They, at one time, had
membership that numbered in the hundreds of thousands and nearly hit a million members. This
organization was unique in its time because it espoused many of the ideals we hold today as
statutory for an ethical and equitable society as well as employee and employer relationships. The
Knights of Labor did not begrudge industry or capitalism, moreover they were less of a concern
than the organization's larger goal to protect and promote social equity in labor and society, for the
common man. The organization was distinctive for is time. There were other labor unions, but the
Knights supported trade craftsmen, common laborers, and worked ... Show more content on
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Today, many of these basic concepts are taken as common practice in the workplace while others are
challenges still facing the employees of today. Child Labor laws were enacted within the 50 years
following the knights. Fighting speculation and outlawing monopolistic practices was addressed
through the Sherman Anti–Trust Act. The 8–hour workday and overtime was addressed under the
Fair Labor Standards Act. Additionally, the arbitration of disputes between labor and management
advocated by the Knights, has become a cornerstone of conflict resolution for labor relations. The
Knights however, viewed these gains as the end to a means. These gains would be brought about
through raising the working class by raising the intellectual, moral, and social life of the worker
(Budd, 2010). The transition to a collective behavior is at the root of uplift unionism, and is the
cornerstone of the Knights larger agenda. This concept enjoined the ideals of a fraternal brotherhood
and gave the organization an advantage in the ability to relate to the society of laborers who felt
oppressed at the hands of capitalists. It brought to those who joined, a sense of something more than
just a loose association of workers fighting

What Are The Differences Between The Afl And The Knights...
The AFL (American Federation of Labor) and the Knights of Labor were two major labor unions.
Both of these unions were established to represent those (workers) who had been treated unfairly for
many years. Scrutinizing the American Federation of Labor, we can see that they were a union who
solely represented experienced workers. Although the AFL focused on the fundamental issues that
impacted these workers, they avoided dealing with major social issues. Not only did the American
Federation of Labor want to utilize collective bargaining to settle contracts, but they wanted unions
to be accredited by businesses as the sole representatives for workers in their companies. On the
other hand, the Knights of Labor, unlike the American Federation

Knights Of Labor
As the strength of business leaders and corporations grew, the unskilled laborers were finding
themselves in unbearable working conditions. Many workers, including women and children, were
working ten to twelve hour days, six days a week, at low wages. Prior to the Civil War, the labor
movement was unorganized. However, there were small labor organizations known as
Workingmen's Parties, which were the first attempts to organize disgruntled workers during the
1820's and 1830's. Skilled laborers in New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago joined workingmen's
parties in order to try to control municipal politics in order to protect their interests. Controlled by
the middle and upper–class leaders, these groups believed that the workers had the power ... Show
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However, many of the business leaders were not willing to give in to the demands of fewer work
hours and days or higher wages. The first effective American union was founded in 1869 by Uriah
Stephens and was called The Knights of Labor. The goal of the union was to bring in all workers to
unite and fight for their rights. In 1879, Terence Powderly took over the leadership of the union and
gained notability by accepting almost all workers, including farm hands, factory workers, women,
African Americans, and immigrants were welcome in the union, However, the union excluded
white–collared workers, such as doctors, lawyers, bankers, and liquor dealers.The Knights of Labor
became the largest in the country for a short time, gaining notoriety in 1884 and 1885 when union
members organized successful strikes against the Southwest railroad companies. After the strikes,
membership increased to approximately 100,000 members in 1884 to over 750,000 by 1886. The
success of the Knights of Labor quickly faded as the union was unable to coordinate it's members
activities due to the members coming from a variety of regions, industries, and ethnic backgrounds.
And, although the railroad strikes assisted in the success of the union, Powderly avoided strikes
believing that they threatened the union's public standing. The collapse of the union came in 1886
when workers in Chicago went on strike against the McCormick Harvester Company demanding
eight–hour workdays. On May 3, 1886, four of the strikers were killed in a confrontation with the
police. A rally was held the next day at the Haymarket Square in protest of the police actions. While
attempting to break up this protest, a stick of dynamite was thrown at the police and killing seven
officers and wounding dozens more. The police response was to fire their weapons at the crowd,
killing four

Knights of Labour
IS IT FAIR TO DISMISS THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR AS HOPELESS DREAMERS WHO
ACCOMPLISHED LITTLE? Nahean Nazmul (0862852) Labour Studies 1A03 Spring/Summer
2012 Prof. David Goutor Great success often comes from previous failures. Without failure,
greatness can be impossible to attain. For this and many other reasons, it is unfair to view the
Knights of Labor as hopeless dreamers who accomplished little. Instead, this paper will express the
way in which the Knights of Labour contributed to a greater social blueprint; a blueprint that helped
shape future generations. The impact that the Knights of Labour have had on society can be seen
through three main criteria. The first of these criteria was their ability to set a clear example of what
did ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
[3] The Knights aimed for several important and influential standards such as: an eight hour
workday, termination of child labour, termination of convict contract labour system, equal pay for
equal work, a graduated income tax, etc. The Knights' "living wage" campaign stated: give us a
living wage so that we may "Keep body and soul together." We have achieved most of those goals in
modern day. Had it not been for the Knights promoting those ideologies to not only its 700,000 plus
members, but also anyone who was aware of their goals, all of that may have not been eventually
attained. [3]By educating and uplifting workers, negotiating salaries and contracts with employers,
and upholding the rites and rituals of a "fraternal brotherhood," the Knights had strengthened
labourers of all sorts. [6]Even though the collapse of the Knights

Knights Of Labor In The Late 1800s
The late 1800's were a time in American history where the country saw tremendous economic
growth. Big businesses ran the country and even held power over the government. According to
Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States, the government took bribes from business
leaders. These bribes allowed the big businesses to take advantage of workers. Laborers at the time
we faced with extremely long work hours and very little pay. In hopes of reversing their luck, many
workers took to strikes and riots to get what they wanted. However, the big business friendly
government put an end to many of these occurrences. Due to the fact that America was run by a
government bribed by big business, workers received low wages as well as unhealthy ... Show more
Many had to work from dawn until dusk and barely got to see their families. In the spring of 1866, a
group of three hundred fifty thousand workers went on strike in hopes of an eight hour work day.
Throughout cities all over the country large groups of strikers took to the street. In New York,
twenty five thousand people marched down Broadway all in hope of a shorter work day. The biggest
effect of the strike took place in Chicago. With forty thousand strikers, every railroad, stockyard and
many businesses were forced to close. Unlike most strikes against big business, many people did
receive what they had asked for. In fact, forty five thousand people were given the eight hour work
day just to not strike. The meer numbers of this strike truly speak to how desperate workers were of
shorter work days. However, big business did not care the only thing on their mind was money. The
only reason many of these workers received their demand were due to the fact that business would
lose more in a few days of shut down as compared to 2 hours less work a day. Another example of
how work hours affected the poor was described by Morris Rosenfeld as, "I have a little boy at
home... A stranger I am to my child; and a stranger my child is to me." This excerpt from his poem
entitled "My Boy" shows how due to the long work hours, many parents were not home enough to
raise their children. However, this was the least of

'The Jungle': The Knights Of Labor
Many americans sought for regulations and better conditions in factories, creating unions and
beginning many more strikes to end these horrible accidents and also child labor. Some states ruled
out child labor but majority did not see anything wrong with having children help in factories or to
help their families. The "Knights of Labor," were a union of unskilled and skilled workers, doing
non violent protests and refusing to work for the factory until better pay and good conditions.
Congress didn't care until Theodore Roosevelt stepped into office and read, "The Jungle." A book
famously known for the grotesque Meat Packaging factory and its accidents with acid. The president
then took it into his account and created the Pure Food

Causes Of The American Industry
American Industry Strikes the Country
With remarkable new advancements in American Industry, it transformed the country and its people.
While many business leaders thrived off the success of their companies, many did not realize the
loathsome treatment many of their workers endured. These prosperous business figures acquired an
ample amount of wealth for themselves and their families but did little to assist those who were
suffering. John D. Rockefeller and other affluent individuals are just a few examples of people who
were vain and refused to recognize the cry for help that many workers desperately needed. The
ignorance of these arrogant business leaders led to the creation of various organizations to be
formed including the National ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Therefore, he convinced himself that helping the poor was not his problem and that the people
should be held accountable for their failures and struggles in life. Other profitable business leaders
that made little to no effort to assist those in need included J. Pierpont Morgan, who turned Andrew
Carnegie's steel corporation into a booming industry. Many of these successful entrepreneurs were
self–centered and believed in the idea of Social Darwinism in which only the strongest individuals
can thrive in the marketplace.
These pompous tycoons ignored the people who needed them most which led to the formation of
numerous unions. William H. Sylvis founded the National Labor Union, which unified other labor
organizations to fight against the harsh working conditions that men, women, and children faced.
Factory laborers worked long hours and days. They were also forced to work in dangerous and
unhealthy factories that caused frequent industrial accidents. Along with the National Labor Union,
the Knights of Labor was another organization that worked towards improving the workforce for
others. The Knights of Labor was created by Uriah S. Stephens and strived to improve the economy.
Instead of having a "wage system," supporters of this union hoped to establish a "cooperative
system" that would allow workers to have more control in the economy. As seen through these two
labor organizations, workers had no one else to defend them. They had to

Combating Worker Injustices During in the Late 19th Century
Workers in the late 19th century were treated unfairly the majority of the time. They worked in
unsafe conditions for meager pay. Young children joined the workforce to help support their
families. Most of the workers during this period were just thankful to earn a living, so they rarely
complained about their working conditions. All of these factors spurred the creation of labor unions
during the 19th century. The Knights of Labor, the American Federation of Labor, and the Industrial
Workers of the World were just a few of the unions established during this time. The Knights of
Labor was founded in 1869 by Uriah S. Stephens. This union grew slowly, but managed to spread
more rapidly even during the depression of the 1870s. Some of the working stipulations that this
union imposed were elimination of convict–labor competition, eight–hour workdays, guarantee of
salaries, and the use of paper currency. They also wanted equal pay for both men and women, which
was a first during those times. A big achievement for the Knights of Labor was keeping children
under fourteen out of the workforce. The Preamble to the Constitution of the Knights of Labor
stated that, "The prohibition of the employment of children in workshops, mines, and factories
before attaining their fourteenth year." This allowed children to be children at least until their
teenage years, without the worries that adults faced. The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was
started in 1886. It was started

Knights Of Labour Research Paper
The Knights of Labor's first founder was Uriah Stevens. The Knights of Labor were a secret
organization, but Terence Powderly ended the group's secrecy, and took control of the organization
in 1879. Terence Powderly lead a group of individuals which included men, women, and even
sometimes very small and young children. They eventually added African Americans as well to the
organization. The members of this guild were more times than not unskilled workers. Often times
these workers held jobs at large scale factories and in shipyards as well as many other places. This
guild of workers often got paid very little for the hard work and long hours that they put into their
jobs. This left the works with nothing to show at the end of the day for all

Terence V. Powderly: The Knights Of Labor
Samuel Gompers was elected president and he felt like he had to protect the living wages for union
members, he also had an eight–hour work day, Child Labor Laws, wanted the same payment for
men and women, and insisted that children to go to school. Terence V. Powderly is the leader and
his goal were the same as the Knights of Labor, which was the that the government ownership
recourses, worker ownership of factories didn't have violence, and they want immediate, but
reasonable benefits of capitalist system like higher wages, shorter hours, and better working
conditions. Eugene Debs was one of the leaders of the Industrial Union (Railroad) that formed the
nation's first industrial union, the American Railway Union (ARU). He also helped in the ... Show
The workers wanted better working conditions, wanted an 8–hour workday right. The socialists,
communists, and anarchists protested that the working conditions were dangerous, and about low
wages. At the riot the policemen was trying to break the crowd up as they were getting closer and
closer to them as someone in the crowd threw a bomb at them, which caused shooting from both
sides. Eight anarchist men were convicted in a trial, which the jury was said to be biased and that
there was no evidence to prove who the bomber was. Judge Joseph E. Gray sentenced seven of them
to death and the other one went to prison for fifteen years. Later on they said that the events raised
anti–labor sentiment while others think they were sentenced unfairly. During the Homestead Strike
coal miners struck in Tennessee, and there was a strike in New Orleans. Railroad switchmen in
Buffalo, New york and copper miners in Idaho also. The price of steel at the time was declining. In
the center of the conflict was Andrew Carnegie and Frick was a general manager of the Homestead
plant that Carnegie largely owned. Frick wanted to cut wages and break the Amalgamated
Association of Iron and Steel Workers. Frick went on a strike and the Pinkerton Detective Agency's
private army came to help him and the workers didn't like him so much that they hanged him in
effigy. When the Pinkertons arrived the workers told them not

Labour Movement Pros And Cons
The Labor Movement generated opposition from both the government and the public since they
both saw unions as violent and lawless. The government used force to control the unions showing
their disgust for the views and actions of these organizations. Well, organized and growing
businesses took the advantage in the struggle with labor, so the workers started labor unions. It is
easily argued both ways whether or not unions formed were beneficial to workers. With great
evidence though, it is proven that although beneficial in many ways, for the most part unions were
very negative towards the progress of our country.
1. The very first labor union, The National Labor Union was started in 1866. This union lasted for
six years and had 600,00 ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Then on May 4 labor disorders had broken out in Haymarket Square and the police were called.
Suddenly a dynamite bomb was thrown that killed or injured several dozen people. The people
wrongfully connected the Knights with the Anarchists, and the power of the Knights of Labor came
to a dismal end.
The Homestead strike in 1892 was the first major strike to take place after the downfall of the
Knights. It started at Carnegie's steel plant in Homestead, PA. when workers refused to accept new
wage cuts. Henry Clay Frick shut down the plant and surrounded it with guards to protect the
property. The infuriated workers soon ran the guards out when they realized that Frick had
intentions of reopening the plant with strikebreakers. After a thirteen hour struggle Carnegies
Company persuaded the governor of Pennsylvania to provide help, the state militia was summoned
to restore peace. The company began to bring in strikebreaker to replace employees who had walked
out. Many of the leaders of the strike were prosecuted for rioting and murder. The steel workers'
union was detroyed. Some members of Congress were sympathetic to Homestead strikers. The
public in general felt little sympathy for the strikers because they felt that the working person should
remain free to sell services as an individual and not through a union. Many thought that the right to
work was sacred. They felt that union organizers had no business interfering

Knights Of Labor Research Paper
The successes and failures of the Knights of Labor, have generated many controversial issues that
have helped shape the North American labor movement. They fought for eight–hour day shifts,
abolition of child labor, equal pay for equal work, and political reforms, including the graduated
income tax in the late 1800s. During this time period, many immigrants were coming to America to
find jobs. The Knights affected all sorts of workers from this time period, including skilled and
unskilled workers. In the present, a holiday, more equality, and government passed Acts were
created thanks to the inspiration of the Knight's actions. In the late 18 hundreds the Knights of
Labor Union affected people's lives, this including skilled and unskilled workers. ... Show more
The Knights inspired a holiday and Acts to be formed from their actions. These Acts and the
holidays are practiced in today's society. The Knights of Labor inspired citizens for the creation of
Labor day(Foner and Garraty). This day is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of
workers. The Knights also cause changes, through Acts being created. First the "The Equal Pay Act
of 1963 prohibits discrimination in wages on the basis of sex. The result was that women's earnings
will climb from 62% of men's in 1970 to 80% in 2004"(Breacher). This was inspired by the equal
pay ideal, of the Knights of Labor. It is a United States federal law amending the Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938. "The Fair Labor Standards Act sets a 40–hour work week with time–and–a–
half for additional hours. It also establishes a national minimum wage and puts severe restrictions on
child labor"(Breacher). The Act is known as a United States law which sets out various labor
regulations regarding interstate commerce employment and requirements for overtime pay, too.
These Knights of Labor inspired and showed the United State's government that they wanted
change. It is clear that the Knights changed and impacted the world today with Labor day, the Fair
Labor Standards Act, and the Equal Pay

The Making Of American Exceptionalism Summary
Politics was also central in American labor movements. In the book, The Making of American
Exceptionalism: The Knights of Labor and Class Formation in the Nineteenth Century, author Kim
Voss shows how and why a successful labor movement never gained political strength as it did in
England and France. The United States had similarities with its labor movements with its European
counterparts. However, it was mainly because of the failure by the Knights of Labor that caused the
American labor movement to go a different route. Unlike Europe, where labor movements were
often supported, the United States did not support these groups. It did not witness the rise of a
powerfully large socialist party either. The Knights of Labor emerged as a labor organization that
welcomed all ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Others said that it was due to "the national leaders and the ease with which non–working–class
members could obtain membership. These middle–class members, he argues, betrayed the rank and
file". Another is that many of the local assemblies failed if they were in towns that had one–industry.
One final component to the decline was the employer's associations. "These associations had no
interventionist state to constrain them, and they had the benefits of rapid economic concentration at
their disposal. Disproportionate resources and strategic leverage put the Knights in a nearly hopeless
situation, against which they struggled by appealing to small employers. This strategy, which drew
upon the ideology of working–class republicanism, did not work, and it led to internal schisms that
rent the organization apart". This soon led to other unions becoming weak in challenging political
obstacles. However, if there were unions that were including all kinds of workers, in the early
1900s, then more unions would try to go against the obstacles in

Labor Unions Dbq
The Industrial Revolution brought new production methods to the United States. However, the new
technology and industries that were created as a result also created unfair working conditions.
Workers began to join together to fight against their greedy bosses. These groups became known as
labor unions. Three labor unions that improved working conditions are the National Education
Association, the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor.
Labor unions resulted in a positive impact on society. "A labor union is an organization intended to
represent the collective interests of workers in negotiations with employers over wages, hours,
benefits and working conditions" (Source 2). Labor unions date back as of 1768, when journeymen
tailors in New York City struck to protest a wage reduction" (Source 3). People have been fighting
for fair working rights for years. As you can see it has taken a very long time to get where we are
today. It took a lot fights, hours, and hard work to get the fair working rights we wanted. Many
generations continued the fight and made these labor unions for the better of our people. "The labor
movement has given the American worker benefits that today are often taken for granted, such as
overtime laws, child labor laws, and minimum wages"(Source 3). Brave people stood up to these
greedy business owners even if it meant not coming home with food for the day. Why? So people
like us can live a stress free life and not have to worry about

Essay about Autonomy and Responsibility: The Start of...
Autonomy and Responsibility: The Start of Labor Unions The late nineteenth century was a time of
great change for people everywhere. Industries became staples of society in almost every major city;
farming became more efficient due to steel and machines, and more jobs were available because of
all the new industries. Between 1865 and 1900, the number of people employed in manufacturing
rose from 1.3 million to 4.5 million. Working conditions were terrible, providing long hours, low
wages, and unhealthy conditions. Millions of people were denied the basic amenities that their labor
made possible for others.1 When reviewing drive for monopolies, Edward Bellamy, author of
Looking Backward, wrote that "The individual laborer, who had ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Six states enacted the eight–hour workday, but four of them had exceptions to the rule, so the NLU
was not as successful as it seemed on the surface.3 The NLU realized that the labor dispute could
not be fixed without a reform of the currency, which led to an ill–fated alliance with the Greenback
movement. In 1872 the NLU transformed itself into the National Labor Reform Party, which turned
out to be unsuccessful.4 By 1873, there were twenty–five national unions with a combined
membership of 170,000 people, and another 130,000 workers belonged to unions that lacked a
national association.5 Even though the NLU failed to attain quality working conditions for workers,
it was able to prove that a national confederation of workingmen was not impossible. Its short life
showed that representatives for labor did not know the proper place of the worker in the new
industrial world. The NLU made no effort to perfect itself as a lasting organization, but it's errors
allowed successors to learn and profit.6 The formation of the NLU exemplifies the autonomy of the
people because they realized that they were being treated unfairly and they went ahead and did
something about it. Another labor union, The Nobel Order of the Knights of Labor (The Knights),
was able to last longer than the NLU and produced more successful results. Founded on December
9, 1869 by nine tailors

A Brief Look at Terrence Vincent Powderly
Terence Vincent Powderly was born to Irish immigrants in Carbondale, Pennsylvania on January 22,
1849. Powderly spent his childhood growing up in Pennsylvania and attending school until he began
working for the Delaware and Hudson Railroad at the early age of 13, his educational career then
ended. A few short years later, at the age of 17, Powderly become a machinist and pursued that line
of work for eleven years. In 1871 Powderly joined the Machinists' and Blacksmith's Union and a
year later was appointed the organization's president. A few years later in 1874 Powderly joined
another secretive organization named the Knights of Labor. He quickly progressed into a leadership
role as Corresponding Secretary. In February of 1878 Powderly was elected for his first of three
terms as Mayor of Scranton. A few months later, in 1879, he was elected the union's highest
leadership position, Grand Master Workman, until 1883 when he was titled General Master
Workman of the Knights of Labor. During his time as serving on leadership with the Knights of
Labor, Powderly helped to increase the organization's membership from around 80,000 members to
700,000 members in one year. During his role as General Master Workman, he made a drastic
impact on the "power of labor in the United States"2 by his passion for the working class and the
union. Powderly was a pro–labor activist whom supported six, eight–hour workdays a week that
resulted in just pay. He believed that Sunday should be

Knight Of Labor Essay
After the civil war ended, America witnessed its rapid growth in industry, urbanization, and
capitalism. When the price of living increased, workers desired for a better wage and working
condition. Different types of worker unions appeared in the nation, representing different interests
and different groups of workers. The Knight of Labor wanted to include all workers from different
background, but it was difficult to organize such a diverse group of workers whose demands and
bargaining power were different. The Socialist Party looked for a way to change society
fundamentally and emphasized on a class struggle of the working class against the employer class.
But they could not solve the problem of wages and working conditions that the workers ... Show
AFL were unwilling to participate in a lot political activities to transform the function of society.
Instead, AFL adjusted to the real social conditions and focused on the immediate need of labors.
After economic depression, the price of the living grew dramatically. Workers eagerly escaped from
the increased poverty and wanted to have a shorter working hour. AFL "reflected [its] ability among
the proponents of the "new unionisms" to distinguish what was immediately attainable from what
was ultimately desirable. It also flowed from their belief that ultimate end could never be won in the
absence of stable organizations that satisfied the urgent needs of their members" (SR p.235). The
federation had a rational view on the social condition and put emphasis on the members. In local
unions, AFL organized successful strikes to get what workers wanted. In a national scale, it could
call for more general program to push the labor movement. Moreover, if its every action was
practical and adjusted to the social condition, AFL could efficiently make a change with the
employers. Labors would prefer AFL rather than other unions because their needs can be satisfied.
Unless a union satisfied its members' demand, the union could not last for a longer time and get
more support to expand

Labor Unions In The 1900's
Nathan Jones
Mrs. Greenlee
English III P.2
21 November, 2016
Labor Unions
Imagine your parents died at work when you were a young child, and your family was in poverty.
This happened all of the time in the late 1800's and early 1900's because of the lack of rights for
workers. It was the job of many early labor unions of the late 1800's and early 1900's make working
conditions for workers better. Early labor unions such as the Knights of Columbus, the American
Federation of Labor, and the National Labor Union were all successful in creating rights for workers
and making working conditions better. There are many ways that labor unions have affected modern
day society.
One of the first labor unions and possibly one of the most successful unions ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
This federation was named the American Federation of Labor (AFL). The creation of the American
Federation of Labor was caused by the weakness of a labor union at the time called the Knights of
Labor. Because the Knights of Labor had internal conflicts such as competition among the labor
unions. Members of the AFL were required to pay 6 cents per year as a due for being within the
union and under the protection of the union. The president of the union was paid $1000 per year for
a full–time job of guiding the union. The American Federation of Labor spread rumours about the
Knights of Labor, causing them to collapse. Despite this, the labor union's growth was not fast, even
though they had taken out their biggest rival. It wasn't until 1892 that they hit the 250,000 member
mark. A possible reason for the slow growth of the union were their beliefs against immigration.
During that point in time, there were still many immigrants coming to America mainly from the
European countries and some Asian countries. The American Federation of Labor were against the
immigrants because they took away jobs from the already citizens of the United States, a situation
much like the present day. One thing the American Federation of Labor did do was play a big role in
the creation of labor laws in the United States. With the creation of worker's rights, the workplace
became safer and they were able to have influence over laws concerning immigration. During World
War 1, the United States government encouraged industries and companies to compromise with the
labor unions rather than face strike, otherwise it would stunt the production of supplies needed for
the war in Europe. The American Federation of Labor signed an agreement to help with the war and
to eliminate socialist and communist labor unions in the United States. They did this because it was
in both

Knights of Labor Essay
The Knights of Labor represented the pinnacle of the up lift labor movement. They, at one time, had
membership that numbered in the hundreds of thousands and nearly hit a million members. This
organization was unique in its time because it espoused many of the ideals we hold today as
statutory for an ethical and equitable society as well as employee employer relationship. The
Knights of Labor did not begrudge industry or the capitalism, more over they were less of a concern
than the organizations larger goal to protect and promote social equity, in labor and society, for the
common man. The organization was distinctive for is time. There were other labor unions, but the
Knights supported trade craftsmen, common laborers, and worked ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Today, many of these basic concepts are taken as common practice in the workplace while others
still are challenges facing the employees of today. Child Labor laws were enacted within the 50
years following the knights. Fighting speculation and outlawing monopolistic practices was
addressed through the Sherman Anti–Trust Act. The 8–hour workday and overtime was addressed
under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Additionally, the arbitration of disputes between labor and
management, advocated by the Knights, has become a cornerstone of conflict resolution for labor
relations. The Knights however, viewed these gains as the end to a means. These gains would be
brought about through raising the working class by raising the intellectual, moral, and social life of
the worker (Budd, 2010). The transition to a collective behavior is at the root of uplift unionism, and
is the cornerstone of the Knights larger agenda. This concept enjoined the ideals of a fraternal
brotherhood and gave the organization an advantage in the ability to relate to the society of laborers
who felt oppressed at the hands of capitalists. It brought, to those who joined, a sense of something
more that just a loose association of workers

Knights Of Labor Essay
After years of harsh working conditions and low wages for many workers nationwide, the Knights
of Labor was formed in 1869, but was most powerful during the 1870s/1880s. The Knights of Labor
promoted social and cultural uplift of the workingman. In 1882, the Knights of Labor helped pass
the Chinese Exclusion Act, which denied any additional Chinese laborers entry to the United States.
Between 1885 and 1886, the Knights of Labor attempted to assist black workers, who were
suspicious because the Knights of Labor was led by whites. In 1886, the Knights of Labor and
workers around the country began to demand the eight–hour workday declaring "Eight hours to
constitute a day's work" as their slogan. On May 1st, 1886, three hundred and fifty ... Show more
It was not uncommon for a women worker to be paid six dollars whereas a man would be paid
roughly ten dollars for the same work. Many of these women performed simple machine work,
while there were few women who performed heavy lifting and heavily skilled work. Consisting of
both these categories, were the roughly twenty thousand working girls and women in Boston,
Massachusetts in the late nineteenth century. Due to their low wages at the factories, many girls and
women working in Boston during the late nineteenth century lived in very cramped – often shared
by multiple people/families, non ventilated, and non heated rooms. Due to the crowdedness of these
living quarters, it is easy to understand that they were often dirty and extremely unsanitary. The
carpet on the floors was dirty and torn up, there were odors everywhere, and some rooms were faced
adjacent to chimneys or other factories that provided plenty of unhealthy smoke. Lots of these
rooms were without heat and thus the Massachusetts winters were extremely harsh for the tenants.
There were radiators in the hallways, but those had no particular effect on the temperature of the
rooms. Many of the working women huddled together to keep themselves warm during the plentiful
cold winter

Summary Of Michael Jordan And The New Global Capitalism
In the novel, "Michael Jordan and the New Global Capitalism", the author, Walter LaFerber
compares the co–founder of Nike, Phil Knight, to former American magnates such as John D.
Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and various other industrialists in order to successfully label him as
a modern day "Robber Baron".
The comparisons between Knight and earlier moguls comprise a large part of the novel. It began
when Knight realized the opportunity he had when Michael Jordan began to become a more visible
figure in the sports world. Like many successful entrepreneurs before him, Knight quickly latched
on to the star and began promoting his product in a way that could reach a multitude of people, and
advertise his athletic products in a way that would cause them to sell in great numbers, "Nike was
steamrolling its competitors out of the market. The first step had been ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
In a sense, this can be compared to the way in which Robber Barons before Knight saw
opportunities in the market, and quickly jumped on them in order to maximize their profit, and push
competitors to the wayside. Furthermore, Knight did not simply stop with signing the "most visible"
athletes, in order to steadily push his competition further out of the way he went on to sign entire
teams, "He signed not just individual stars, but entire colleges. These schools, famous for their
sports teams, promised to use Nike equipment nearly exclusively in return for large sums of money"
(65). Knights' tactics in "steamrolling" the competition are comparable to the way Rockefeller
formed Standard Oil which put other such companies out of

Labor Reforms: The National Labor Union
1) The National Labor Union was the first labor federation in the united states and it paved the
pathway for the Nights of Labor and the AFL. The National Labor Union was led by William H.
Sylvis and was in response to unsuccessful efforts to form a national coalition of local trade unions.
The National Labor Union wanted instead to bring together all of the national labor organizations,
as well as the "eight–hour leagues" which pressed for the eight–hour day, to create a national
federation that could call for labor reforms and help found national unions in those areas where none
existed. The NLU was made mostly up of construction unions and other groups of skilled
employees, but also invited the unskilled and farmers to join. However, they

Similarities Between The American Federation Of Labour And...
Erin Marie Magee
The Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor were similar in a lot of ways, however
the latter succeeded and the prior did not. These were both union organizations. They consisted of
employees bound together for common goals. Some of these goals consisted of: eight hour work
day, abolition of child labor, equal pay for equal work and income tax reforms. However, there are
some major differences. One difference is that the Knights of Labor accepted men, women, white,
black, skilled, and unskilled workers as members. The American Federation of Labor however, only
accepted skilled workers and required much higher dues. One reason for the American Federation of
Labor requiring higher dues was to sustain the member

Knights Of Labor In The 19th Century
Perhaps the most significant feature of America during the nineteenth century was the alarming rate
at which it became an industrialized society. Looking in from the outside, all in America seemed
satisfactory and wonderful. However, as unsparing competition and mechanization of the work
process started to lower wages and worsen working conditions, workers saw their position and
status wear away. Additionally, increased dependence on child and immigrant labor further lessened
wages. It is unsurprising that wealth during this time period was not distributed equally, which
workers were angered by. Nevertheless, workers' complaints went beyond low wages, as they
became increasingly upset at how much autonomy and control over the working process they had
lost. This disappointed those who had previously took pride in their work, as well as those who had
previously controlled their own working conditions. As a result of these new happenings, workers
began forming and joining unions, or labor organizations, in hopes of advancing their cause through
collective bargaining, and, if absolutely necessary, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
They sought to fight against long hours and low wages, and welcomed all new members to its cause,
regardless of race, sex, or level of skill, and united laborers in the countryside and cities in one
group. They also planned to put an end to child labor, and encourage better safety rules. The Knights
of Labor won a series of strikes in their fight against labor issues, and although they had
approximately 700,000 members (Digital History), united action was made very difficult, due to the
fact that they were so diverse. Organizational problems eventually led to a rapid decline in
membership and influence, and the union eventually dissolved after being falsely accused of being
associated with the Haymarket Square Bombing in Chicago in

Knights Of Labor Strike Research Paper
Strikes were what workers organized to try and get out of the different situation they were in. The
concept of strikes in general is simple– unity is power. Following the same concept, workers
organized unions which lobbied for their rights and tried to make sure that the employment
conditions for workers throughout the country were acceptable and fair. Knights of Labor was the
first major national organization dedicated to protecting the interests not only of workers but also
farmers. Membership of the Knights of Labor, however, declined after the Haymarket Affair, which
was previously discussed. Unions in general were affected and became less popular, as this violent
strike caused them to look extremely careless towards the value of human ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
They created a Farmer's Alliance, which worked as a union, but for farmers. The organization had
several goals and actively campaigned for a subtreasury plan and federal farm credits. They wanted
the government to build warehouses which would allow the farmers to store their crops there until
they were sold. This would allow them not to borrow so much money to be able to pay for storage.
Another advantage that the farmers saw with this plan was the crops' ability to be a collateral. This
would essentially make the loans farmers took out have low interest rates, since they would be
considered secured. As time went on and the situation did not look much better, The Grange was
founded (1867). Just like the Farmer's Alliance, this organization looked to solve problems with the
intervention of the government through economic means. Munn v. Illinois, a Supreme Court Case
from 1887, allowed states to regulate private industries, including railroad companies. This allowed
The Grange to use the situation to the advantage of farmers and force companies to be fair and
charge reasonable rates for the services they provided. Nine years after this case, the Supreme Court
reversed the decision in Wabash v. Illinois. The public had an outrage– the reaction made it clear
that the Wabash case decision was not popular with the people. The result of the outcry was fairly
effective, because the Interstate Commerce Commission

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