1. Organized Labor à Changes
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Changes in workplace
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Machines
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replaced people for skilled jobs
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No longer “mom & pop” shop (negotiated) wages
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“family setting” à gone
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Rise of “sweatshops” where you monitored a machine
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lowered wages (no more skills)
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Children
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Two million children under age 15 in the workforce
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no schooling
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worked LONG x6days p/wk
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HAZARDS!
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Unhealthy air, extreme temps., dangerous situations
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Led to deaths

2. Organized Labor – cont’d
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Rise of organized labor
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Hazards led to pushback
Unions!
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Originally only skilled workers
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Non-union worker slow downs
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Strikes
Knights of Labor 1869
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Opened unions to non-skilled and minorities
Terence Powderly – no strikes, just rallies
No children, shorter work day, equal wages by gender
Led to many strikes across the nation – not supported
Haymarket Square – explain!
AFL - ?

3. Women Workforce
— Played a large role in the workforce
— Mainly in textiles, tobacco, and garment industries
— Many unions also formed
— Also had strikes for better wages & hours
— Hard times for organized labor
— Triangle Shirtwaste Factory Fire – 1911
— Overproduction and growth lead to layoffs
— Rollercoaster of small recessions and depressions
— More strikes and violence in cities
— Railroads virtually shut down

4. Progressive Movements
— Reforming City Governments
— The rise of political bosses results from more need for city
services (sewer, road construction, garbage collection, etc)
— Payoffs and bribes for contracts and loans for the needy
(William “Boss” Tweed)
— “good government leagues – attacked corruption with some
success
— Muckrackers
— “dug up” stories on big business, corrupt politicians, factory
conditions, slum life, etc.
— Inadequate police and fire protection
— Upton Sinclair “The Jungle” – fiction?
— Led to call for change

5. Progressive Movements
— Progressives 1898-1917
— Forward thinking people – improve life in America
— Inspired by religion and science in improving society
— Education – urged to promote health and values
— Reformers
— “The will of the people shall be the law of the land” – William LaFollette
— “Battling Bob from Wisconsin
— Lower rail rates,
— starting primaries for voting (1903)
— Led to more power to the people via VOTING
— Amendments
— 16th, 17th, 18th , 19th
— You know these!

6. Immigration
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Why America?
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Job security in industry, farming
A better life from homeland persecution
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The “Promised Land” – FREEDOM!
Low fares on land/property, transportation
Journey
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Close quarters in transit – led to disease
Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island
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Name changes
Language barriers
Adaptation
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Learn English
Ethnic neighborhoods
—
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Find a job, home
Keeping family traditions
Opposition
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Call for restrictions
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Chinese Exclusion Act / American Protective Assoc.
Racism à violence (gangs)