Two major labor unions grew during the Gilded Age.
The first, the Knights of Labor, took all workers. They favored strikes and boycotting to achieve their goals. It was once a secret organization, but under Presley, the Knights of Labor grew enormously. However, during a strike, several members were killed by police. Later, in a protest at Haymarket Square (against police for murder) the Knights of Labor were joined by several sympathetic anarchists. When police arrived to sort out the trouble, one of the anarchists threw a bomb, killing three policemen and wounding several others. This riot at Haymarket Square destroyed the Knights of Labor as people associated them with killing and bombing.
The second major labor union was the American Federation of Labor, or AFL. This group was small, since they only accepted skilled workers, and no blacks or women. These skilled workers were organized according to craft, forming smaller unions within the larger AFL. The American Federation of Labor favored peaceful bargaining over strikes and boycotts.
Often, when workers went on strike, the employers simply hired different people, ones that didn't belong to a labor union, called strikebreakers. Fights would frequently break out between strikers and strikebreakers.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Reform and Change
Author Mark Twain called this next period in American society the "Gilded Age", because he thought that all the power held in America was in the hands of a few wealthy men.
Indeed, the spoils system caused many scandals. A politician would pretend to befriend immigrants, giving them fuel, food, clothing, and housing. He would also host big events to get himself known. In return for his hospitality, he expected people to vote for the candidates that he supported.
Boss Tweed ran a political organization called Tammany Hall. William Marcy Tweed and his people made millions off the government using the spoils system. He also counted the votes, so he often faked the total to keep his candidates in office.
Mugwumps, a group that wanted reform, rose in the Gilded Age. They were for civil service, the idea that government positions should be given to people with the right skills. Before, politicians gave government positions to their sometimes incompetent friends.
Indeed, the spoils system caused many scandals. A politician would pretend to befriend immigrants, giving them fuel, food, clothing, and housing. He would also host big events to get himself known. In return for his hospitality, he expected people to vote for the candidates that he supported.
Boss Tweed ran a political organization called Tammany Hall. William Marcy Tweed and his people made millions off the government using the spoils system. He also counted the votes, so he often faked the total to keep his candidates in office.
Mugwumps, a group that wanted reform, rose in the Gilded Age. They were for civil service, the idea that government positions should be given to people with the right skills. Before, politicians gave government positions to their sometimes incompetent friends.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Hazards in Work
Immigrants settled in cities because they could find work in factories. These industrial factories required thousands of laborers, working long hours for a small pay. Immigrants were willing to brave the stuffy, dirty, and dangerous factories for little money for six days of work.
Inadequate fire escapes caused many laborers to die, such as in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. Machines used to manufacture merchandise was very dangerous, and if you were injured on the job, you received no help from your employer. Managers expected employees to take care of themselves on the job. In many factories, workers became sick from the dust or dirt inside the building.
Desperate laborers formed 'labor unions', getting together and going on strike to improve conditions and wages. Unfortunately, most strikes brought little assistance or improvement to conditions. In fact, since so many workers were available, the value of one worker was very low. In some cases, managers hired thugs to beat the strikers into submission.
Indeed, these factories were terrible for work, and yet many poverty-stricken immigrants relied on these factories to stay alive.
Inadequate fire escapes caused many laborers to die, such as in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. Machines used to manufacture merchandise was very dangerous, and if you were injured on the job, you received no help from your employer. Managers expected employees to take care of themselves on the job. In many factories, workers became sick from the dust or dirt inside the building.
Desperate laborers formed 'labor unions', getting together and going on strike to improve conditions and wages. Unfortunately, most strikes brought little assistance or improvement to conditions. In fact, since so many workers were available, the value of one worker was very low. In some cases, managers hired thugs to beat the strikers into submission.
Indeed, these factories were terrible for work, and yet many poverty-stricken immigrants relied on these factories to stay alive.
Living Conditions
Upon arrival, the best housing most immigrants could find, unless they had relatives or friends, already in America, was the tenement. Many tenements were known as dumbbells, large on the top and bottom, and small in the middle. In reality, tenements were just cheaply made apartments divided into rooms.
In most rooms, there were no windows. The floors were weak and unstable. Also, the tenements were fire hazards with no fire escapes. Large families crowded into tiny rooms, often having no place to sleep. There were no bathtubs or running water/lighting for many of the immigrants.
Bathrooms came in the form of outhouses, where everyone in an apartment, usually around 20 families, shared five toilets, with no toilet paper or running water.
Disease was very common, despite attempts to keep the apartments clean. Until the government stepped in to inspect and improve conditions, immigrants suffered.
In most rooms, there were no windows. The floors were weak and unstable. Also, the tenements were fire hazards with no fire escapes. Large families crowded into tiny rooms, often having no place to sleep. There were no bathtubs or running water/lighting for many of the immigrants.
Bathrooms came in the form of outhouses, where everyone in an apartment, usually around 20 families, shared five toilets, with no toilet paper or running water.
Disease was very common, despite attempts to keep the apartments clean. Until the government stepped in to inspect and improve conditions, immigrants suffered.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Nativism and Ethno-centricity
Nativist actions towards the end of the 19th century started discrimination against the "New" immigrants. Fears that jobs would be taken away spiraled into demands that the government restrict immigration. In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed, forbidding all Chinese from arriving in America. For most, Angel Island on the coast of California would be the closest they could get to America. Soon after, Congress extended this Exclusion Act to other Asians. This would not be lifted until the mid 1900's.
Congress also set up quotas limiting the amount of European immigrants arriving in the United States. Small amounts of people were allowed in. These immigrants would face much discrimination and prejudice from Nativists.
Congress also set up quotas limiting the amount of European immigrants arriving in the United States. Small amounts of people were allowed in. These immigrants would face much discrimination and prejudice from Nativists.
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