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Industrial Revolution: Wage Workers In The United States

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After the War of Independence took place in the United States, the new world was independent of the control of colonial countries. Followed by rapid development in economy and technology after the American Revolution, America started the Industrial Revolution to apply the new economic system as an independent country. Industrial revolution transformed the classic economic model in America from agriculture to industrial expansion, as well as altered the traditional pattern of work in the society. Despite the existence of slaves and indentured servants, many people in America were independent self-sufficient family workers. They used to own land or rent one to farm foods and make supplies for their family living. During the industrial revolution, …show more content…

Even though jobs in factories provide relatively stable income for wage workers, the amount of revenue could barely support their family to survive because of the wage cut and oppression from employers (Clark and Hewitt 351). In order to protect themselves from being exploited and cutting wages, wage workers frequently organized labor unions to aid and support large-scale strikes and rallies (Clark and Hewitt 354). With the characteristic of the large population, labor unions provide strong bargaining power for working class against their employers. By taking advantages of upgraded transportation and communication channels, trade and labor unions served as a tool to connect isolated laborers and unite those scatter power to protect their mutual interests. “Despite their relative isolation in the outwork system, 1,600 women joined the New York Tailoresses’ Society, founded in 1831, to fight a series of wage cuts by merchants (Clark, Hewitt, P 354).” The influence of trade and labor unions was impressive. Comparing to spontaneous strikes and rallies, the campaigns organized by labor unions enlarged the scale and exerted more moral pressures on employers. As organizations for the whole working class, the trade and labor unions represented the common interests of a large number of population. “An August 1834 convention formed the National Trades Union (NTU), with delegates representing over 25,000 workers (Clark, Hewitt, P 355.)” Through launching large-scale rallies and campaigns, labor unions allowed wage workers to strive for higher wages and other worker’s benefits. Unlike spontaneous strike, with a more organized and integrated system, labor unions empowered the working class to bargain with the employers for more equal rights and

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