ipl-logo

Gilded Age Dbq Analysis

1542 Words7 Pages

During the Gilded Age (1870-1900), workers faced numerous problems in which they attempted to fix through organizing into labor unions. But, these unions failed. Their overall goals were to have better wages and working conditions, but a shorter work day in which they did not achieve. (Document A1) The government was corrupted and controlled by big business, which caused a lack of good interpretation, regulation, and passing of progressive legislations. Big businesses also had control over the media which lead to reports in newspapers to give the reader a negative view on labor unions. Labor unions needed skilled workers to have leverage in collective bargaining, but steadily improving technologies replaced many skilled workers. To prevent …show more content…

Thus, Pinkertons, police or military would be sent to the location where more violence would cause many injuries, some possibly fatal. (Document G1) Labor unions would always be blamed for these fights, even if they had not instigated it, and so the public thought unions were violent and reckless. These strikes were made illegal due to them never being peaceful (Document H2) On top of that, many labor unions were said to be connected to communism and socialism. Many believed the unions were a threat to capitalism and the United States which terrified the public. (Document F2) To combat these opinions, Samuel Gompers, the founder of the American Federation of Labor, made a statement to show that he and his union were pro capitalism, not socialism. “Economically, you (socialists) are unsound; socially, you are wrong; and industrially you are an impossibility.” (Document G2) But this did not eliminate the bad image of labor …show more content…

A yellow dog contact would require the worker to avoid all labor unions to get or maintain their job which lead to a decrease in union members. (Document E1) Without many members, unions would lose their leverage of strength in numbers. In the Homestead Strike and Lockout of 1892, Andrew Carnegie, the owner of Carnegie Steel, hired Pinkertons. These spies would become part of the union, and discover if they wanted to do a sit in strike. This could have caused lots of damage to Carnegie’s factory, and so he locked out the workers the next day. The workers went home and then returned with weapons and fight with the Pinkertons. Numerous people were killed. (Document G1) Many owners and managements saw their workers as the equivalent of machines. “So as long as they do my work for what I choose to pay them, I keep them…” (Document A2) Management’s could easily fire and replace their workers with scabs, who were immigrants. Scabs would do the same amount of work for a lesser pay which lead to more native workers being fired, and less members in the labor unions. Losing the leverage that the number of members provided would become a tremendous problem for workers and labor

Show More
Related

  • Pullman Strike Dbq Essay

    266 Words  | 2 Pages

    You touched on a critical point in your forum, as of why workers went on strike. While poverty played a significant role, in 1877, railroad employees experienced a significant pay cut, which sparked the Great Railway Strike, triggering violence and a shutdown of the railways lasting nearly six weeks. Next, the Pullman strike began with railroad owners becoming increasingly wealthier, while none of the profits trickled down to the employees. The labor walk-outs encompassed the substantial divide between social classes. Hence, rich businessmen were increasing their profits, while poor workers often remained stagnate with low wages and company issued paycuts.

    Read More

  • How Did The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Of 1911

    745 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911 was the deadliest workplace accident in New York history. Most of the workers in the factory were immigrants who came to America for a better future. Their dream was economic security, which they saw in America. Getting a job in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory was a desired position, even if the job consisted of fourteen hour work days, six days a week. At most, the workers would take home $2 a day.

    Read More

  • During The Gilded Age Is Greed Good

    1254 Words  | 6 Pages

    The local townspeople gathered at the railyard to show their support for the “STRIKERS.” Violence seemed to create fear for companies and bosses; the greed of the workers spoke clearly through strikes and riots. The fight against the employers selfishness and abilities to cut workers pay flourished the beginning of unions. Unions brought workers together with common interests and opinions to show that they had numbers to fight with. In the cartoon, “One Big Union,” states at the bottom, “The hand that will rule the world-One Big Union,” and shows a large fist, along with worker’s fists raised in the air, that symbolizes unification and agreement in views of the company’s operations. Not only individual strikers committed harmful actions, but unions were a group of combined strikers that caused severe destruction throughout towns as seen in The Great Upheaval.

    Read More

  • Pullman Strike Research Paper

    1399 Words  | 6 Pages

    The riot resulted in producing an obstacle for union membership and union authority still felt in several union groups today. Prior to the Haymarket Riot, it was known that factory work was hard. Employees were exposed to dangerous conditions, low wages, and prolonged hours; therefore, in an effect to improve working conditions unions were formed. Companies opposed union so in a attempt to reduce an individual for join on they would add suspected union members on a lists, which barred them from employment. Companies were also known for disregarding laws that the government put in place to protect workers’ rights and in some cases the government historically sided with the companies during strikes giving companies a sense of power.

    Read More

  • The Working Man's Prayer Rhetorical Analysis

    819 Words  | 4 Pages

    An excerpt from Gilded Age tells us how companies are greedy and corrupted by charging hidden fees and finding a way not to pay their workers. It also shows how companies did not take contracts to their workers seriously. (Doc 2) If the Federal Government was more involved with how business men did their work; there wouldn’t have been so much deceitfulness toward the workers from the employers. The Federal Government could have put efforts into regulating pay for employees and making sure the companies stuck to their word about any benefits.

    Read More

  • Organized Labor Dbq

    408 Words  | 2 Pages

    The feeling, shown in Nast's illustration after the railroad strike of 1877, that amalgamations simply lead to more " communistic values" and general uniformity made it very arduous to genuinely get anything done. Samuel Gompers, progenitor of the American Federation of Labor, argued that the right to strike was absolutely obligatory if any reforms were going to be made and not even this right had been officially granted to the people by regime (Document I). Gompers made it very pellucid that not even the very substratum of organized labor had been established and so up until this point the advances that had been made, were virtually frivolous. In conclusion, from 1875-1900 very few advances were made through organized labor in achieving better working conditions for workers.

    Read More

  • Politically, Economic And Social Effects Of The Gilded Age

    799 Words  | 4 Pages

    The AF of L wanted “unionism” and opposed socialism. TheKnights of Labor, another labor union, was created in 1869 and enlisted in their ranks not only alllaborers but also everyone who could be truly classified as a producer. Labor unions, the two major depressions and the three “robber barons” were three of theforemost reasons the Gilded Age got its name. The “robber barons” invested in things that wouldultimately lead to a “Golden Industrial Age” but they didn’t achieve it totally legitimately, and thecreation of the labor unions sided with the workers, but at times, grew violent in their methods.

    Read More

  • The Progressive Era Dbq Analysis

    350 Words  | 2 Pages

    Corporate greedy and corrupt politicians were specific problems and injustices that were present in American life during the late 1800s and early 1900s however these were addressed during the progressive era with laws and regulations. Throughout the gilded era corrupt politicians and corporate greedy allowed the upper class and businessmen to take advantage of the working class. This means that a majority of the population were hurt during the gilded age whereas a small percentage benefitted. As seen in document 1, living conditions were crowded, dirty, and unsafe.

    Read More

  • Gilded Era Dbq Analysis

    950 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the face of power of big business and the face of the federal government, the laboring-class Americans attempted to better their lives. The laboring-class did that by improving work conditions, decreasing poverty, and trying to get increased government interactions. The laboring-class attempted to improve working conditions. Working conditions were very poor.

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Labor Unions

    620 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Pros and Cons of Labor Unions in Different Political Systems for the U.S. Labor unions play a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of countries across the world. These organizations can be important players in three different political systems: pluralism, corporatism, and communism. Each system has its unique characteristics, and labor unions play different roles in each one. The essay will discuss the key roles of labor unions in each political system and the pros and cons of pluralism and corporatism for both organized labor and employers. Finally, explore whether U.S. unions should play a stronger role in U.S. politics.

    Read More

  • Unions: The Labor Movement

    718 Words  | 3 Pages

    Former president John F. Kennedy once said, “The labor movement is people. Our unions have brought millions of men and women together, made them members one of another, and given them common tools for common goals. Their goals are goals for all America - and their enemies are the enemies for progress. The two cannot be separated.”. This statement is veritably accurate because work unions give a unique power to workers.

    Read More

  • The Similarities And Differences Between The Knights Of Labor And The AFL

    145 Words  | 1 Pages

    There are many simmaleritys and differences between the Knights of labor and the AFL this will explain only a few. The Knights were established in 1869 vs the AFL established in 1886 a few years later. This means the Knights are the predisesors of the AFL. Some made compromises others started boycotts, and the following explanes all. Both the AFL and the Knights had labor unions involved with them.

    Read More

  • Labor Unions DBQ Essay

    988 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the 1840’s there was a wave of democratization created after Jackson’s presidency. It was created the value of the common man, and the importance of every person who was in the government. Of course, there were exceptions to this rule as there still certain groups like blacks or women that were viewed as inferior, but the majority of the population felt like they had worth. This led to series of reforms: hospitals for the mentally ill, schools for people with physical disabilities, the temperance movement, and labor unions. This movements fought a better society with better treatment even though there would be no economic incentives to do so.

    Read More

  • Industrial Workers In The Gilded Age

    1038 Words  | 5 Pages

    Farmers and Industrial Workers in the Gilded Age In a time when industrialization was booming, immigrants were racing towards the “American Dream”, and cities were growing towards the sky, the United States was thriving. As a country, the United States went from rural, to mostly urban, which made America “the world’s largest industrial power” as stated by John Green. Since the U.S. had become mostly urban, this left the very few rural workers (farmers), and even some of the industrial workers unhappy. This period of industrialization is called the Gilded Age than spans from 1865 to 1900.The farmers and industrial workers responded to the Gilded Age in significantly negative ways including unions against their authority, strikes and political

    Read More

  • Samuel Gompers Argument Against Labor Unions In The 19th Century

    593 Words  | 3 Pages

    Back in the late 19th century and early 20th century there was disputing for and against the labor unions. There were employers who disliked like unions. While the working class, liked the unions and joined them. There were two people who had contrary views regarding the unions. They were Samuel Gompers and N.F Thompson.

    Read More

More about Gilded Age Dbq Analysis

Open Document