After the Civil War, the United States (U.S.) started industrializing in the early nineteenth century, bringing revolutionary revisions to America’s society and its industries. The abundance of natural resources, new inventions, and continuously immigrating workers, along with the creation of the free enterprise system and a spur of railroads, enabled the country to industrialize successfully. Soon America’s small towns were transformed into large cities filled with factories. In the late 1800s, a period known as the Gilded Age came about, suggesting that America’s industrialization and urbanization had two facets. On the surface, the U.S. showcased golden success and prosperity, while the interior aspect began to unveil the unsettling realities
The Homestead Strike, which culminated with a day-long gun battle on July 6 that left 12 dead and dozens wounded, led to a wave of de-unionization.
The industrial workers responded by striking in the Pullman Strike. Pullman, Illinois was a company town, which meant that the workers had to pay rent to the company. The Panic of 1893 occurred, and there was a low demand for private railroad cars. As a result, the Pullman Company laid off workers and decreased wages but kept the rent at the same price. This led to the American Railway Union leading a strike. Protesters were furious and wanted to burn down the trains. This strike caused the Pullman Company to protect their train cars with guns. Eventually, the federal government was called to end the strike. Not only did industrial workers respond by uniting together for the Pullman Strike, but the industrial workers also went on strike at the Haymarket Square Riot. The Haymarket Square Riot took place in Chicago in 1884. The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions announced a national strike for an eight-hour work day. The strike turned into a riot when a person from the crowd threw a bomb killing at least eight people. The bomb lit up the street with people on strike running for their lives. Eight radical labor activists were charged in connection to the bombing, even with a lack of evidence. The strike had a horrific impact on the labor union and caused it to lose its power. As the Knights of Labor declines, the American Federation of Labor rose to power. Samuel Gompers, American Labor Union leader, led the American Federation of Labor. The American Federation of Labor wanted eight-hour work days, no Asian immigration, and a day of celebrating labor workers for their hard work. Once the Knights of Labor declined in power, the American Federation of Labor was only for craft unions. African Americans and women were not welcomed. Samuel Gompers shifted to strikes and boycotts instead of focusing on “bread and butter” issues. Industrial
*The Pullman Strike was widespread by the United States railroad workers, approximately a quarter-million worker were on strike at the peak and it impacted the expedition the railroad system across the states. The strike between the American Railway Union and George Pullman changed the course of future strikes when President Grover Cleveland ordered federal troops to break up the strikers; its influenced how the federal government and the court system would handle labor issues. The labor issues during the Pullman Strike were not limited that of rights of the workers, the role of management in the workers private life, and the roles of government resolving labor conflicts. Pullman planned communities for his workers how he determined
The organized labor of 1875-1900 was unsuccessful in proving the position of workers because of the future strikes, and the intrinsical feeling of preponderation of employers over employees and the lack of regime support. In 1877, railroad work across the country took part in a cyclopean strike that resulted in mass violence and very few reforms. An editorial, from the Incipient York Time verbalized: "the strike is ostensibly hopeless, and must be regarded as nothing more than a rash and splenetic demonstration of resentment by men too incognizant or too temerarious to understand their own interest" (Document B).
Jessica HillisMr. GillardAP US History5 January 2007Essay 16: Gilded AgeThroughout history, certain periods of time have been given certain names based on thehappenings that occurred. Many have called the period of 1865 to 1901 the “Gilded Age”, be-cause it was “shiny and pretty” on the outside but it was “rough and ugly” underneath. The term“Gilded Age” was actually coined by Mark Twain who satired the Gilded Age with a GoldenAge. Politically, economically and socially the Gilded Age was truly a “Gilded Age”. Noteverything added to the “Gilded” effect of the time period. The “robber barons”, two major de-pressions and the labor unions (though not originally a bad thing) did add to the age.The Gilded Age saw the rise of Andrew Carnegie, John
Industrialization had a positively impact on U.S because Automobiles, Captain Of Industry , and light bulb and Electricity. The industrialization happened in the 1800’s. There was a lot of events that happened in this time period.
In a time, 1865 marked the end of Reconstruction of the North and the South after the Civil War. The start of the Second Industrial Revolution began with the invention of electrical power and mechanical engines. The United States expanded westward like never before with the creation of railroads, oil, and steel. The Election of 1896 marked a critical election when Republican William McKinley, United States President from 1897-1901, defeated his opponent in one of the most dramatic and complex elections in the young country’s history. Using the idea of American Imperialism, the United States aimed to spread their political, economic, and cultural control within the government over areas beyond their boundaries. It is in this context that farmers and industrial workers responded to industrialization in the Gilded Age from 1865-1900 in their own significant ways. Farmers organized the Granger Movement and Farmers Alliance to deal with industrialization. Industrial workers formed the Knights of Labor and American Federation of Labor in response to industrialization.
During this era, the United States altered from a primarily agricultural society of small farmers to a more urban economic force of manufacturing
The American Industrialization was in the late 1800’s making many things to improve the economy. The American Industrialization was caused by multiple factors, some of the factors included a growing population, a willing work force, high tariffs, among many more. These effects made people willing to work at lower wages so they can get jobs and buy American made goods. There were many outcomes of the Industrial Revolution, both positive, like improving people's lives, and negative effects, like exploitation of workers.
Before the structured labor society that we live in today, America was a very different working world; one plagued with injustice and grievances from workers across the job sectors. Two organizations, the Knights of Labor and later the American Federation of Labor acted as activists for reform and demanded better standards for working, living, and life for workers. Their strategies and success in achieving their goals were as different as the organizations themselves.
The life of an industrial worker was very hard. Workers had to work long shifts and get paid very little. Some worked ten to twelve hours a day, six days a week, and made less than one dollar per hour. Along with long hours and little pay, there was no regulation for breaks, safety, or age. Due to this, one in eleven workers died on the job. Eventually it got to the point where these workers were working so much, but barely made enough to support their family. The Knights of Labor was the first national labor group formed in 1869. This group wanted to gain an eight-hour workday, expel asian workers and immigrants from the far east, and stop child labor. Around the same time a new national organization named the American Federation of Labor (AFL) formed when the Knights of Labor union declined. The new organization was led by Samuel Gompers, a cigar maker that helped to form the union. The AFL advocated for most of the same things as the Knights of Labor. The American Federation of Labor used strikes and boycotts against owners to try and get what they wanted. Two major strikes that occurred were the Pullman Strike and the Homestead Strike. Both strikes were very dangerous and had millions of dollars of damage. Some of the strikes and boycotts did work and wages were raised, however some backfired and many workers ended up losing their
In both the early and late 19th century there were a lot of things that contributed to the growth of America. Economically, during this point in time there was extreme growth. Up to the end of the Civil war, the way people went about life was about to change even more than what has already changed in the last fifty years. Post-Civil war, over 4 million slaves were freed. They migrated and assimilated towards the pacific coast and towards northern states. This left southern farms in crisis. The amount of people working on the farms compared to the size of the farm meant it was going to be really tough to maintain the farm himself. What did this mean for the country? There was a crisis that needed to be taken care of, and how would the country handle it? The industry needed something new. The Industrial Revolution can be viewed as one of the most significant reason towards the rise of economic powers in this country. It helped the country in so many ways. This was the start of a new life style for the people of the United States.
In a time after the civil war, America improved their financing by switching to the gold standard, improved communication by boosting the telegraph, improved transportation by building railroads, and improved wealth by giving contracts for clothes to multiple companies. The economy was also improving massively also due to natural resources, demography, and law. Railroads allowed people as well as supplies to be transported quicker, safer, and cheaper. Companies bought each other out and formed monopolies which made the price go up and the owners very wealthy. Aside from all of these positives, there are also various problems that took place during the Gilded Age (1865-1900). Problems like how industrial workers and farmers responded to
During the industrial revolution factories flourished and for many people improved their financial status. Factories and machines that could process food faster and in larger quantities caused some jobs to be obsolete. The umemployed migrated from their rural homes along with others immigrateing from other countries in droves flooding urban areas. Most were seeking employment and the ability to provide a better life for their families,. This rapid urbanization caused cities to become overcrowded and dangerous. The normal standard of living changed drastically. It was impossible to build homes as fast as people were coming in. . Some families were forced to live in warehouses or other buildings not meant for housing. People also lived