Nineteenth century america Essay Example

one day off every two weeks. These exhausting schedules contributed to the United States having one of the highest industrial accident rates in the Western world during this time period. From 1880 to 1900 alone, about 35,000 workers died annually while another 536,000 suffered injuries on their jobs.

Particularly hazardous industries included railroads and coal mining, where at least 2,000 fatal injuries were reported solely in these sectors. This resulted in one out of every 399 railroad workers losing their lives while on duty.

The already unsafe working conditions exacerbated the hardships faced by industrial workers as factories were notorious for poor conditions. In California alone, around 2,000 individuals (including men, women, and children) dealt with inadequate bathroom facilities, unhygienic living conditions,and extreme heat.
The text highlights the worsening conditions caused by an influx of immigrants into overcrowded factories, giving employers more control over wages. Various factors like economic downturns and seasonal variations led to widespread job insecurity experienced by workers. The introduction of machines further worsened employment instability. Unfortunately, there were no government-funded social welfare programs or safety nets available for injured workers, ill workers, and single mothers. This lack of support particularly affected unemployed individuals. The workforce was divided into unskilled laborers, machine operatives, and skilled craftsmen. Corporations preferred manual labor over intellectual skills to eliminate worker autonomy and replace skilled labor with machine operatives. Workers understood that these changes would result in irregular employment and lower wages, posing a threat to their livelihoods.

Frederick Winston Taylor introduced the concept of "scientific management" to dismantle craft unions and social structures. As an efficiency expert, Taylor conducted scientific studies on time and motion in order to enhance factory

operations. His approach involved implementing standardization, utilizing optimal tools, and promoting cooperation under management control, disregarding worker ethics. This transformation resulted in craftsmen transitioning into laborers solely focused on manual work without intellectual elements. The definition of a "good job" became closely associated with increased productivity, posing a threat to trade unions and favoring open shops.

Recognizing this challenge, workers realized that unity was their only solution. By uniting all unions as one entity, they believed they could confront corporations and achieve desired outcomes through collective action. This required establishing common social goals among all workers while rejecting individualism as the foundation of the union movement. Various forms of expression such as speeches, writings, meetings, dances, and strikes were utilized to foster solidarity.

Out of these expressions, strikes proved most effective in articulating workers' beliefs and garnering support which led to significant growth in union memberships. However, when corporations gained government backing, workers responded with violent attacks. Consequently, the labor movement became divided between two ideologies: radicals and conservatives – both advocating for mutualismMutualism prioritized cooperation rather than competition, serving as a foundation for both conservatives and radicals. Conservatives aimed to reform corporations, while radicals sought their overthrow. In December 1886, Samuel Gompers merged multiple small conservative labor unions to create the American Federation of Labor, representing well-behaved working-class members. Radicals, who believed in anarchism based on individual freedom, mutual cooperation, and self-reliance, adopted the "Chicago Idea" to avoid direct conflicts with capitalists. This approach combined anarchism and revolutionary unionism with the goals of dismantling the ruling class, establishing a cooperative society, and ensuring equal rights regardless of gender or race. Consequently, radicals viewed dynamite as a

potent weapon against capitalism and government oppression – an equalizer and symbol of retribution that could bring about emancipation through destruction and death.

In 1886, a nationwide campaign for an 8-hour workday resulted in the first strike (lock-out), leading to more than 34,000 workers losing their jobs. The McCormick Reaper Works barred their employees while hiring scabs which caused great outrage among workers. On May 3rd of that year, police fired into the striking crowd resulting in four deaths. As a response to this incident, vengeful anarchists held a meeting at Haymarket Square on May 4th where speakers such as Albert Parsons August Spies ,and Louis Lingg addressed the crowd.During a meeting, an anarchist threw a dynamite at the police, resulting in the death of seven officers. Charges were later brought against those present at the meeting, with four being executed and three receiving life sentences. One person committed suicide. This event came to be known as the Haymarket Square Riot and unleashed tensions in society, leading to hysteria, panic, fear, and hatred. It also sparked the "red scare" which led to the exile of anarchism.

In 1892, there was another lockout in Homestead, Pennsylvania that resulted in violent conflict. Henry Clay Frick was ordered to replace all union workers with scabs. As a result, all strikers were locked out in July of that year. When Pinkertons (a private army protecting corporations) were encountered, war broke out. Eventually, the Pinkertons surrendered and the plant reopened for unionists. However, this replacement of unionists significantly increased steel production and led to a boost of $36 million in profit.

The defeat at Homestead marked the end of union trade and steel

industry dominance as corporatism triumphed over unions.

During the Panic of 1893 when many businesses faced bankruptcy threats, the Pullman Company in Chicago decided to reduce their workers' wages due to their monopoly on sleeping cars. In response to this decision,Eugene V.Debs formed American Railway Union (ARU)and instructed them not handle Pullman's sleeping cars.This boycott was seen by railroad officials as an opportunity to dismantletheunionThe ARU organized a nationwide strike, which resulted in disruptions to US mail delivery. To stop the strike, President Cleveland sent troops and received help from Attorney Olney. This led to the suppression of the ARU and the imprisonment of Debs, highlighting once again how corporate victory was backed by government power and discretionary authority over corporate governance. Despite united collaboration among workers, they were unable to achieve collective success against the arbitrary rule and widespread influence of corporations and government. The hardships faced by these workers continued with long hours, low wages, hazardous conditions, and demoralization persisting in their laborious lives.

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