Challenges to Big Challenges to Big BusinessBusiness::

Henry George:Henry George:ProgressProgress and Poverty and Poverty

Edward Bellamy:Edward Bellamy:Looking BackwardLooking Backward

SocialismSocialism1870’s Socialist Labor 1870’s Socialist Labor

PartyPartyBy 1901 American By 1901 American

Socialist PartySocialist PartyBy 1912 All three parties By 1912 All three parties

denounced Socialismdenounced Socialism

UnionsUnionsFirst real labor victory in First real labor victory in

American History:American History:Shoe workers in Lynn, Mass.Shoe workers in Lynn, Mass.10,000 walked off of the job 10,000 walked off of the job

and demanded: and demanded: Wage increase & union Wage increase & union

recognitionrecognition

1866 1866 The National Labor The National Labor UnionUnion

Founder: SylvesFounder: Sylves Included many reform Included many reform

groupsgroupsExcluded womenExcluded women640,000 members at peak640,000 members at peakDied with the Panic of 1873Died with the Panic of 1873

1869 1869 Knights of LaborKnights of Labor

Secret organization at first under Secret organization at first under StephensStephens

1878 Powderly took it out in the open1878 Powderly took it out in the open Open to all EXCEPT professionalsOpen to all EXCEPT professionals Short term goals: 8 Hour Day, end Short term goals: 8 Hour Day, end

child laborchild labor Long term goal: replace wages with a Long term goal: replace wages with a

cooperative systemcooperative system

Knights of Labor Knights of Labor ContinuedContinued

By 1886 700,000 membersBy 1886 700,000 members 1880’s unsuccessful strikes1880’s unsuccessful strikes Became associated with violence, Became associated with violence,

anarchyanarchy No public sympathyNo public sympathy Government sided with big businessGovernment sided with big business By 1890 down to 100,000 then diedBy 1890 down to 100,000 then died

The AFLThe AFL

Skilled LaborSkilled Labor Founder: GompersFounder: Gompers Goals were political; not social:Goals were political; not social:

8 Hour Day8 Hour DayHigher WagesHigher WagesBetter conditionsBetter conditionsEqual pay for women (why?)Equal pay for women (why?)

AFL sponsored AFL sponsored legislation for:legislation for:

Abolition of child laborAbolition of child laborRestriction of immigrationRestriction of immigrationRestriction of the use of Restriction of the use of

injunction in labor injunction in labor disputesdisputes

The StrikesThe Strikes

1886 1886 Haymarket SquareHaymarket Square Riots (Chicago)Riots (Chicago)

1892 1892 The Homestead The Homestead StrikeStrike (Penn.) (Penn.)

1894 1894 The Pullman StrikeThe Pullman Strike (Chicago)(Chicago)

No public sympathyNo public sympathy

Unions will become Unions will become associated with anarchyassociated with anarchy

Collective bargaining Collective bargaining sounded communisticsounded communistic

May 1,1886 Haymarket May 1,1886 Haymarket Square RiotsSquare Riots

5-1-1886 The AFL called for a national 5-1-1886 The AFL called for a national strike for an 8 hour daystrike for an 8 hour day

The day before, 4 strikers were killed The day before, 4 strikers were killed during a strike outside of the during a strike outside of the McCormick Harvesting Co. McCormick Harvesting Co.

May 1May 1stst A bomb was thrown into a very A bomb was thrown into a very large protest/gatheringlarge protest/gathering

7 policemen killed, 67 others injured7 policemen killed, 67 others injured Police fired into the crowd, 4 more killedPolice fired into the crowd, 4 more killed

Haymarket Square Haymarket Square ContinuedContinued

Local anarchists were Local anarchists were rounded uprounded up

One was executedOne was executed 1892 liberal Illinois governor, 1892 liberal Illinois governor,

Altgeld, pardoned the others Altgeld, pardoned the others who were still in jailwho were still in jail

1892 The Homestead 1892 The Homestead StrikeStrike

Carnegie Steel Plant in PennsylvaniaCarnegie Steel Plant in Pennsylvania Carnegie and plant manager, Frick, Carnegie and plant manager, Frick,

hated unionshated unions At Homestead plant: The Amalgamated At Homestead plant: The Amalgamated

Association of Iron and Steel Workers Association of Iron and Steel Workers Union was affiliated with the AFLUnion was affiliated with the AFL

1890-92 serious wage cuts1890-92 serious wage cuts 1892 another wage cut and denied the 1892 another wage cut and denied the

union’s right to negotiateunion’s right to negotiate

Homestead Strike Homestead Strike ContinuedContinued

Workers occupied plantsWorkers occupied plants Pinkerton’s called in to remove Pinkerton’s called in to remove

strikers and to protect scabsstrikers and to protect scabs Pinkerton’s approached by riverPinkerton’s approached by river Workers poured oil into the river Workers poured oil into the river

and set it on fireand set it on fire All hell broke looseAll hell broke loose

Homestead continuedHomestead continued

8,000 National Guard sent to 8,000 National Guard sent to protect Steel plant and protect Steel plant and replacement workersreplacement workers

Frick was shot and woundedFrick was shot and wounded Public opinion against strikersPublic opinion against strikers By 1891 down to 24,000 membersBy 1891 down to 24,000 members By 1901 less than 7,000By 1901 less than 7,000 AFL just barely survivedAFL just barely survived

1894 The Pullman Strike1894 The Pullman Strike

Winter 1892-93 Pullman Company cut Winter 1892-93 Pullman Company cut wages by 25%wages by 25%

Did not reduce rents, store prices in its Did not reduce rents, store prices in its towntown

1893 Eugene Debs organized the 1893 Eugene Debs organized the American Railway Workers Union (ARU)American Railway Workers Union (ARU)

Called for a nation-wide strike against Called for a nation-wide strike against Pullman Co. in July of 1894Pullman Co. in July of 1894

60,000 walked off of the job 60,000 walked off of the job

Pullman Strike Pullman Strike continuedcontinued

Illinois Governor Altgeld sympathized Illinois Governor Altgeld sympathized with strikers and would not interfere with strikers and would not interfere on behalf of Pullman Co.on behalf of Pullman Co.

Cleveland sent his Attorney General, Cleveland sent his Attorney General, OlneyOlney

Olney placed a mailbag on the train Olney placed a mailbag on the train and charged strikers with violation of and charged strikers with violation of the Sherman Anti-trust Actthe Sherman Anti-trust Act

Big battle in ChicagoBig battle in Chicago

Pullman Strike Pullman Strike continuedcontinued

Injunction issuedInjunction issued Cleveland sent federal troopsCleveland sent federal troops Eugene Debs jailedEugene Debs jailed Converted to Socialism (Helen Converted to Socialism (Helen

Keller)Keller) Ran for president for the Ran for president for the

Socialist Party 5 timesSocialist Party 5 times

The Molly McGuires The Molly McGuires 1865-771865-77

Irish coal miners in PennIrish coal miners in PennDestroyed mining co. propertyDestroyed mining co. propertyKilled mine superintendentsKilled mine superintendents Infiltrated by PinkertonsInfiltrated by Pinkertons19 strikers executed in the end19 strikers executed in the end

1905 The IWW 1905 The IWW

Big John HaywoodBig John Haywood MilitantMilitant The WobbliesThe Wobblies Organized miners, immigrants, Organized miners, immigrants,

itinerant farm workersitinerant farm workers ViolentViolent Government repression, deportationGovernment repression, deportation

ALSO…ALSO…

The Women’s Trade Union The Women’s Trade Union LeagueLeague: worked to improve : worked to improve working conditions for women working conditions for women and childrenand children

National Consumers’ LeagueNational Consumers’ League: : worked for above at the state worked for above at the state levellevel

Federal Reform AttemptsFederal Reform Attempts

The Sherman Anti-Trust ActThe Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890): (1890): every contract, combination, or every contract, combination, or conspiracy in restraint of trade is conspiracy in restraint of trade is illegal illegal

Was intended to restrain the power of Was intended to restrain the power of monopoliesmonopolies

BUT was more often used against BUT was more often used against strikersstrikers(Pullman) & NOT against monopolies (Pullman) & NOT against monopolies (E.C. Knight case & 14(E.C. Knight case & 14thth Amendment) Amendment)

Another Federal Reform Another Federal Reform Attempt:Attempt:

The Interstate Commerce Act The Interstate Commerce Act (1887): (1887): said RR rate discrimination was said RR rate discrimination was

illegal illegal and established the ICC: a 5-member and established the ICC: a 5-member

non-partisan board to take RR’s to non-partisan board to take RR’s to court for violations of the ICAcourt for violations of the ICA

BUT also did not work: rebates, the BUT also did not work: rebates, the ICC, and the CourtICC, and the Court