Overview
This lecture covers the harsh realities of industrial life during the Gilded Age (1870-1900), focusing on labor conditions, the rise of unions, and key labor conflicts.
The Gilded Age & Industrial Growth
- The Gilded Age appeared prosperous on the surface but hid deep social and economic issues.
- Industrialization led to rapid urbanization as people moved to cities for factory jobs.
- Different cities specialized in specific industries: Chicago (meat), New York (textiles), Pittsburgh (steel).
Working Conditions & Labor Force
- Factory jobs offered very low wages, long hours (10 hours/day, 6 days/week), and were extremely dangerous.
- Work was repetitive and dehumanizing, with no safety protections for workers.
- Scientific management practices emphasized maximum efficiency and profit over worker well-being.
- Women and children were heavily employed because they could be paid less.
- Electric lighting allowed factories to operate 24/7.
Emergence of Labor Unions
- Workers began forming unions to address low pay and unsafe conditions.
- Strikes (refusal to work) were used to pressure employers, who often hired strike breakers to replace striking workers.
- Worker unity was weakened by racial, ethnic, and linguistic divisions, and the belief in individual advancement.
Notable Labor Actions & Unions
- The Molly Maguires used violent tactics, leading to executions for kidnappings and murders.
- The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 involved widespread strikes and violence, ending only after federal intervention.
- The National Labor Union advocated for an eight-hour workday but lost momentum after the Panic of 1873.
- The Knights of Labor aimed to unite all workers, including immigrants, women, and Black workers, with radical reforms.
- Violence at the Haymarket Affair in 1886 discredited radical unions and led to increased suspicion of labor movements.
The AFL and Major Defeats
- The American Federation of Labor (AFL), led by Samuel Gompers, focused on skilled white male workers and practical workplace improvements.
- The AFL grew in power, reaching 4 million members, while the Knights of Labor declined.
- Major strikes like the Homestead Strike (1892) and Pullman Strike (1894) ended in defeat for labor after government intervention.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Gilded Age — Period (1870-1900) marked by economic growth and stark social inequalities.
- Urbanization — Population shift from rural areas to cities.
- Scientific management — Factory management focused on efficiency and profit.
- Union — Organization of workers seeking better conditions.
- Strike — Organized refusal to work to force employer concessions.
- Strike breakers — Replacement workers hired during strikes.
- Molly Maguires — Secretive labor group known for violent actions.
- Knights of Labor — Inclusive labor union supporting radical reforms.
- AFL (American Federation of Labor) — Mainstream labor union for skilled workers.
- Haymarket Affair — Violent labor protest in Chicago that harmed public perception of unions.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review details of major strikes: Homestead and Pullman.
- Read about the activities of the Knights of Labor and the AFL.
- Prepare for discussion on the impact of labor unions in the Gilded Age.