Labor Unions & Big Business

• Identify each of the following events or people. Give an explanation or description of the item. Answer the questionswho, what, where, and when.
• Explain the historical significance of each item in the space provided. Establish the historical context in which the item exists. Establish the item as the result of or as the cause of other factors existing in the society under study. Answer this question: What were the political, social, economic, and/or cultural consequences of this item?

the Knights of Labor

a. Identification-founded in 1860 by Philadelphia garment cutters. Only broad-based labor organization to survive depression of the 1870's. Membership reached 730,000. 

b. Significance-Welcomed women, African AMericans, immigrants and unskilled/semiskilled workers.

the Haymarket riot

a. Identification-largest spontaneous labor demonstration in the country's history. Took place on May 1, 1886. Rioters were radical anarchists and craft unionists.

b. Significance-Drew attention to the growing discontent of laborers and revived the middle-classes fear of radicalism.

the American Federation of Labor

a. Identification-became major worker's organization after the 1886 upheavals. It was an alliance of national craft unions and its members were native born skilled workers. It was headed by Samuel Gompers. Their goals were higher wages, shorter hours and the right to bargain collectively.

b. Significance-its peak membership was 2.5 million in 1917 and included 111 national unions and 27000 local unions. It accepted industrialism and worked to improve wage and hours system.

Samuel Gompers

a. Identification-Immigrant who had headed the Cigar Maker's Union. He later became the leader of the American Federation of Labor.

b. Significance-Under his leadership the AFL became its most influencial with 2.5 million members. His policy was to support labor's friends and oppose its enemies regardless of party.

the Homestead strike

a. Identification-Took place on July 2, 1892 when the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers decided to strike against paycuts. Henry C. Frick, the president of Carnegie Steel Company closed the plant.Frick hired 300 guards which the strikers attacked. After 5 months the strikers gave in. 

b. Significance-Public pinion turns against the strikers because of an anarchist's attempt to kill Frick, although he was not a striker.

the Pullman strike

a. Identification-1894. Residents in a rigidly the rigidly controlled town of Pullman near Chigaco call a strike after the town's founder Pullman cuts wages but refuses to lower living expenses in the town. Eugene V. Debs aids strikers by refusing to handle Pullman cars but ends up being jailed. Strikers give in within 1 month. 

b. Significance-President Cleveland sent troops down to crush the strike because it was "obstructing the railways and holding up the mails".

Eugene V. Debs

a. Identification-Led the American Railway Union. He was jailed for 6 months after he aided Pullman strikers.

b. Significance-The Supreme Court Upheld his prison sentence on the grounds that the federal government had the power to remove obstacles to interstate commerce.

the Industrial Workers of the World

a. Identification-New Labor organization formed in 1905 that wanted to unify all labors and form one big union. They used tactics of socialism, violence and sabotage. "Mother" Jones, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn and William D. Haywood all led strikes in western mining and lumber towns. The organization never exceeded 15,000 members.

b. Significance-Attracted lots of attention through violent strikes.