2000 Apush Dbq
The Labor Movement generated opposition from both the government and the public since them both saw unions as violent and lawless. The government used force to control the unions showing their disgust for the views and actions of these organizations. Well- organized and growing businesses took the advantage in the struggle with labor, so the workers started labor unions.
The very first labor union, The National Labor Union was started in 1866. This union lasted for six years and had 600,000 members. Its main principle was social reform. Its greatest victory was the eight-hour day for government workers. In 1869 the knights of Labor were formed, first as a secret society than it expanded to include all workers. They campaigned for economic and social reforms among these were codes for safety and health, and producers' cooperatives. Terence V. Powderly, the leader of the Knights, helped them win the eight hour day for other industries. He was known for saying "we (the Knights of Labor) work not selfishly for ourselves alone, but extend the hand of fellowship to all mankind." (Doc. K) This quote was twisted around by many people to misrepresent the Knights. The downfall of the Knights was a violent one. In 1886 they were involved in some May Day strikes, at about half of which they were failing. Tension was building in Chicago where 80,000 Knights lived along with a few hundred Anarchists. Then on May 4 labor disorders had broken out in Haymarket Square and the police were called. Suddenly a dynamite bomb was thrown that killed or injured several dozen people. The people wrongfully connected the Knights with the Anarchists, and the power of the Knights of Labor came to a dismal end.
The Homestead strike in 1892 was the first major strike to take place after the downfall of the Knights. It started at Carnegie's steel plant in Homestead, Pennsylvania when workers refused to accept new wage cuts. Henry Clay Frick shut down the plant and surrounded it with guards to
The very first labor union, The National Labor Union was started in 1866. This union lasted for six years and had 600,000 members. Its main principle was social reform. Its greatest victory was the eight-hour day for government workers. In 1869 the knights of Labor were formed, first as a secret society than it expanded to include all workers. They campaigned for economic and social reforms among these were codes for safety and health, and producers' cooperatives. Terence V. Powderly, the leader of the Knights, helped them win the eight hour day for other industries. He was known for saying "we (the Knights of Labor) work not selfishly for ourselves alone, but extend the hand of fellowship to all mankind." (Doc. K) This quote was twisted around by many people to misrepresent the Knights. The downfall of the Knights was a violent one. In 1886 they were involved in some May Day strikes, at about half of which they were failing. Tension was building in Chicago where 80,000 Knights lived along with a few hundred Anarchists. Then on May 4 labor disorders had broken out in Haymarket Square and the police were called. Suddenly a dynamite bomb was thrown that killed or injured several dozen people. The people wrongfully connected the Knights with the Anarchists, and the power of the Knights of Labor came to a dismal end.
The Homestead strike in 1892 was the first major strike to take place after the downfall of the Knights. It started at Carnegie's steel plant in Homestead, Pennsylvania when workers refused to accept new wage cuts. Henry Clay Frick shut down the plant and surrounded it with guards to