2000 Dbq Analysis

"How successful was organized labor in improving the position of workers in the period from 1875 to 1900? Analyze the factors that contributed to the level of success achieved."

“It is impossible for capitalists and laborers to have common interest.” The Second Industrial Revolution skyrocketed with new inventions and machines and changed how factories and jobs were worked. As the industries grew, so did the need for unions among the workers. To a certain degree the unions were successful in improving the position of the workers. They were not highly successful as they would be defeated and have to go back to square one, but mildly a success. Developing from the needs, the effects of the workers’ unions were successful. Big business
Government was not helping laborers, in fact they used court injunction as a weapon against strikers. (Doc. H). They said that national government has the power to regulate interstate commerce and therefore can regulate the weaving rail line's intruders and force obstructions to leave (Doc. H). Labor Unions viewed many practices of their employers to be unjust. They saw with their own eyes the excessive wealth and leisure of the upper class that resulted from their daily toil of at least ten hours of hard labor. Their own fruits of their labor amounted to barely enough to survive until the next paycheck. Often they were abused and their wages were cut as low as $10/week. Even with these hours and wages many of them were perpetually in debt and went without some necessities. These abuses were targeted by the demand for a minimum (livable) wage law and the work day to be mandated to eight hours. Annual wages were close to $400-500. With these demands not being met, other factors were adding to the poor conditions. Many times, the working environment was dangerous and unstable. Injuries and mutilations at work resulted not in compensation but in
There were several techniques used by laborers to strike attention and defeat management. Labor unions were set up to raise awareness such as the National Labor Union, the Knights of Labor, and the American Federation of Labor. Really the focus of the unions was on economics. The laborers wanted higher wages and shorter hours; and that is what they got. From 1886-1891 the average daily hours gradually decreased as the average daily wages were increasing (Doc A).The Homestead and Pullman Strike ultimately did not succeed, however, but if the federal government had not joined in, they probably would have. In the Homestead, they were strong enough to get the Pinkertons to surrender. Strikes weren’t kind; people had died before surrendering (Doc G). With Rockefeller in oil, “workmen became truly their commodity; for in time of a strike, orders could be shifted to other factories in a different section of the country and these kept running full blast.” Rockefeller worked around whatever strikes he encountered with his monopoly, and he was a success. Those who associated with him, railroads, pipe lines, etc, in his company were blessed with wealth beyond their dreams. The companies competing against Rockefeller gathered together to form their own super pipeline to “outdo” him and beat him to the sea. They weren’t going to sit there and let him take over