How Did Industrial Workers Shape The American Industrial Worker

The American industrial worker had numerous changes after the Civil War which began with the reconstruction of the nation. The advancement in industrial technologies including those in the steel and iron production industry, as well as the major increase of immigrants coming to the United States, and numerous labor unions helped to shape the American Industrial workers between 1865 and 1900. This would eventually shape the work force to become the most productive in its time and as well change the way an industrial work force is viewed around the world. During the mid to late 1800s new technologies and innovations to current technological advancements was rapidly increasing. One of the most important advancements of the time was the discovery of electricity being used as a source of light and power in the
1870s. The discovery was made by both Charles F. Brush and Thomas A. Edison. Brush invented the arc lamp which was used for street illumination and Edison invented the incandescent lamp or common lightbulb. These forms of light and power were becoming more common in large cities with power plants being built to power such cities. Going into the 1900s electric power is being used very commonly in street railway systems, elevators in skyscrapers, factories, and in offices and homes. Another form of technological advancements was in the iron and steel production industry. Iron and steel was necessary for railroads which were quickly expanding adding over 40,000 miles of track. However at the time steel was hard to make and although weaker iron was usually easier and cheaper to obtain for projects such as buildings and railroads in the mid to late 19th century. However in 1868, an ironmaster from New Jersey, Abram S. Hewitt introduced a new way making steel which was the open-hearth process. This new method would allow for the production of steel in greater quantities in the end making a cheaper resource to purchase and allow for the completion of stronger railways and buildings in this time period as well as the future. Another key factor in the impact on the industrial worker in America was the influx of immigrants coming into the United States to fill new jobs that were opening up because of such advances in technology. Along with many European immigrants, there were also a large number of Chinese immigrants that came to the Pacific coast of the United States. By 1880 over 200,000 Chinese immigrants have moved to the United States and mostly all of them coming as free laborers. At first they were respected as hardworking people but however the opinion of white Americans quickly changes as the Chinese started to become industrious and successful. Although many white Americans might see them as rivals in the west, their hard work cannot be denied and is shown as they become more and more successful in the region. Towards the east most major city populations consisted of immigrants as well as diversity in these new immigrant populations. Most of these new arrivals were from rural families and many of them found trouble adjusting to their new lives in the city. These immigrant groups all varied in terms of their financial success, for example Jews and Germans advanced quicker than the Irish economically. Regardless of economical standings though all immigrant groups who came to the United States were ready to work in the labor force which in turn helped to benefit the economies and industry of these immigrant dominant cities. The laborers during this industrial time did not work without problems.
Such problems included the harsh and dangerous conditions they had to endure while working as well as the long hours they were required to work for little pay. This soon led to the emerging of unions to help fight back against these conditions. At first unions received public hostility and this especially so during the recession of the 1870s. This was because when incidents between the workers and employers turned violent, which happened in most cases, the public automatically turned towards the workers as the source of the problem instead of the employers. Although this was the case unions still played an important role for laborers and still caused some changes in the work force that would benefit the workers. Such unions would fight for higher wages and less hours for most workers and would sometimes go on strike if necessary. A prime example of this was the railroad strike of 1877 where employers were calling for a 10 percent wage cut. Although this turned into a deadly conflict it showed why unions were needed in America to ensure the fair treatments of workers by their
employers. The change of industrial workers between 1865 and 1900 would make these workers in America some of the most productive in the world. The impact of industrial technological advancements, immigrants adding to the labor force, and labor unions all played their part in shaping the American industrial workers of this time period.