1 / 25

Jump Start

Jump Start. If Social Darwinism works for Big Business, could it ever work for their employees? If so, how?. Working Conditions in the ‘Gilded Age’. ‘ I’m taking what they’re givin ’, ‘cause I’m working for a livin ’. Huey Lewis & The News. Problems of the Monopolies.

debbie
Download Presentation

Jump Start

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Jump Start If Social Darwinism works for Big Business, could it ever work for their employees? If so, how?

  2. Working Conditionsin the ‘Gilded Age’ ‘I’m taking what they’re givin’, ‘cause I’m working for a livin’. Huey Lewis & The News

  3. Problems of the Monopolies Artificially high prices from lack of competition Economic instability – supply outpaced demand causing periodic recessions Increasing income gap between wealthy and the poor Increasingly angry workforce – strikes and introduction of Socialism to equalize “class” distinctions.

  4. Long Hours, Dangerous Work • Big Business drove labor hard – as hard as the owners felt they drove themselves. • Seamstresses, assembly line workers, coal miners, railroad brakemen, steel workers • 12 hour days, dangerous machinery, low pay, crowded with bad light and dusty air.

  5. Children Held Full Time Jobs • Often female children worked so boys could go to school. • Immigrant families depended on child labor and didn’t necessarily feel it was all bad. • Children could do jobs larger people couldn’t.

  6. Reformers Showed the Evils • Jacob Riis photographed conditions • Newspapers published editorials and political cartoons about the abuses • Business grew bigger, more powerful and labor soon perfected the ‘art’ of organizing.

  7. History of Labor Unions • 1866 - National Labor Union – William Sylvis- 300 local unions in 13 states – focused on groups of unions - Concentrated on Political power & candidates for office • 1868 - Knights of Labor – Terrence Powderly - Organized individual Workers – all races & jobs – equal pay, injuries and avoidance of strikes – Last resort - Too broad - died out after failed strikes damaged faith in leaders

  8. Social Darwinism at Work BIG BUSINESS Labor Unions vs.

  9. Strikes…Before Organization

  10. Samuel Gompers Changes Things • Skilled craftsmen only American Federation of Labor (AFL). • Borrowed German Socialist philosophy in Cigar Makers Union • Used Strikes as MAJOR tactic. • Founded Collective Bargaining as a concept & tool to win concessions. • Helped wages rise & work week fall.

  11. Strikes, Socialism and Violence • Tension mounted 1877 – 1893, corporations denied workers higher wages & shorter hours. • Immigrant workers brought socialist ideas from Europe & some leaders (Eugene Debs) agreed. • Great (Railroad) Strike of 1877 – Turning Point in Unionism. Strikes now became national events. • President Hayes ends it with Federal troops • Americans feared socialists - incited activism.

  12. “The Emancipator of Labor and the Honest Working People”

  13. Eugene Debs & Industrial Unionism • Debs believed that workers could have power within their individual industries. Some strikes. • American Railway Union – All workers all races • 1894 won a wage increase through a strike, but faded away after a major failed strike. • “Paved the way” for other industrial unions.

  14. This photo shows the devastated ruins of the Pennsylvania Railroad’s 28th Street roundhouse in Pittsburgh, soon after it was burned to the ground by strikers that July.

  15. More Bloody Strikes • Haymarket Affair – Chicago (McCormick Plant ) A bomb thrown by an anarchist at police caused riots/deaths • Homestead Strike – Carnegie Steel, PA Plant manager Henry Clay Frick cuts wages - SCABS – workers hired to replace strikers. - Strikers and armed Pinkerton Guards shoot it out & strikers keep plant closed. - National Guard ends strike & union loses power.

  16. More Bloody Strikes Pullman Strike – Pullman, IL - - During the “Panic of 1893” Pullman laid of ½ of employees & cut wages of the rest by 45%...didn’t lower rent of homes!! - After depression workers came back but not the pay/ - Eugene Debs called a strike & was arrested at the end - President Grover Cleveland sends troops to end violence Mineworkers Strikes – Mary Harris “Mother” Jones ILGWU - Seamstresses, “Shirtwaists”

  17. Social Darwinism at Work

  18. Union Appeal Fades…temporarily • Business convinces gov’t. that strikes hurt commerce used the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to win court decisions vs. labor. • Public tires of strike caused shortages – blame unions • Public fears influence of immigrating Socialist union members and avoids unions • Prejudice against immigrants taking American jobs. • Unions regain popularity in the ‘60s

  19. Social Darwinism and Unions Today • Name two powerful unions, or industries in which they operate today. • Comment on whether unions have adapted according to the laws of Social Darwinism, since the 1880s, if so how, if not why do you think not? • Would you change your view from yesterday about whether Social Darwinism is a valid ideology for America?

More Related