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If Social Darwinism works for Big Business, If Social Darwinism works for Big Business,

could it ever work for their employees?could it ever work for their employees?

If so, how?If so, how?

Working ConditionsWorking Conditionsin the ‘Gilded Age’ in the ‘Gilded Age’

‘I’m taking what they’re givin’,I’m taking what they’re givin’,

‘‘cause I’m working for a livin’.cause I’m working for a livin’.Huey Lewis & The News Huey Lewis & The News

Problems of the Monopolies Problems of the Monopolies Artificially high prices from lack of competitionArtificially high prices from lack of competition

Economic instability – supply outpaced demand Economic instability – supply outpaced demand causing periodic recessionscausing periodic recessions

Increasing income gap between wealthy and the poorIncreasing income gap between wealthy and the poor

Increasingly angry workforce – strikes and introduction Increasingly angry workforce – strikes and introduction of Socialism to equalize “class” distinctions.of Socialism to equalize “class” distinctions.

Long Hours, Dangerous WorkLong Hours, Dangerous Work

• Big Business drove labor hard – as hard as the Big Business drove labor hard – as hard as the owners felt they drove themselves.owners felt they drove themselves.

• Seamstresses, assembly line workers, coal Seamstresses, assembly line workers, coal miners, railroad brakemen, steel workersminers, railroad brakemen, steel workers

• 12 hour days, dangerous machinery, low pay, 12 hour days, dangerous machinery, low pay, crowded with bad light and dusty air.crowded with bad light and dusty air.

Children Held Full Time JobsChildren Held Full Time Jobs

• Often female children worked so boys could Often female children worked so boys could go to school.go to school.

• Immigrant families depended on child labor Immigrant families depended on child labor and didn’t necessarily feel it was all bad.and didn’t necessarily feel it was all bad.

• Children could do jobs larger people couldn’t.Children could do jobs larger people couldn’t.

Reformers Showed the EvilsReformers Showed the Evils

• Jacob Riis photographed conditionsJacob Riis photographed conditions

• Newspapers published editorials and political Newspapers published editorials and political cartoons about the abusescartoons about the abuses

• Business grew bigger, more powerful and Business grew bigger, more powerful and labor soon perfected the ‘art’ of organizing.labor soon perfected the ‘art’ of organizing.

History of Labor UnionsHistory of Labor Unions

• 1866 - National Labor Union – William Sylvis 1866 - National Labor Union – William Sylvis - 300 local unions in 13 states – focused on - 300 local unions in 13 states – focused on groupsgroups of unions of unions- Concentrated on Political power & candidates for office- Concentrated on Political power & candidates for office

• 1868 - Knights of Labor – Terrence Powderly1868 - Knights of Labor – Terrence Powderly- Organized individual Workers – all races & jobs – equal - Organized individual Workers – all races & jobs – equal

pay, pay, injuries and avoidance of injuries and avoidance of strikesstrikes – Last – Last resortresort- Too broad - died out after failed strikes damaged faith in - Too broad - died out after failed strikes damaged faith in

leadersleaders

Social Darwinism at WorkSocial Darwinism at Work

BIG BUSINESS

Labor Unions vsLabor Unions vs..

Strikes…Before OrganizationStrikes…Before Organization

Samuel Gompers Changes ThingsSamuel Gompers Changes Things

• Skilled craftsmen only Skilled craftsmen only American Federation of Labor (AFL).American Federation of Labor (AFL).

• Borrowed German Socialist philosophy Borrowed German Socialist philosophy in Cigar Makers Unionin Cigar Makers Union

• Used Strikes as MAJOR tactic.Used Strikes as MAJOR tactic.

• Founded Founded Collective Bargaining Collective Bargaining as a as a concept & tool to win concessions.concept & tool to win concessions.

• Helped wages rise & work week fall.Helped wages rise & work week fall.

Strikes, Socialism and ViolenceStrikes, Socialism and Violence

• Tension mounted 1877 – 1893, corporations denied Tension mounted 1877 – 1893, corporations denied workers higher wages & shorter hours.workers higher wages & shorter hours.

• Immigrant workers brought socialist ideas from Immigrant workers brought socialist ideas from Europe & some leaders (Eugene Debs) agreed.Europe & some leaders (Eugene Debs) agreed.

• Great (Railroad) Strike of 1877 Great (Railroad) Strike of 1877 – Turning Point in – Turning Point in Unionism. Unionism. Strikes now became national events.Strikes now became national events.

• President Hayes ends it with Federal troopsPresident Hayes ends it with Federal troops

• Americans feared socialists - incited activism.Americans feared socialists - incited activism.

Eugene Debs & Eugene Debs & Industrial UnionismIndustrial Unionism

• Debs believed that workers could have power Debs believed that workers could have power within their individual industries. Some strikes. within their individual industries. Some strikes.

• American Railway Union American Railway Union – All workers all races– All workers all races

• 1894 won a wage increase through a strike, but 1894 won a wage increase through a strike, but faded away after a major failed strike.faded away after a major failed strike.

• ““Paved the way” for other industrial unions.Paved the way” for other industrial unions.

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

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

More Bloody StrikesMore Bloody Strikes

• Haymarket Affair Haymarket Affair – Chicago (McCormick Plant ) – Chicago (McCormick Plant ) A bomb thrown by an A bomb thrown by an anarchistanarchist at police caused riots/deaths at police caused riots/deaths

More Bloody StrikesMore Bloody Strikes• Homestead Strike – Carnegie Steel, PA Homestead Strike – Carnegie Steel, PA

Plant manager Henry Clay Frick cuts wagesPlant manager Henry Clay Frick cuts wages

- SCABS – workers hired to replace strikers. - SCABS – workers hired to replace strikers. - Strikers and armed Pinkerton Guards shoot it out - Strikers and armed Pinkerton Guards shoot it out - - National Guard ends strike & union loses power.National Guard ends strike & union loses power.

More Bloody StrikesMore Bloody Strikes

Pullman Strike Pullman Strike – Pullman, IL - - – Pullman, IL - - During the During the ““Panic of 1893” Panic of 1893” Pullman laid of ½ of Pullman laid of ½ of employees & cut wages of the employees & cut wages of the rest by 45%...didn’t lower rent of homes!!rest by 45%...didn’t lower rent of homes!!

- Eugene Debs called a strike & was arrested at the end- Eugene Debs called a strike & was arrested at the end

- President Grover Cleveland sends troops to end violence- President Grover Cleveland sends troops to end violence

Social Darwinism at WorkSocial Darwinism at Work

Union Appeal Fades…temporarilyUnion Appeal Fades…temporarily

• Business convinces gov’t. that strikes hurt commerce

• Sherman Anti-Trust Act used to beat labor in court.

• Public tires of strike caused shortages – blame unions

• Public fears Socialist influence in unions and avoids .

• Prejudice against immigrants taking American jobs.

• Unions regain popularity in the 1960s

Social Darwinism and Social Darwinism and Unions TodayUnions Today

• Name two powerful unions, or industries in which Name two powerful unions, or industries in which they operate today.they operate today.

• Comment on whether unions have adapted Comment on whether unions have adapted according to the laws of according to the laws of Social Darwinism, Social Darwinism, since the since the 1880s, if so how, if not why do you think not?1880s, if so how, if not why do you think not?

• Would you change your view from yesterday about Would you change your view from yesterday about whether whether Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism is a valid ideology for is a valid ideology for America?America?