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History
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English (U.S.)
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Topic:
Major Efforts by Workers to Form Unions to Improve Jobs in the Late 1800s
Essay Instructions:
The economy and labor market of the United States underwent massive changes in the late 1800s. In both the industrial north and the agricultural south, a growing number of men, women, and children of different racial, ethnic, and occupational backgrounds became wage laborers. One of the major issues in this time period was the conflict between these workers and their employers, the struggle between labor and capital. What were some of the major efforts by workers to form unions or political organizations to improve their jobs in the late 1800s? How easy or difficult was it for workers to unite with one another? Why did employers and government officials often resist these efforts and how did it affect the success of these efforts?
Write a 4 to 5-page, double-spaced paper in 12-point font that addresses the questions posed above. Be sure to base your claims on the assigned readings. Your paper should not mention every possible example from these materials, but adequately analyze and discuss the examples you choose.
Your paper should follow standard grammar, punctuation, and citation methods (MLA).
Essay Sample Content Preview:
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What were some of the major efforts by workers to form unions or political organizations to improve their jobs in the late 1800s?
In the late 1800s, workers in the US faced challenging working conditions. The deteriorating working conditions came about because of two major factors. Firstly, Reconstruction brought about major changes in how black workers related with their white masters. One of the major issues that the Reconstruction raised was about who could hold power in the South in the war’s aftermath and how the labor would be organized (Clark, Hewitt, Lichtenstein, and Rosenzweig 4). Secondly, the US was rapidly industrializing leading to an increased demand for labor. The years between the end of the Reconstruction and the start of World War I marked a period of massive manufacturing (Clark et al. 23). US capitalism was instrumental in enabling the growth of economic monopoly. While this led to the economy's development, it resulted in high dependence on wages. The workers were subjected to unfavorable working conditions. In response to the poor working conditions, the workers responded by making efforts to form unions and political organizations to improve their employment terms.
One such effort was organizing strikes. The workers were protected against poor working conditions and low wages. Strikes proved to be effective in getting the attention of employers and the government. While the employers responded with punitive measures, including terminating some workers, this was a significant step towards making an effort towards unionization. For instance, women took the forefront in addressing the problems capitalist excesses caused. The women, who collectively came to be known as progressivism, advocated for the need to be more involved in taking action against the nation’s political, social, and economic ills (Clark et al. 24). Moreover, workers became increasingly involved in the political activities of the country. Most workers, often black people, were disfranchised from the democratic process even after Emancipation. The planters continued to lobby for laws that furthered their interests. For instance, the passage of the Black Codes, a series of rigid labor control laws, meant that African Americans were to remain landless agricultural laborers with no bargaining power (Clark et al. 7). The workers continued to resist such efforts by supporting the efforts of the Republicans aimed at obtaining new rights for the freed people. The involvement of the workers in the political activities of the US was critical in facilitating the passage of laws that advocated for the rights of the freed people.
How easy or difficult was it for workers to unite with one another?
It was challenging for the workers to unite and fight for their rights. The large white planters made it difficult for the workers to unite. They tried limiting the freed people’s political activities with economic power. The planters threatened the workers with the loss of employment. Economic pressure was meant to threaten the workers to abandon any attempt to unite with one another and advocate for their rights. However, the workers resisted any economic attempt by the white planters to intimidate their unification. Eventually, the economic pressure proved unsuccessful, causing the planters to resort to more violent intimidation methods. The Ku Klux Klan worked to use violent means to suppress the workers’ attempts to unite. The high-ranking members of the Klan consisted of prominent planters and their sons, while the lower-ranking ones were poor whites.
The Klan, as a paramilitary arm of the southern Democratic Party, systematically used violence against the freed blacks and their organizations (Clark et al. 12). The Klan sought to restore white supremacy through threats and violence, including killing the freed people. The group targeted the politically active blacks to weaken their political leadership. Through the use of assassinations and threats of violence, the Klan managed to drive some blacks out...
Instructor
Course
Date
Questions
What were some of the major efforts by workers to form unions or political organizations to improve their jobs in the late 1800s?
In the late 1800s, workers in the US faced challenging working conditions. The deteriorating working conditions came about because of two major factors. Firstly, Reconstruction brought about major changes in how black workers related with their white masters. One of the major issues that the Reconstruction raised was about who could hold power in the South in the war’s aftermath and how the labor would be organized (Clark, Hewitt, Lichtenstein, and Rosenzweig 4). Secondly, the US was rapidly industrializing leading to an increased demand for labor. The years between the end of the Reconstruction and the start of World War I marked a period of massive manufacturing (Clark et al. 23). US capitalism was instrumental in enabling the growth of economic monopoly. While this led to the economy's development, it resulted in high dependence on wages. The workers were subjected to unfavorable working conditions. In response to the poor working conditions, the workers responded by making efforts to form unions and political organizations to improve their employment terms.
One such effort was organizing strikes. The workers were protected against poor working conditions and low wages. Strikes proved to be effective in getting the attention of employers and the government. While the employers responded with punitive measures, including terminating some workers, this was a significant step towards making an effort towards unionization. For instance, women took the forefront in addressing the problems capitalist excesses caused. The women, who collectively came to be known as progressivism, advocated for the need to be more involved in taking action against the nation’s political, social, and economic ills (Clark et al. 24). Moreover, workers became increasingly involved in the political activities of the country. Most workers, often black people, were disfranchised from the democratic process even after Emancipation. The planters continued to lobby for laws that furthered their interests. For instance, the passage of the Black Codes, a series of rigid labor control laws, meant that African Americans were to remain landless agricultural laborers with no bargaining power (Clark et al. 7). The workers continued to resist such efforts by supporting the efforts of the Republicans aimed at obtaining new rights for the freed people. The involvement of the workers in the political activities of the US was critical in facilitating the passage of laws that advocated for the rights of the freed people.
How easy or difficult was it for workers to unite with one another?
It was challenging for the workers to unite and fight for their rights. The large white planters made it difficult for the workers to unite. They tried limiting the freed people’s political activities with economic power. The planters threatened the workers with the loss of employment. Economic pressure was meant to threaten the workers to abandon any attempt to unite with one another and advocate for their rights. However, the workers resisted any economic attempt by the white planters to intimidate their unification. Eventually, the economic pressure proved unsuccessful, causing the planters to resort to more violent intimidation methods. The Ku Klux Klan worked to use violent means to suppress the workers’ attempts to unite. The high-ranking members of the Klan consisted of prominent planters and their sons, while the lower-ranking ones were poor whites.
The Klan, as a paramilitary arm of the southern Democratic Party, systematically used violence against the freed blacks and their organizations (Clark et al. 12). The Klan sought to restore white supremacy through threats and violence, including killing the freed people. The group targeted the politically active blacks to weaken their political leadership. Through the use of assassinations and threats of violence, the Klan managed to drive some blacks out...
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