Capital and Labor

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Capital and Labor
Why did the United States of America (USA) experience growing labor unrest during industrialization? Were American workers happy when the firms employing them started to grow and expand? Why did the greatest protests hit the railroad industry the most? Did the employees' strike change anything in their favor? Were workers threatened that their skills mattered less during industrialization, and they feared losing their jobs? In some cases, industrialization can bring uncertainties, particularly when firms start to apply new methods of production that undermine employees' contributions. The majority of middle-class workers do not know what they will do if the companies they work for close their operations. During American industrialization, numerous things changed because some firms started to replace human workers with machines. In particular, machines were better than people since they increased the efficiency and effectiveness of the production process. As such, many companies maximized profits, and their owners became very powerful. The fear of American workers losing their livelihoods increased, which resulted in numerous strikes and protests that targeted the railroads. The difficulty of supporting families on unpredictable and meager wages, dangerous working conditions, and long working hours compelled the labor armies or workers to organize and protest against the growing power of capital.
The increasing labor unrest accompanied American industrialization due to numerous changes that took place. For example, many firms changed their production methods to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their production processes. Workers realized that all those changes made their skills less important, and they knew that company owners were looking for ways to replace human labor with machines. In that light, they should not have stayed calm as they were aware of what was happening and the effects those changes would have on their livelihoods. American workers knew that railroads were the best to hit during the protests since the industry had marshaled government support, bureaucratic management, and capital. They understood that fast actions were to be taken by relevant stakeholders if they stopped the operations of railroads since they were the lifeblood of the American economy at the moment. Goods produced in various firms were transported to their consumers through railroads (Sumner). The upcoming industrial order made employees realize their powerlessness, and the time for them to act had arrived. The skills that workers have gained all over the years mattered less in the new industrial order that emphasized mass-producing economy. People's strength diminished and became insignificant as companies grew in power and size, and managers accumulated more wealth and influence. Consequently, workers knew that they were replaceable and that they had to act before it was too late for them to be heard and turn things around in their favor.
The post-Civil War era ushered the industrial revolutions in the USA. National investments and technological innovations decreased the cost of distribution and production. Many firms implemented new administrative frameworks that supported their growth and expansion. Due to their increased profitability, shareholders were ready to invest more money to facilitate their operations. National credit agencies were formed, reducing uncertainties surrounding capital movement between manufacturers, investors, and retailers (Locke and Wright, ch. 16). Moreover, railroads significantly reduced the transportation cost for many companies. The introduction of the national media decreased the communication costs and made it easier for firms to advertise their products. During the Civil War, individuals working in companies that made weapons were organized due to labor subdivision. The technique had not been applied in many companies, and workers were not well-organized, which hindered the efficiency of the production process. Task subdivision was a significant contributor to American industrialization. In other words, the industrial revolution was a period of change that workers had not anticipated would happen so quickly. However, they were certain that the implementation of many post-Civil War production techniques made their contributions less relevant. As such, protests, unrests, or strikes were ways in which workers responded to the changes that were taking place during the American industrial revolution.
Wealthy industrialists and corporate leaders adopted new principles of scientific management, such as Taylorism, which Frederick Taylor discovered. Electricity harnessing, machine innovations, steel parts precision, and mass production provided new paths for efficiency. For instance, Taylor, through his principle of Taylorism, suggested that companies were required to scientifically organize their means of production (Locke and Wright, ch. 16). Notably, he urged manufacturers to embrace tasks subdivision to increase the efficiency of their production. For example, he said that instead of thirty people working individually, they would subdivide thirty distinct tasks. Each one of them should focus on a single task. In that case, the thirty laborers would work in the same production line, and everyone would specialize in one task. That way, the production would be faster instead of allowing these thirty workers to handle tasks individually. If trained experts managed the production where task subdivision was done, the process would be more efficient and quicker. In particular, Taylorism enhanced the scope and scale of manufacturing and significantly contributed to the American industrial revolution. In addition, the introduction of machines, such as Cyrus McCormick mechanical reapers that were used to harvest wheat increased the production efficiency and effectiveness. Consequently, all these changes during American industrialization caused workers' fear that their services would no longer be needed, which is why they resisted through protests.
Long working hours were among the primary reasons that fostered workers' protests during the American industrial revolution. Although many individuals were not against working throughout the day, factory owners increased their hours to maximize their profits. The only thing they failed to do was to increase workers' wages for the extra working hours. Many employees would not have been against long working hours as long as they were well-compensated. However, the problem arose when workers realized that company owners made more profits and did nothing when it came to increasing their wages. The majority of these workers had families to feed, and their wages were insufficient to provide for basic needs (Bodnar 48). During this period, there were no unions to...