ipl-logo

Accomplishments Of Organized Labor In The United States

770 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The birth of industrial revolution

Braedon Moeller
Ms. Johnson
English 11 Honors
20 March 2023
Accomplishments of Organized Labor Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to wealth, good morals, and happiness.” In the dawn of America, society agreed with Jefferson and was predominantly agrarian (“Rural”). Throughout the 19th century, however, the United States mocked England and had an Industrial Revolution of its own, necessitating the creation of mass-production techniques and buildings called factories (“America”). Most workers were used as puppets under the control of business magnates like Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, J. P. Morgan, and Cornelius Vanderbilt, and they struggled to provide a living …show more content…

The Industrial Revolution in the 1800s gave rise to harsh business practices and low-wage labor (Hillstrom). Large employers resisted unions through tactics such as hiring strikebreakers (typically recent immigrants who would work for any wage) whenever the normal employees would not show up (“National”). Unions were given the irrevocable right to collectively bargain with management in the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, also known as the Wagner Act (“National”). This right continues to allow union workers to present cases to their employers in modern times (“National”). Another issue unions tackled was the use of child labor (“Labor”). According to the 1900 Census, 1.75 million children aged 10-15 held jobs, and they comprised more than 6 percent of the labor force (“Labor”). With the ratification of the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act in 1916, 14- and 15-year-olds were heavily restricted in terms of hours and present dangers and all products manufactured by children less than 14 were banned from being sold (“Labor”). These guidelines are customary today in the United States (“Labor”). The final significant issue organized labor tackled was a minimum wage, which they got with the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938; it set forth a federal wage floor of $0.25 per hour and established the time-and-a-half provision for overtime pay (“1.1”). Currently, the national minimum wage is $7.25 per …show more content…

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Oct. 2015, https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2015/article/labor-law-highlights-1915-2015.htm.
“Minimum Wage.” DOL, https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/wages/minimumwage.
“National Labor Relations Act.” American History Online, edited by Karen Ellicott and Timothy L. Gall, Lincoln Library Press, 2012. FactCite, https://www.factcite.com/useh/4002012.html. Accessed 20 Mar. 2023.
“Rural Life in the Late 19th Century.” The Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/rise-of-industrial-america-1876-1900/rural-life-in-late-19th-century/.
“The State of Our Unions.” The White House, The United States Government, 5 Sept. 2022, https://www.whitehouse.gov/cea/written-materials/2022/09/05/the-state-of-our-unions/.
“Union Members - 2022.” Bureau of Labor Statistics, 19 Jan. 2023, https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/union2.pdf.
“Work Stoppages Summary - 2022 A01 Results.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 22 Feb. 2023,

Show More
Related

Homestead Steel Strike Research Paper

1052 Words | 5 Pages

A Brief Story of the United States Trade Unions In the United States, such as in most of other countries, agriculture played a very important role in the beginning of the enrichment decades. Native, African and White Americans were not the only ethnicities in the country by that time. Immigrants - mostly from Asia and Europe - started to arrive in the US seeking for job and the dream of wealth. Thanks for this population growth, the labor force was duplicated and the landlords realized it was time to spread their goods all over the country.

Read More

How Did The Gilded Age Monopolies Lead To The Progressive Era

380 Words | 2 Pages

During the Gilded age monopolies, which was cause by corruption, gave companies a lot of power resulting in child labor. In reaction to child labor the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act was formed. People were receiving low wages right along with poor working conditions. Along with the low wages and

Read More

Big Business Dbq

939 Words | 4 Pages

Thesis : After the Civil War, America was in a post-war boom. During the 1870-1890, big business moguls, such as Rockefeller and Carnegie, create huge corporations which not only affected the economy, but also affected the political realm of America. While many may assume that during the rise of these big business helped to change the economy and politics,  the real focus was on the responses formed by society, such as labor unions, increase public outcry, and political opposition groups that helped to change society. A: Economically, big business flourished during the late 1800s.

Read More

Labor Unions DBQ Essay

1510 Words | 7 Pages

From 1875-1900, America was beginning to rise up from the increase in industrialization. However, dubbed “the gilded age” by Mark Twain, the thriving promise of a better , wealthier life in America was not as it seemed. When labor unions rose to change the harsh working conditions placed on workers, it seemed to be that they found little to no success. This was brought on by the little change that they made, the suffering and hardships they brought on themselves and others, and the little support they received from those around them. Although labor unions were able to change some conditions, most of those changes were minimal.

Read More

Relationship Between Labor And The US Government From 1890-1945

1143 Words | 5 Pages

Labor and the US Government from 1890-1945 A key aspect of this nation’s history lies in the ever-shifting relationship between its government and its common man, most specifically its labor workers. This relationship plays a crucial role in the understanding of the changes that took place in America between 1890 and 1945. The changing relationship between government and labor workers in the United States between 1890 and 1945 demonstrates a period of unrest and a transitional period in which the focus shifted towards the working class as a result of the greed and corruption of 19th century business elite , as can be seen in the labor strikes requiring government intervention of the late 19th century, the progressives of the early 20th century

Read More

Awarness Of Conditions In Upton Sinclair's The Jungle

1385 Words | 6 Pages

The rapid industrialization and urbanization of the late 19th century brought prosperity and wealth to America and improved the living standards of almost all citizens. Refined machinery, fresh innovations, and the management revolution accelerated the production and quality of products while minimizing costs. Despite the developments and improvements that occurred during this era, they came at a price. Along with industrialization came the issues of overcrowded housing, unsanitary conditions, and corruption in large corporations, to name a few. Business leaders of such corporations often exploited workers and repressed competition in a suffocating and monopolistic manner.

Read More

Social Change Between 1870 And 1990 Essay

1156 Words | 5 Pages

Between 1870 and 1900 the United States made great advancements in industrialization. “Industrial capitalism realized the greatest advances in efficiency and productivity that the world had ever seen. Massive new companies marshaled capital on an unprecedented scale and provided enormous profits that created unheard-of fortunes. But it also created millions of low-paid, unskilled, unreliable jobs with long hours and dangerous working conditions.” This period was known as the Gilded Age.

Read More

Progressive Era Dbq

918 Words | 4 Pages

How to best fix this corrupt system of labor was a great debate. The first major leap in the right direction was the creation of minimum wage laws, the regulation of working hours, and the prohibition of child labor. These laws clapped down on Gilded Age ideas by ensuring that owners would no longer exploit workers and maintain fair working conditions. Furthermore, worker compensation laws required employers to compensate employees who became injured or ill while on the job. This law helped to provide workers with greater financial security and protection.

Read More

Pros And Cons Of Minimum Wage In Virginia

1721 Words | 7 Pages

“President Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) into law in early 1938. The FLSA introduced sweeping regulations to protect American workers from being exploited, and created a mandatory federal minimum wage of 25 cents an hour in order to maintain a "minimum standard of living necessary for health, efficiency and general well-being, without substantially curtailing employment" (Minimum Wage, 2017). Virginia’s minimum wage policy has always been aligned with the federal guidelines for wages. The last increase in the minimum wage policy was in

Read More

Pullman Strike Of 1894

2031 Words | 9 Pages

Schneirov argues that the strike was a product of the larger social and economic crisis of the 1890s, which was marked by economic depression, political corruption, and social unrest. He highlights the role of labor unions and socialist organizations in mobilizing workers and promoting collective action. Schneirov also examines the response of the federal government to the strike, which he argues was motivated by a desire to protect the interests of capital and maintain social order. Schneirov's article provides a nuanced and insightful analysis of the Pullman Strike and its historical significance as a turning point in American labor history.

Read More

Workers Rights During The Progressive Era Of 1897-1920's

1116 Words | 5 Pages

Colin Christiansen Mrs. Atkinson English 10 29 January 2023 Theodore Roosevelt once said, “The great corporations which we have grown to speak of rather loosely as trusts are the creatures of the State, and the State not only has the right to control them, but it is duty bound to control them wherever the need of such control is shown”(Goodreads). This would prove true as the American Government would work to “cage” these animals and “bust” these trusts during the Progressive Era, the years of 1897 to 1920. The Advancement of Workers' rights from 1897 – 1920 benefited American Workers and citizens, by fighting corporate corruption, greed, waste, and unfair wealth distribution The social importance and precedent of this era are important,

Read More

Labor Unions During The 1930s

731 Words | 3 Pages

It is a difficult task to challenge the social and economic policies of a country, especially one as patriotic as the United States during the post wartime Red scare era of the 1920 's. labor unions could account for this as they saw their membership fall from a high of 5 million in the 1920s to a mere 3.6 million by 1923(Rosenzweig 353). A combination of Supreme court decisions, Employer pressures and in many cases a lack of a strong leadership seen in previous individuals like Samuel Gompers contributed to this. Yet this trend surprisingly didn’t remain consistent as the great depression emerged around the 1930s. In fact they tripled there membership during the 1930s(Rosenzweig 429).They opened up, recruiting millions of women in their causes

Read More

Labor Reform During The Progressive Era

772 Words | 4 Pages

Moreover, incorporating mechanisms for ongoing monitoring and evaluation can ensure the effectiveness of reforms and facilitate adjustments as needed to adapt to changing economic and social conditions. Labor reform during the Progressive Era had a profound impact on the United States, shaping the landscape of worker rights and workplace conditions for generations to come. Initiatives such as the establishment of minimum wage laws, the regulation of working hours, and the creation of safer working environments significantly improved the lives of countless workers. These reforms aimed to address the rampant exploitation and abuse in industrial settings, leading to a more equitable distribution of wealth and power between employers and employees. Moreover, labor reform fostered a sense of solidarity among workers, laying the groundwork for organized labor movements that continue to advocate for workers' rights

Read More

The Rise Of Skilled Labor

1629 Words | 7 Pages

The late 19th and early 20th centuries were a pivotal time in American labor history, marked by profound transformation and upheaval. The rise of industrialization brought with it a multitude of challenges for workers, who were forced to contend with a range of issues including hazardous working conditions, low wages, grueling hours, and a lack of job security. These struggles were compounded for marginalized groups such as immigrants and African Americans, who faced discrimination not only in the workplace, but in society at large. Various labor unions emerged in response to these challenges, but many fell short in their efforts to represent all workers. Skilled laborers were often the primary focus, leaving behind unskilled workers who were

Read More

Minimum Wage Sociology

1153 Words | 5 Pages

Introduction More numbers of state are joining to take action to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour in a few years even though there is a high disputing controversial all over the nation. The federal has set the minimum wage level to $7.25 on Jan. 1, 2015. In less than a year the index number of the minimum wage is going up automatically with cost of living. And eventually it will be likely to increase year by year with automatic and expectation index.

Read More

More about Accomplishments Of Organized Labor In The United States

Related Topics

Open Document