Labor Unions In The 19th Century

During the nineteenth century the U.S was immersed in the era called the Industrial Revolution and there were many negative aspects that came with innovation. A combination of negative aspects of the industrial revolution including economic instability (Booms and Busts), job insecurity, and dangerous work conditions led to the creation of gatherings of workers called labor unions. This century was known for two main national labor unions, the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor. The first national union was the Knights of Labor it was founded in 1869 by Uriah Stephens. The Knights of Labor were the first union to organize skilled, unskilled, men, women, white, and black workers. This organization peaked in prosperity when

The war started with a Cuban revolt for independence against Spain. Popular yellow press circulated to the public that Spanish General Valeriano Weyler was committing atrocities and putting people in concentration camps. The press nicknamed him the “Butcher” and the stories generated a lot of sympathy for Cuba. The press also published a letter written by the Spanish Ambassador to the United States, Enrique Dupuy de Lôme, which criticized President William McKinley by calling him weak. To make matters worse the American battleship Maine was sunk by an explosion in Havana Harbor. Even though it was most likely an accident and not an attack, the American people still blamed the Spanish. President McKinley, who was originally weary about going to war, asked congress for the declaration of war against Spain. The US declared with the Teller Amendment that its purpose in the war was not to annex Cuba after but to support their struggle for freedom. There are not many battles in this war but many were a success for the United States and had very little casualties. On May 1, 1898, the US Navy under Admiral George Dewey defeated the Spanish Fleet in Manila Bay and took the Philippines. A very publicized battle took place in July at San Juan Hill in Cuba. This battle was known for including Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders and made him a national hero. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris that gave the US the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Cuba was recognized as an independent nation but was made to pass the Platt Amendment in their constitution. The Platt Amendment allowed the United States to intervene militarily whenever they saw fit. The outcome of this war led to the outbreak of the Philippine-American war, a longer and bloodier conflict. This war stirred up a lot of opinions about imperialism and whether the United States should participate in