Women's Rights Dbq Essay

Prior to the advent of labor unions, workers suffered under the oppressive treatment at the hands of those who employed them. At the dawn of the industrial revolution, factory workers faced long hours with few, if any, breaks, poor air quality, and no days off. Many workers were women, children, and newly-arrived immigrants who were subjected to low wages and, in some extreme cases, even sexual abuse. Young women, like those in the Lowell System, were under strict control by their employers who watched their every move. Once industrialization occurred more and more people moved from the country to the city in search of factory work; these too were left to the control of their employers. However, once labor unions like the Knights of Labor and

A speech given by Julia Richman emphasized the necessity of women helping other women to succeed ( Document 6 ). Richman, a pro-women’s rights, pro-equality organizer, wanted all women to know it was their duty to stand up for each other and for immigrant women, who are incredibly vulnerable. Public speeches such as Richman’s convinced women that there was power in numbers and that by joining forces with other women, they could force employers to treat women better and make the workplace safer. Another factor that inspired a massive shift towards employee power was the national presence and influence of labor unions and other workplace-reform groups. An excellent example of this notoriety can be seen in Document 4, an article written by Samuel Gompers, the leader of the AFL, and a staunch advocate of the “closed shop” who spoke out constantly about the plight of workers. The AFL was a labor union with members all over America. With such a wide membership, Gompers’ ideas about reducing the amount of hours employees worked became a nationwide battlecry.Gompers’s goals were to create jobs for union members that were in “closed shops” to ensure that union members got the best jobs with the best benefits. While this was not always agreed