3/27/15  

1  

LABOR Mr. McMurray

Why was industrialization so successful?

¨  Mass Production – making lots required efficiency ¤ Frederick Winslow Taylor

n  “Principles of Scientific Management”

¤ Ford’s assembly line

3/27/15  

2  

Working Class Issues

¨  Workers faced… ¤ Tedium & boredom ¤ Low pay ¤ Long hours ¤ Dangerous conditions

n Sweatshops in US! ¤ Child labor ¤ Tenement housing ¤ Bore the brunt of

economic downturn

Political Cartoon Analysis The Protectors of Our Industries

3/27/15  

3  

Workers Respond

¨  Formed labor unions ¤ Power by numbers

¨  Federations ¤ Groups of unions ¤ Started with National

Labor Union (1866) n Fought for 8 hour workday n  collapsed

Three major organizations formed…

3/27/15  

4  

Setback to organizing

¨  Government favored industry ¤ Helped break up strikes using injunctions and force

¨  Used Sherman Anti-trust Act, intended to curb monopolies, to claim unions restricted commerce

¨  What does this say about the relationship between government and big business during the Gilded Age?

“What a funny little government…”