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Empower Your Success: The Labor Movement in the Gilded Age

Delve into the challenges faced by industrial workers, the rise of labor unions, political machines, and the impact of populism during the Gilded Age in this informative theme. Explore the struggles and triumphs of workers fighting for better pay and working conditions, the rise of unions led by key figures like Samuel Gompers, and the pushback from political machines and corrupt politicians.

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Empower Your Success: The Labor Movement in the Gilded Age

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  1. Believe in yourself!!! YOU CAN DO THIS 

  2. Theme #1—Image A

  3. Theme #1—Image B

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  5. Theme #1: Labor Unions • Industrial work was hard: • 12 hour days, 6 days per week • Received low wages; No sick leave or injury compensation • Industrial work was unskilled, dangerous, & monotonous • These bad conditions led to the growth of labor unions—groups that demanded better pay & conditions through collective bargaining

  6. Theme #1: Labor Unions • In 1868, the Knights of Labor formed to help all workers, regardless of race, gender, or skill • The most successful union was the American Federation of Labor (AFL) led by Samuel Gompers: • Made up only of skilled workers • Used collective bargaining & strikes to gain better pay, shorter hours, & better work conditions • Included 1/3 of all U.S. laborers

  7. Theme #1: Labor Unions • Some people turned to socialism: government control of business and property, equal distribution of wealth • Industrial Workers of the World (IWW, called the “Wobblies”) formed in 1905 • Socialism seemed appealing to some Americans, but never becameamajoroptionforworkers • By 1900, only 4% of all workers were unionized

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  11. Theme #2: Strikes & Labor Unrest • One of the tactics used by unions to gain better pay was to strike: • Strikes were designed to stop production in order to gain pay • Business leaders resisted strikes by hiring replacement workers or private police to break up strikes • In some cases, violence broke out

  12. 1. Political Machines • The Gilded Age saw the rise of political machines—well-organized groups that controlled a political party in a city • Machines offered services to voters & businesses in exchange for political votes • Were very influential with immigrants; Helped with jobs, housing, & naturalization

  13. Political machines influenced immigrant voters by creating parks near slums, barbeques, giving away Christmas presents to children

  14. 1. Political Machines • Machines were led by city bosses whousedanetworkofwardbosses & precinct captains to: • Influenced votes: ballot stuffing, multiple votes • Control access to city jobs, business licenses, courts • Arrange building projects & community services

  15. 1. Political Machines • Machine politicians were often corrupt: • Use fraud to win elections • Graft—Using their political influence for personal gain • Took kickbacks & bribes • The most notorious machine boss was Boss Tweed of New York’s Tammany Hall who defrauded the city of millions of dollars

  16. Boss Tweed “Tweed Courthouse”—NY CountyCourthouse was supposed to cost $250,000 but cost $13 million.

  17. 1. Political Machines • The cartoonist Thomas Nast was the progressive reformer credited with exposing Tweed through his political cartoons. • Boss Tweed: “I don't care a straw for your newspaper articles; my constituents don't know how to read, but they can't help seeing them damned pictures!"

  18. Image A CAN THE LAW REACH HIM?- The Dwarf and The Giant thief

  19. 2. Political Scandals • Nationalpoliticians, especially under President Grant’s administration, were seen as corrupt as well: • Crédit Mobilier Scandal involved Union Pacific using Crédit Mobilier as a way to make dishonest profit. • Whiskey Ringinvolved gov’t whiskey distillers bribing gov’t officials to avoid paying taxes

  20. A

  21. 3. Patronage • During the Gilded Age, many gov’t positions, such as tax collectors or post office officials, were appointed by patronage (spoils system) — a reward for political loyalty. • This ended up creating divisions within the Republican party (Halfbreeds, Stalwarts, Mugwumps) • Why is this a problem? • Calls for civil service (government administration) reform began • In 1883, Congress passed the Pendleton Act, creating merit-based exams for most civil service jobs

  22. Theme #4—Image C

  23. 4. Populism • Farmers, debtors, and Western miners were frustrated by politics that increasingly favored the interests of the rich. • Government favored big business through: • Subsidies/Land Grants • McKinley Tariff (caused overproduction lower prices lower profits). • Lack of Regulation of railroads (charged farmers more for short hauls, cheaper freight rates in the east than out west, cheaper shipping rates for large suppliers, arbitrary pricing)

  24. 4. Populism Party Platform • What did they want? • Bimetallism- “Free Silver Slogan” • Progressive Income Tax • Government farming subsidies • Government ownership of key industries- (shipping and communication)

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