LABOR in the Gilded Age [APUSH Review Unit 6 Topic 7] Period 6: 1865-1898

Summary

This video from Heimler's History delves into the labor conditions during the Gilded Age in the United States, a period marked by stark socio-economic disparities. It contrasts the ostentatious wealth of the business elite, exemplified by the construction of the Biltmore House, with the struggles of the working class facing low wages and economic instability, particularly during financial panics. Despite these challenges, the era saw a rise in living standards due to decreased prices on common goods and increased wages. The video highlights the formation and impact of labor unions, such as the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor, which fought for better wages and working conditions through various tactics, including strikes. It also recounts significant strikes like the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 and the Pullman Strike, showcasing the power of organized labor and its eventual negotiations with employers. The summary underscores the transformative role of unions in advocating for workers' rights amidst the harsh realities of industrial capitalism.

Takeaways

• 📚 The Gilded Age is characterized by a stark contrast between the wealthy and the poor, with a thin layer of 'gold' (prosperity) over a 'turd' (hardship).
• 🏰 Wealthy business owners displayed their affluence through conspicuous consumption, exemplified by the construction of the Biltmore House.
• 💰 Despite low wages, the rise of mass production led to decreased prices for common goods and an overall increase in the standard of living for many Americans.
• 🏭 The working class faced dangerous working conditions with many personal injuries and premature deaths due to the nature of their work.
• 🤝 Labor unions emerged as a powerful force to negotiate for better wages and safety standards, as individual workers had little leverage against corporate managers.
• 🚂 The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 demonstrated the power of unionized resistance, leading to negotiations and improvements in wages and working conditions.
• 🚆 The Pullman Strike showcased the solidarity of workers and the lengths employers would go to break strikes, including invoking federal intervention.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 The Knights of Labor was a national union that included black laborers and women, with goals to eliminate trusts, monopolies, and child labor.
• 💥 The Haymarket Square Riot in 1886, although not directly linked to the Knights of Labor, led to a negative public perception of labor unions and a decline in membership.
• 🔨 The American Federation of Labor (AFL), led by Samuel Gompers, aimed for higher wages and safer working conditions, and grew to have a significant impact in the following period.
• 📈 While the gap between the rich and the poor widened during the Gilded Age, there was also a general rise in the standard of living for many due to increased availability of goods and services.

Q & A

What was the Gilded Age and how did it affect labor?

The Gilded Age refers to a period in American history marked by rapid industrialization and economic growth, but also by stark social inequalities. It was characterized by a divide between the rich and the poor, with the wealthy displaying their wealth through conspicuous consumption, while the working class faced low wages and dangerous working conditions.

What is conspicuous consumption and how did it manifest during the Gilded Age?

Conspicuous consumption is the act of displaying one's wealth through ostentatious spending. During the Gilded Age, wealthy business owners like the Vanderbilts built extravagant homes, such as the Biltmore House, to showcase their wealth to society.

How did the economic downturns of the Panic of 1873 and 1893 impact the working class?

The Panic of 1873 and the Panic of 1893 led to economic turmoil, with the wealthy classes being insulated from the worst effects. In contrast, the working class experienced significant wage drops, exacerbating their already difficult living conditions.

Despite the challenges, what positive changes did the working class experience during the Gilded Age?

Despite low wages and economic instability, the working class saw improvements in their standard of living due to the rise of mass production, which lowered the prices of common goods. Additionally, wages for the working class generally increased, making more goods and services accessible to them.

What were the dangers and risks faced by workers in factories, railroads, and mines during the Gilded Age?

Workers in factories, railroads, and mines faced numerous dangers and risks, including personal injuries and premature deaths due to the hazardous nature of their work. The lack of safety standards and protections made these environments particularly perilous.

How did labor unions help address the issues faced by workers during the Gilded Age?

Labor unions provided a collective voice for workers, enabling them to negotiate for better wages and improved safety standards with factory owners. Unions used various tactics, including political action, slowdowns, and strikes, to achieve their goals.

What was the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 and what was its outcome?

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was a large-scale labor protest in response to wage cuts by railroad companies during a recession. The strike spread across eleven states and led to a shutdown of a significant portion of the nation's railroads. The situation escalated to violence, and federal troops were sent in to restore order. The strike resulted in over 100 deaths and ultimately led to railroad employers recognizing the power of unionized workers, leading to improved wages and working conditions.

What was the Pullman Strike and how did it influence labor relations?

The Pullman Strike was a significant labor dispute near Chicago in response to wage cuts by the Pullman Company during the Panic of 1893. The company's refusal to negotiate with union workers led to a strike that affected the entire railroad industry. The strike was broken when union leaders like Eugene V. Debs were jailed for interfering with federal mail traffic, illustrating the power struggle between labor and industry.

What were the Knights of Labor and what were their main goals?

The Knights of Labor was a national labor union that went public in 1881. It was notable for being inclusive, allowing membership to black laborers and women. The union's main goals were the destruction of trusts and monopolies and the abolition of child labor, reflecting its commitment to social justice and improved working conditions.

How did the Haymarket Square Riot in 1886 affect the Knights of Labor?

The Haymarket Square Riot, which involved a bombing during a peaceful labor protest, led to a significant decline in the Knights of Labor's public image and membership. Although the bomber was likely an anarchist unaffiliated with the union, the negative association with violence and radicalism caused a rapid decline in the union's influence.

What was the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and what were its objectives?

The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was an association of craft workers led by Samuel Gompers. By 1901, it had a million members. The AFL's objectives were similar to those of the Knights of Labor, focusing on achieving higher wages and safer working conditions for workers.

What was the broader impact of the labor movements and strikes during the Gilded Age on American society?

The labor movements and strikes during the Gilded Age highlighted the stark social and economic inequalities of the time. They also led to increased awareness and eventual policy changes regarding workers' rights, safety standards, and the role of unions in negotiating for better conditions. These events set the stage for further labor reforms in the subsequent years.

Outlines

00:00

🏭 Labor in the Gilded Age: Wealth and Poverty

This paragraph discusses the socioeconomic disparities during the Gilded Age in the United States. It highlights the conspicuous consumption of the wealthy, exemplified by the construction of the Biltmore House, and contrasts it with the poverty experienced by the working class. The text also notes that despite low wages, the rise of mass production led to decreased prices for common goods and an increase in the availability of goods and services for workers. The struggles of the working class, including dangerous working conditions and the lack of individual power to demand better wages or safety, are also covered. The formation of labor unions is presented as a solution to these problems, with examples of significant strikes, such as the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 and the Pullman Strike, illustrating the power of collective bargaining.

05:03

🤝 Influential Labor Unions of the Gilded Age

The second paragraph introduces two major labor unions of the Gilded Age: the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor (AFL). The Knights of Labor, established in 1881, was a national union open to all workers, including black laborers and women. Its goals were to eliminate trusts and monopolies and to abolish child labor, which was prevalent and dangerous for young workers. The union had over 700,000 members at its peak but declined after the Haymarket Square Riot in 1886, which led to a negative public perception of labor unions. The AFL, led by Samuel Gompers, was an association of craft workers with similar goals to the Knights of Labor, such as higher wages and safer working conditions. By 1901, the AFL had a million members, and its efforts would yield results in subsequent periods.

Keywords

💡Gilded Age

The Gilded Age refers to a period of rapid economic growth and industrialization in the United States during the late 19th century. It is characterized by a stark contrast between the opulent lifestyles of the wealthy and the harsh living conditions of the working class. In the video, the Gilded Age is described as a 'golden covered turd,' highlighting the disparity between the appearance of prosperity and the underlying social issues.

💡Conspicuous Consumption

Conspicuous consumption is a term coined by economist Thorstein Veblen to describe the behavior of the wealthy class during the Gilded Age, where they would flaunt their wealth through extravagant displays of luxury. The Biltmore House, mentioned in the video, is an example of this, with its excessive square footage and number of bedrooms and bathrooms, serving as a symbol of the wealth disparity of the time.

💡Labor Unions

Labor unions are organizations that represent the collective interests of workers and negotiate with employers for better wages, working conditions, and benefits. In the video, the formation of labor unions is presented as a solution for workers to gain leverage against powerful corporations. Unions used tactics such as political action, slowdowns, and strikes to fight for fair treatment, as exemplified by the Great Railroad Strike of 1877.

💡Great Railroad Strike of 1877

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was a significant labor uprising in the United States that occurred when railroad companies cut wages during a recession. The strike spread across eleven states and led to a shutdown of a significant portion of the nation's railroads. The video describes the strike's escalation into violence and the subsequent intervention by federal troops, which resulted in over 100 deaths and ultimately forced employers to negotiate with workers.

💡Pullman Strike

The Pullman Strike, also known as the Pullman Palace Car Company strike, was a nationwide railroad strike in 1894 in response to wage cuts and layoffs by the Pullman Company. The video recounts how company founder George Pullman refused to negotiate with union workers, leading to a strike that disrupted rail traffic. The strike was broken when the federal government intervened, jailing union leaders like Eugene V. Debs for obstructing federal mail traffic.

💡Knights of Labor

The Knights of Labor was one of the largest and most influential American labor organizations of the 19th century. It was notable for being inclusive, allowing membership to black laborers and women. The union's goals included the destruction of trusts and monopolies, and the abolition of child labor. The video highlights the union's efforts to protect child workers and improve conditions for all laborers, but also notes its decline following the Haymarket Square Riot in 1886.

💡American Federation of Labor (AFL)

The American Federation of Labor, led by Samuel Gompers, was an association of craft workers that aimed to improve wages and working conditions for its members. By 1901, the AFL had a membership of over a million. The video mentions the AFL as a significant force during the Gilded Age, with many of its achievements coming in the subsequent period, thus setting the stage for future labor rights advancements.

💡Child Labor

Child labor refers to the employment of children in the workforce, often in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. The video discusses the Knights of Labor's campaign against child labor, noting that children as young as ten were part of the industrial workforce. The union was particularly concerned about the high risk of injury and death for these young workers, which led to their efforts to abolish such practices.

💡Economic Turmoil

Economic turmoil refers to periods of financial crisis or instability, such as the Panic of 1873 and the Panic of 1893 mentioned in the video. These events led to significant economic downturns, with the wealthy classes being more insulated from the effects than the working class, whose wages dropped sharply during these times.

💡

💡Industrial Capitalism

Industrial capitalism is an economic system characterized by private ownership of industry and the employment of wage labor for mass production of goods. The video discusses the socioeconomic continuities and changes associated with the growth of industrial capitalism from 1865 to 1898, highlighting the divide it created between the rich and the poor and the rise of labor movements as a response.

💡Haymarket Square Riot

The Haymarket Square Riot was a labor protest in Chicago in 1886 that turned violent when a bomb exploded, killing several police officers and leading to a crackdown on the labor movement. The video describes how this event was mistakenly associated with the Knights of Labor, causing a negative public perception of labor unions and contributing to the decline in membership for the Knights.

Highlights

The Gilded Age was a period of stark contrast between the rich and the poor, with the gold representing wealth and the turd symbolizing the underlying issues.

Wealthy business owners displayed their wealth through conspicuous consumption, exemplified by the construction of the Biltmore House.

The working class faced economic turmoil and wage drops during financial panics, such as the Panic of 1873 and the Panic of 1893.

Despite low wages, the rise of mass production led to decreased prices on common items and an increase in available goods and services for workers.

Workers in dangerous industries like factories, railroads, and mines suffered numerous injuries and deaths, prompting the need for better working conditions.

Labor unions emerged as a solution to the power imbalance between workers and large corporations, allowing for collective bargaining for better wages and safety standards.

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 demonstrated the power of unionized workers, leading to negotiations for improved wages and conditions.

The Pullman Strike showcased the conflict between unionized workers and company owners, resulting in significant violence and the jailing of union leaders.

The Knights of Labor was a national union that included black laborers and women, with goals to eliminate trusts, monopolies, and child labor.

The Haymarket Square Riot in 1886, though not directly linked to the Knights of Labor, led to a decline in public opinion and membership for the union.

The American Federation of Labor, led by Samuel Gompers, aimed for higher wages and safer working conditions, growing to a million members by 1901.

The transcript provides a comprehensive overview of labor issues during the Gilded Age, highlighting the socioeconomic divide and the role of unions in advocating for workers' rights.

The Biltmore House, as an example of conspicuous consumption, was not only a symbol of wealth but also a vacation home for the Vanderbilt family.

The economic divide is further illustrated by the fact that children as young as 10 were part of the industrial workforce, subject to injury and death.

The Knights of Labor's advocacy against child labor was rooted in the high risk of injury and death faced by child workers in the industrial age.

The decline of the Knights of Labor after the Haymarket Square Riot highlights the impact of public perception on the success of labor unions.

The American Federation of Labor's goals resonated with a wide range of workers, contributing to its rapid growth and influence in the labor movement.

Transcripts

Well hey there and welcome back to Heimler’s  History. We’ve been going through Unit 6  

of the AP U.S. History curriculum and in  this video we’re going to be talking about  

labor in the Gilded Age. So if you’re ready to  get them brain cows milked, let’s get to it.

Now in the last video I gave my estimation  of the Gilded Age which was that it  

was kind of like a golden covered turd.  And depending on what we’re talking about,  

sometimes there’s more gold than turd, and  other times there is more turd than gold. When  

it comes to labor in the Gilded Age, the gold  is so thin that it’s not hard to see the turd  

underneath. Now if you want it in  duller, more academic language,  

then basically in this video we’re going to  try to explain the socioeconomic continuities  

and changes associated with the growth of  industrial capitalism from 1865 to 1898.

So with the industrialization of America a great  dividing line was drawn between the rich and the  

poor, and let’s talk about the bourgie folks  first. This class of wealthy business owners  

largely surpassed the previous generation in  terms of wealth, and one of the things they  

liked to do with that wealth is put it on display  for everyone to see. Economist Thornstein Veblen  

coined a phrase for this kind of exhibitionism  calling it conspicuous consumption. Case in point,  

in 1895 construction was completed on what is  the largest private residence in the nation:  

the Biltmore House. This incredible structure  boasts over 175,000 square feet of floor space, 35  

bedrooms, and 43 bathrooms, which is a little over  the top. Everyone knows that to be comfortable you  

don’t need any more than 42 bathrooms in your  house. Anyway, to further illustrate this  

conspicuous consumption, here’s where I tell  you that the Biltmore House was Vanderbilt’s  

vacation home. This is his main residence in  Manhattan. So what I’m laboring to show you is  

not that everyone in this wealthy class  was as opulent and gaudy as Vanderbilt,  

but they all engaged in these kinds of practices.

Now, over on the other side of the tracks,  many people lived in poverty. Wages were  

well below what would be considered  a comfortable standard of living,  

and the working class suffered in the  waves of economic turmoil. For example,  

as a result of the Panic of 1873 and the  Panic of 1893, the wealthy classes were  

pretty well insulated but the working class  found their wages dropping precipitously.

However, it’ll be important for you to know  that even though everything I just said was,  

in fact, true, it’s not the whole story. Because  of the rise of mass production of goods, prices  

on many common items decreased. At the same time,  even though the wages of the working class were,  

in general, meager, they rose across the  board. And that meant that more goods and  

services were available to industrial workers  than ever before, whether they were immigrants  

from Europe or migrants from the rural West. So  the point is, even though the gap between the  

rich and the poor grew during this period, many  Americans saw their standards of living rise.

Okay, now despite the fact that standards of  living were increasing, that didn’t mean that  

the working class didn’t expend themselves to  increase their own wages and force better safety  

standards in their work place. After all, factory  work, not to mention railroad and mining work,  

was a dangerous business for the workers.  During this period, the working class racked up  

thousands of personal injuries and premature  deaths owing to the nature of their work. However,  

workers found it difficult to address this problem  within the structure of the large corporations.  

If any one worker walked up to the factory  manager and demanded higher wages or better  

safety standards, the manager could just fire  that worker and find a giant pool of recently  

arrived immigrants who would be happy to work  for those wages and under the same conditions.

So the solution to this for workers was  the formation of labor unions. Where one  

worker’s voice was irrelevant, when they joined  together into a large union, all of the sudden,  

factory owners had to listen. Unions  employed different tactics to fight  

for fair treatment of workers including  political action, slowdowns, and strikes.

As an example of the latter, let’s consider the  Great Railroad Strike of 1877. In that year,  

railroad companies cut wages to save money  during a recession. And so unionized railroad  

workers went on strike to protest. The strike  spread to eleven states and shut down more  

than 60% of the nation’s railroads. Eventually  the strike grew so tense that violence broke  

out and in response President Hayes sent  in federal troops to restore order, but  

once the dust settled over 100 people were  dead. And so railroad employers were able  

to behold the power of unionized resistance and  therefore came to the negotiating table to hear  

the grievances of the laboring class and work  to improve their wages and working conditions.

Another significant strike was the  Pullman Strike near Chicago. The  

Pullman company manufactured sleeping cars  for trains, and when the Panic of 1893 hit,  

George Pullman decided that the best way to save  money was to cut the wages of his workers. When  

the union workers came to bargain with him,  he just went ahead and fired them all. And  

so the rest of the workers went on strike, and  another union leader Eugene V. Debs directed the  

members of his union not to work on any trains  that had Pullman cars in them. Now, of course,  

owners of railroads and owners of train cars  are very closely tied together, and the railroad  

owners, not surprisingly, were on Pullman’s side  in this fight. And so they all cooked up a scheme  

to fix the problem. What they did is to hook up  Pullman cars to trains carrying federal mail and  

that meant that if the workers interfered with  the trains, then they had Big Daddy Government  

to answer to. And so Eugene Debs and other  leaders were eventually jailed for hindering  

rail traffic of federally authorized trains, and  the strike was essentially broken after that.

At this point, it’ll be helpful for you to know  the names and goals of some of the biggest and  

most influential labor unions. First, let me  introduce you to the Knights of Labor which went  

public in 1881. The Knights of Labor was a truly  national union which opened its membership to  

anyone who wanted to join. And I know what you’re  thinking. Here’s the part where Heimler says,  

“Yeah, anyone could join just as long as you  were a man and white.” But don’t be so cynical,  

the Knights of Labor actually opened their ranks  to black laborers and women as well. Now the  

main goals of this union was the destruction of  trusts and monopolies as well as the abolition  

of child labor. Child labor? Oh yeah, kinds as  young as 10, and in some cases even younger,  

were members of the industrial workforce. In  fact, by the end of the nineteenth century,  

children between the ages of 10 and 15  constituted something like 18% of the  

workforce. And the reason this was odious to  the Knights of Labor was because the children  

were every bit as subject to injury and death  as were the adult workers. And so with children  

maimed and dead because of industrial work, the  Knights of Labor worked to abolish such practices.

Now, at its peak, the Knights of Labor had over  700,000 members on its rolls and thus became a  

very powerful voice for laborers. However, the  organization basically fell apart after a single  

event, namely, the Haymarket Square Riot in 1886.  The story goes like this. In May of that year,  

many members of the Knights of Labor gathered  in Haymarket Square in Chicago to celebrate  

the May Day labor movement. They protested  peacefully for an eight-hour workday. However,  

at one point a bomb exploded, and later it  was discovered that the bomber was probably  

an anarchist completely unaffiliated with  the Knights. But unfortunately for them,  

the American public largely associated this  bombing with the Knights of Labor themselves  

and the sentiment regarding labor unions  shifted: all of the sudden they were seen as  

violent and radical. And all of the sudden,  their membership began declining rapidly.

Another labor union you’d do well to know is  the American Federation of Labor which was  

an association of craft workers led by the  indomitable Samuel Gompers. By 1901 the AFL  

boasted a million members, and their goals  were much the same as the Knights of Labor:  

higher wages, safer working conditions. And even  though they began their work in this period,  

much of the fruit of their labor won’t occur until  the next period, so we’ll revisit the AFL later.

Thanks for watching. If you need more videos on  Unit 6, then here’s the playlist right here. If  

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true. If you want me to keep making these videos  then subscribe and I shall oblige. Heimler out.