LABOR in the Gilded Age [APUSH Review Unit 6 Topic 7] Period 6: 1865-1898
Summary
TLDRThis 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
- š 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).
- š° Wealthy business owners displayed their affluence through conspicuous consumption, exemplified by the construction of the Biltmore House.
- š° 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.
- š The working class faced dangerous working conditions with many personal injuries and premature deaths due to the nature of their work.
- š¤ Labor unions emerged as a powerful force to negotiate for better wages and safety standards, as individual workers had little leverage against corporate managers.
- š The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 demonstrated the power of unionized resistance, leading to negotiations and improvements in wages and working conditions.
- š The Pullman Strike showcased the solidarity of workers and the lengths employers would go to break strikes, including invoking federal intervention.
- š§āš¤āš§ The Knights of Labor was a national union that included black laborers and women, with goals to eliminate trusts, monopolies, and child labor.
- š„ 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.
- šØ 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.
- š 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
š 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.
š¤ 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
š”Gilded Age
š”Conspicuous Consumption
š”Labor Unions
š”Great Railroad Strike of 1877
š”Pullman Strike
š”Knights of Labor
š”American Federation of Labor (AFL)
š”Child Labor
š”Economic Turmoil
š”
š”Industrial Capitalism
š”Haymarket Square Riot
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 HeimlerāsĀ History. Weāve been going through Unit 6Ā Ā
of the AP U.S. History curriculum and inĀ this video weāre going to be talking aboutĀ Ā
labor in the Gilded Age. So if youāre ready toĀ get them brain cows milked, letās get to it.
Now in the last video I gave my estimationĀ of the Gilded Age which was that itĀ Ā
was kind of like a golden covered turd.Ā And depending on what weāre talking about,Ā Ā
sometimes thereās more gold than turd, andĀ other times there is more turd than gold. WhenĀ Ā
it comes to labor in the Gilded Age, the goldĀ is so thin that itās not hard to see the turdĀ Ā
underneath. Now if you want it inĀ duller, more academic language,Ā Ā
then basically in this video weāre going toĀ try to explain the socioeconomic continuitiesĀ Ā
and changes associated with the growth ofĀ industrial capitalism from 1865 to 1898.
So with the industrialization of America a greatĀ dividing line was drawn between the rich and theĀ Ā
poor, and letās talk about the bourgie folksĀ first. This class of wealthy business ownersĀ Ā
largely surpassed the previous generation inĀ terms of wealth, and one of the things theyĀ Ā
liked to do with that wealth is put it on displayĀ for everyone to see. Economist Thornstein VeblenĀ Ā
coined a phrase for this kind of exhibitionismĀ calling it conspicuous consumption. Case in point,Ā Ā
in 1895 construction was completed on what isĀ the largest private residence in the nation:Ā Ā
the Biltmore House. This incredible structureĀ boasts over 175,000 square feet of floor space, 35Ā Ā
bedrooms, and 43 bathrooms, which is a little overĀ the top. Everyone knows that to be comfortable youĀ Ā
donāt need any more than 42 bathrooms in yourĀ house. Anyway, to further illustrate thisĀ Ā
conspicuous consumption, hereās where I tellĀ you that the Biltmore House was VanderbiltāsĀ Ā
vacation home. This is his main residence inĀ Manhattan. So what Iām laboring to show you isĀ Ā
not that everyone in this wealthy classĀ was as opulent and gaudy as Vanderbilt,Ā Ā
but they all engaged in these kinds of practices.
Now, over on the other side of the tracks,Ā many people lived in poverty. Wages wereĀ Ā
well below what would be consideredĀ a comfortable standard of living,Ā Ā
and the working class suffered in theĀ waves of economic turmoil. For example,Ā Ā
as a result of the Panic of 1873 and theĀ Panic of 1893, the wealthy classes wereĀ Ā
pretty well insulated but the working classĀ found their wages dropping precipitously.
However, itāll be important for you to knowĀ that even though everything I just said was,Ā Ā
in fact, true, itās not the whole story. BecauseĀ of the rise of mass production of goods, pricesĀ Ā
on many common items decreased. At the same time,Ā even though the wages of the working class were,Ā Ā
in general, meager, they rose across theĀ board. And that meant that more goods andĀ Ā
services were available to industrial workersĀ than ever before, whether they were immigrantsĀ Ā
from Europe or migrants from the rural West. SoĀ the point is, even though the gap between theĀ Ā
rich and the poor grew during this period, manyĀ Americans saw their standards of living rise.
Okay, now despite the fact that standards ofĀ living were increasing, that didnāt mean thatĀ Ā
the working class didnāt expend themselves toĀ increase their own wages and force better safetyĀ Ā
standards in their work place. After all, factoryĀ work, not to mention railroad and mining work,Ā Ā
was a dangerous business for the workers.Ā During this period, the working class racked upĀ Ā
thousands of personal injuries and prematureĀ deaths owing to the nature of their work. However,Ā Ā
workers found it difficult to address this problemĀ within the structure of the large corporations.Ā Ā
If any one worker walked up to the factoryĀ manager and demanded higher wages or betterĀ Ā
safety standards, the manager could just fireĀ that worker and find a giant pool of recentlyĀ Ā
arrived immigrants who would be happy to workĀ for those wages and under the same conditions.
So the solution to this for workers wasĀ the formation of labor unions. Where oneĀ Ā
workerās voice was irrelevant, when they joinedĀ together into a large union, all of the sudden,Ā Ā
factory owners had to listen. UnionsĀ employed different tactics to fightĀ Ā
for fair treatment of workers includingĀ political action, slowdowns, and strikes.
As an example of the latter, letās consider theĀ Great Railroad Strike of 1877. In that year,Ā Ā
railroad companies cut wages to save moneyĀ during a recession. And so unionized railroadĀ Ā
workers went on strike to protest. The strikeĀ spread to eleven states and shut down moreĀ Ā
than 60% of the nationās railroads. EventuallyĀ the strike grew so tense that violence brokeĀ Ā
out and in response President Hayes sentĀ in federal troops to restore order, butĀ Ā
once the dust settled over 100 people wereĀ dead. And so railroad employers were ableĀ Ā
to behold the power of unionized resistance andĀ therefore came to the negotiating table to hearĀ Ā
the grievances of the laboring class and workĀ to improve their wages and working conditions.
Another significant strike was theĀ Pullman Strike near Chicago. TheĀ Ā
Pullman company manufactured sleeping carsĀ for trains, and when the Panic of 1893 hit,Ā Ā
George Pullman decided that the best way to saveĀ money was to cut the wages of his workers. WhenĀ Ā
the union workers came to bargain with him,Ā he just went ahead and fired them all. AndĀ Ā
so the rest of the workers went on strike, andĀ another union leader Eugene V. Debs directed theĀ Ā
members of his union not to work on any trainsĀ that had Pullman cars in them. Now, of course,Ā Ā
owners of railroads and owners of train carsĀ are very closely tied together, and the railroadĀ Ā
owners, not surprisingly, were on Pullmanās sideĀ in this fight. And so they all cooked up a schemeĀ Ā
to fix the problem. What they did is to hook upĀ Pullman cars to trains carrying federal mail andĀ Ā
that meant that if the workers interfered withĀ the trains, then they had Big Daddy GovernmentĀ Ā
to answer to. And so Eugene Debs and otherĀ leaders were eventually jailed for hinderingĀ Ā
rail traffic of federally authorized trains, andĀ the strike was essentially broken after that.
At this point, itāll be helpful for you to knowĀ the names and goals of some of the biggest andĀ Ā
most influential labor unions. First, let meĀ introduce you to the Knights of Labor which wentĀ Ā
public in 1881. The Knights of Labor was a trulyĀ national union which opened its membership toĀ Ā
anyone who wanted to join. And I know what youāreĀ thinking. Hereās the part where Heimler says,Ā Ā
āYeah, anyone could join just as long as youĀ were a man and white.ā But donāt be so cynical,Ā Ā
the Knights of Labor actually opened their ranksĀ to black laborers and women as well. Now theĀ Ā
main goals of this union was the destruction ofĀ trusts and monopolies as well as the abolitionĀ Ā
of child labor. Child labor? Oh yeah, kinds asĀ young as 10, and in some cases even younger,Ā Ā
were members of the industrial workforce. InĀ fact, by the end of the nineteenth century,Ā Ā
children between the ages of 10 and 15Ā constituted something like 18% of theĀ Ā
workforce. And the reason this was odious toĀ the Knights of Labor was because the childrenĀ Ā
were every bit as subject to injury and deathĀ as were the adult workers. And so with childrenĀ Ā
maimed and dead because of industrial work, theĀ Knights of Labor worked to abolish such practices.
Now, at its peak, the Knights of Labor had overĀ 700,000 members on its rolls and thus became aĀ Ā
very powerful voice for laborers. However, theĀ organization basically fell apart after a singleĀ Ā
event, namely, the Haymarket Square Riot in 1886.Ā The story goes like this. In May of that year,Ā Ā
many members of the Knights of Labor gatheredĀ in Haymarket Square in Chicago to celebrateĀ Ā
the May Day labor movement. They protestedĀ peacefully for an eight-hour workday. However,Ā Ā
at one point a bomb exploded, and later itĀ was discovered that the bomber was probablyĀ Ā
an anarchist completely unaffiliated withĀ the Knights. But unfortunately for them,Ā Ā
the American public largely associated thisĀ bombing with the Knights of Labor themselvesĀ Ā
and the sentiment regarding labor unionsĀ shifted: all of the sudden they were seen asĀ Ā
violent and radical. And all of the sudden,Ā their membership began declining rapidly.
Another labor union youād do well to know isĀ the American Federation of Labor which wasĀ Ā
an association of craft workers led by theĀ indomitable Samuel Gompers. By 1901 the AFLĀ Ā
boasted a million members, and their goalsĀ were much the same as the Knights of Labor:Ā Ā
higher wages, safer working conditions. And evenĀ though they began their work in this period,Ā Ā
much of the fruit of their labor wonāt occur untilĀ the next period, so weāll revisit the AFL later.
Thanks for watching. If you need more videos onĀ Unit 6, then hereās the playlist right here. IfĀ Ā
you need help getting an A in your class andĀ a five on your exam in May, then click rightĀ Ā
here and check out my APUSH Ultimate ReviewĀ packet which will make all your dreams comeĀ Ā
true. If you want me to keep making these videosĀ then subscribe and I shall oblige. Heimler out.
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