Labor Unions

Labor Unions were constructed in the late 1800's because of the unfairness of the workforce. Factory workers were forced to work long hours a day six days a week, and an occasional Sunday. They would have to work for ridiculous hours for wages that could barley pay for three loaves of bread. Workers eventually went on strike because factory owners were cutting their wages. This was the start of the labor unions and factory workers sticking up for what they truly deserved after working so hard almost everyday of the week.


Another reason why labor unions were formed during the late 1800's was the working conditions in the factories and the well-being of the people who worked in them. Working in factories back then was always very dangerous. People frequently would get hurt by bones getting broken or limbs being severed while working with machines. This caused more labor unions to be formed because there was a general concern of whether or not the factories were safe enough for people even to be working in. Strikes erupted and factory owners threatened to punish the strikers even more when they returned to work. This eventually changed and the owners did not give further punishments to the workers that went on strike.




*Sources- In class discussions and "The Strike for Three Loaves" reading

Immigration

Between 1865 and 1920 close to thirty million people immigrated to the United States. Many came for a better life that they saw in the posters about how better life was here. They all wanted to make good money and have the personal freedoms that they were not provided with in their home country. When immigrants from Europe, Asia, and other places came to the United States, they realized that the posters they saw of smiling rich families were not exactly accurate. They learned that living conditions were poor and workers were not paid fairly for their labor. This life that they were all hoping to have in the United States did not exist.
















Immigration changed the labor supply very much. Because of all of the new extra workers, factories could get tasks done more quickly which made them more money. Factory owners had enough people for all of the machines and jobs that were required to get the necessary amount of material made. Even though immigration greatly helped the factory owners, it made it harder on the workers. More workers in a factory means less paid for the people who worked in the factory. It was already hard enough for families to earn enough money for food on their current salary, and immigration made that amount of money go down.















*Sources- class notes on immigration

Working Conditions

Working conditions in factories between now and the late 1800's show big differences. People who worked in factories in the 1800's were always in danger because of the little saftey provided. Workhouses that made clothing like the Triangular Shirtwaist Factory, were some of the most dangerous factories during the time. One of the main problems for people that worked in factories was the low amount of safety that the owners provided for them. The owners never had enough fire escapes and stairwells built so many perished in fires. Another saftey issue was that the only thing that was given to the workers for fires was a few buckets of water on each floor.

Another problem that caused many deaths in factories was the dangerous machinery. Factories that made clothing worked with sewing machines, knives for cutting clothing, and other tools. Many times workers would cut themselves with the knives and children would get fingers caught in the machines. The factories were also very hot and caused many people to get sick or become dehydrated. Compared to the factories we know today, factories during the 1800's with the working conditions that they had should not have been able to allow people to work in them.










*Sources- "The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory" reading and "The Strike for Three Loaves" reading

Leaders of Industry

The leaders of industries were important during the late 1800's. Andrew Carnegie owned an industry that sold steel. He used what is called the Bessemer Process that made the steel in his industry stronger and cheaper for sales. By using the Bessemer Process, his company had a mass production of steel. This went on for use in building railroads, skyscrapers, and bridges. Andrew Carnegie made his money by being a good business man and by using the technique of vertical integration which separated the production and selling of his steel.

Besides the steel business, the oil industry was run by a man named John Rockefeller. He founded the oil industry and aggressively ran it. He used the technique of horizontal integration which meant to own all of the industry or as much as you can. Rockefeller was very successful in his industry. He became the world's richest man and also the first billionaire. The way John Rockefeller ran his business was the ultimate reason for his success.





























*Sources- Notes from class and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_D._Rockefeller

New Inventions

During the late 1800's, many new inventions were being made. People like Thomas Edison and Westinghouse made big contributions to the world we know today. Thomas Edison created the light bulb, making a difference to future generations and to the people during his time. Westinghouse improved what Thomas Edison was setting out to do. He created an alternating current that would allow more electricity to be used at a time for a longer distance.
Both of these men created what we use for granted today.














Another important person during the late 1800's was Alexander Graham Bell. He invented what we know today as the telephone. This new invention helped many families and businesses keep in contact.











The invention of railroads also helped many businesses. Materials from other countries could be shipped in as well as materials from the United States could be shipped out. Both the invention of the telephone and railroads greater increased the contact needed between businesses.

*Sources- Notes from class